This article is also published in a thematic block Living on a Border within the art in migration magazine collaboratively published by Soho in Ottakring and KITCH. The texts and photos are contributed by the authors from every partner organization of the Living on a Border project.     

 

The rapid increase in numbers of migrant and seasonal workers from A8 EU countries into Britain, currently estimated at 600,000, has created unprecedented levels of concern especially within rural communities that have little experience of cultural diversity, and amongst statutory and third sector agencies which are struggling to keep pace with demands on already stretched public services. 

Fuelled by sustained, often negative, media attention on migration-related issues, the proportion of people identifying immigration and race as one of the most important issues facing the UK has reached new heights, as demonstrated by the centrality of migration issues leading up to the UK's May 2005 general election[1]. Rural communities are struggling to come to terms with the social and economic effects of rapid demographic change due to ex-migration of young people, and in-migration of urban dwellers. In addition, a recent report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that racist attitudes and behaviour in young people found "a significant minority" of young people studied expressed dislike of other groups, especially newly arrived communities[2]. It is little wonder the increased presence of migrant workers, and relative ignorance about who they are, presents serious challenges to rural community cohesion.

There is a consensus that practical work on ethnicity and racism / anti-discriminatory practice in the rural context has not been adequately resourced and that there is a gap in identifying what good practice might mean. In addition there has been an over emphasis on the cultural differences of minority ethnic communities with regard to social integration and inclusion within so called ‘mainstream' communities. This has often led to a neglect of consideration of barriers that exist in the ‘mainstream' communities in addressing social integration and inclusion issues[3]. 

The Rural Media Company has responded to the issues of social cohesion generated by recent rapid demographic change by developing a number of participatory digital media projects, including community filmmaking and digital stories. Underpinning Rural Media's creative strategy is the concept that for social integration and inclusion to be successful actions and policies must encompass a ‘two way process'. In short, not only should minority ethnic communities be expected to change and adapt, but so too must ‘mainstream' communities.

Furthermore, we place great emphasis on identifying methodologies and practice that are both new in their approach to strengthening communities and which can be communicated and replicated elsewhere in the UK and beyond. For example, a current digital storytelling project called Migrant Stories will not only be reported upon in such a way that the final document will be a useful tool for others, but a film will also be made and distributed documenting the working process. This film will provide a highly original and valuable insight to what is in store for anyone wishing to use digital stories within their own work or community. 

     

Migrants' housing, England, photo by the Rural Media Company

             

Migrant Stories is a unique action research project, which is taking place in Herefordshire throughout 2007. The purpose of the project is to explore new ways of building understanding and social cohesion between migrant and host communities in the sparsely populated county of Herefordshire. The Rural Media Company is building upon its exemplary practice of enabling rural communities to use low budget digital media equipment to communicate creatively and effectively with each other and to inform service & policy development from the ‘bottom up'.

Photos by the Rural Media Company

 

Through an accessible, contemporary form of storytelling, called digital stories, residents from ‘mainstream' and ethnic minority communities are exploring barriers to social integration and inclusion. Project participants are identifying examples of where barriers have been overcome and what lay behind such achievements. Through creating a series of personal and poignant audio visual accounts, project participants are in effect be proposing their own ideas and solutions to service providers and policy makers.    

Digital stories also have the great advantage of being able to be distributed on the internet for use in a very wide range of settings - domestic, educational, public, professional development, broadcast etc.

 

Nic Millington is CEO and founder of The Rural Media Company.

 

---

[1] The Guardian, J Vidal 5 June 2006

[2] Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Informing Change, November 2006

[3] P de Lima, Carnegie UK Trust, Seminar, Edinburgh, November 2006