Film shines light on post-industrial Lanarkshire

Researchers have released a powerful new film about the dramatic effect deindustrialisation has had on the health and wellbeing of communities in the west of Scotland.

Closures and Beginnings draws upon testimonies from people in Lanarkshire to illustrate the impact the loss of heavy industry had on health, community facilities, employment and access to transport and other services.

The animated film, produced as part of CommonHealth Catalyst, a Glasgow Caledonian University-led research project, concludes: "Sometimes I feel as if this is a forgotten land. We're still here, this wee pocket of Scotland. We've got history here and we've got hope.

"We could do with more support but we're not helpless. We know what we need… try asking us."

Focusing on Lanarkshire, academics have been studying the profound impact that deindustrialisation has had on health and wellbeing as part of the £200,000 project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The project has been researching how local groups could work together more effectively with key decision-makers in the public sector to determine how future research funding to address health inequalities could be allocated.

Professor Michael Roy, who led the CommonHealth Catalyst project, said: “I’m delighted with the film and the amazing reaction to it.

"While the film feels like a very familiar story of west central Scotland, the deindustrialisation that many of us have lived through, we also wanted to stress the positive power of community and acknowledge the powerful work of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make their communities better.

"We believe that the film does that poignantly and powerfully."

The animation, created by the award-winning agency media co-op, was screened for the first time this week at a meeting with academics, policymakers, third-sector activists, elected officials, and members of the public.

Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian have been working in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, Dr David Walsh, Dr Jen McLean and Mohasin Ahmed, of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Dr Ewan Gibbs, of the University of Glasgow, the Scottish Community Development Centre, and Councillor Ayeshah Khan, of North Lanarkshire Council, on the project.

Professor Roy added: "If we are serious about doing what we can to improve people’s lives in our most deprived areas, then projects such as this one are vital to catalyse future action, and hopefully lead to lasting change.”