Filmed in the mid-'80s, it's an eye-opening artefact that shows us how times may have changed, yet certain struggles remain the same for Edinburgh's working class communities.
Produced by Skline Film & TV for Channel Four’s ‘People to People’ series, two part-documentary ‘The Huts’ shows the community of Wester Hailes banding together to fight for a better future.
The film, which has been split into four parts on YouTube, charts the journey of ‘The Huts’ - a set of temporary structures that were home to various community projects.
READ MORE: Resurfaced Edinburgh footage shows bleak reality of Craigmillar life in 1984
What is harrowing about reliving the footage today is that the issues facing residents in the community and the context in which they are set are not too dissimilar from present day.
Residents of Wester Hailes, one of Edinburgh’s most notorious housing estates, can be seen sporting iconic clothing of the 1980s with the distinctive styles of the time visible amongst both young adults and teens.
The landscape of the suburb looks unfamiliar due to extensive development from 1984 when the film was shot but the issues of drug abuse, housing problems, social security pains and isolation all ring true for the community..
Filmmakers used a local community arts circus workshop to provide the means by which the landscape and buildings are presented to the camera.
Young males on a unicycle and stilts are seen travelling in clown attire around the estate to show the architecture of the community.
A central theme within the film is the residents taking it upon themselves to improve their own environment after feeling abandoned by the local authority.
The film opens with a man dressed in a ringmaster costume surrounded by fire eaters, he says: “Many people living in Wester Hailes feel like living here today is like fire eating - painful and difficult.”
The opening scene then leads to an introduction to ‘The Huts’ which are temporary cabin style buildings, and are inhabited by local groups that have inadequate funding at best, to provide essential services for the community.
One woman that works from ‘The Huts’ is Mary Quinn, she details her struggles with living with agoraphobia after moving to the area, but says that the community rallied around her to support her needs.
She dedicates her time to helping others overcome issues that she herself had to face.
In the documentary she says: “There is a difference between how people from Wester Hailes see themselves and how others see them.
“It can be patronising the way we are treated by social services. There are no supermarket facilities, and anything we have is like it has been found in the back of the lorry, as if people think it will be good enough for Wester Hailes.
“People feel second class and chucked on the scrap heap.
“The community is now understanding that they need to take action and as that feeling grows, it spreads, and people become more confident and will not accept the ideas being placed on them.
“They realise they are good people but have been transported to a hostile environment which they look to improve.”
The film also explores a parents group that was set up by the indelible Liz Whitecross.
It tackles the issue of women feeling isolated in the area and the space they are offered a where they can come together to help themselves and their children out.
One woman can be heard saying: “I thought to myself I’ll jump out the window and take my two kids with me, it gets that bad with depression.”
This is before she realised she was not on her own and the only person feeling that way.
The group dealt with real issues impacting families and acted as a springboard to get individuals involved in community issues and brought about a realisation that a true community spirit existed that wanted to improve life.
The documentary includes comments from Liz Whitecross, Anne Milne, Angus Hardie, Jackie Cameron, Lorna Gratton, Margaret McDonald, Colin Bartie, Sheila Hamilton, Laurence Demarco and Maureen Woytozgo among many more.
Severe problems from damp housing, to battles with social security providers losing files, drug abuse and teen disengagement all play a prominent role.
Several organisations from FISH (For Information and Social Help), which was set up with the help of Sophie McLeod, have their work showcased and show how they helped care for children, provide furniture and shop for those with disabilities.
Other organisations, which Mandy Robertson helped to run, grew out from ‘The Huts’ and helped families acquire counselling for drug abuse and misuse within their families.
A chunk of the film is also dedicated to the Digital Sentinel which celebrates their 100th edition in the footage by looking back on the campaign that raised £6,000 to send world renowned jazz musician and local lad, Tommy Smith to America.
There is also a heart-warming moment within the documentary when the kids of Wester Hailes take it upon themselves to raise over £100 to build a BMX ramp - a considerable achievement considering the Thatcher years that cast a dark shadow over the community.
George Summerville is given a special mention for his great work in ensuring the teenagers of the area were “listened to” and not just given an “empty space to exist in.”
Overall there is a feeling of a community coming together to improve their lives when no one else in the city would.
A proper community spirit existed in Wester Hailes in the 1980s, and continues to do so today.
But the problems plaguing the community are no different in 2022 to what they were in 1984 - there continues to be a feeling of isolation and abandonment which is so prevalent throughout the film today.
Nonetheless, ‘The Huts’ documentary represents the extraordinary work of volunteers, key workers and outside employees in improving the lives of those that inhabit the area.
A woman is quoted at the end of the film saying: “In Wester Hailes, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself.
“It is amazing what can be done when working together.”
You can view episode one by clicking here.
Episode two by clicking here.
Episode three by clicking here.
Episode four by clicking here.
Please share your thoughts of living, working or growing up in Wester Hailes in the comment section below.
