Council Tenant Stories: Pride, Place and the Power of Home
Council Tenant Stories is a short documentary sharing the voices and experiences of council tenants in Brighton and Hove.
While stigma around council housing still exists, these tenants reveal the pride, stability, and sense of belonging that living here can bring. Through personal reflections, community perspectives, and shared experiences, the film challenges stereotypes and celebrates what it really means to call council housing home.
Produced and directed by Jenny Linton, founder of Head to the Sky CIC, the film highlights the warmth, resilience, and connection that sit at the heart of Brighton and Hove’s council communities. With more than 20 years’ experience as a TV producer and director, Jenny’s work is centred on amplifying underrepresented voices and telling human stories that build empathy and understanding.
“I wanted to move away from the usual narratives of hardship and instead celebrate the humanity that defines these communities, the families, friendships, and resilience that rarely make the news.” Jenny Linton
It is also fantastic to see Donna James feature in the film. Donna is a volunteer with the Bates Estate Residents Association and sits on the East Brighton Trust Board of Directors. With a background in community development, she has had a real impact within her local area, helping to strengthen connections, give residents a voice, and drive positive change across East Brighton.
A shared mission: housing with dignity
At East Brighton Trust, we believe that home is everything. A home is more than a roof; it is the foundation of stability, wellbeing, and opportunity.
That belief has shaped much of our recent work, including Housing Matters, a project launched in partnership with Lawstop earlier this year. Housing Matters grew from conversations with residents and community leaders who identified a clear need for accessible housing advice in East Brighton.
Since January, the project has delivered free housing advice and signposting sessions at the Crew Club, helping local people navigate complex issues around tenancy, repairs, rent, and housing rights.
As the initiative’s developed, Housing Matters has collaborated with community leaders in North and East Brighton who expressed a strong desire to deepen their understanding of local housing issues so they can better support, guide, and direct residents to appropriate resources.
Housing Matters has now delivered its first Housing Matters workshop for community leaders, which was very well received, and there is clear demand for another session in early 2026.
Stories that spark change
The voices in Council Tenant Stories echo many of the same experiences we have heard through Housing Matters. There are challenges, but also strength, care, and mutual support that define council estates and communities across East Brighton.
By celebrating these stories, the film gives visibility to tenants who are too often overlooked, while reminding us that council housing is not just a safety net, but a vital part of our city’s social fabric.
At East Brighton Trust, we stand alongside projects like Head to the Sky that bring those perspectives to light. Every story shared helps dismantle stigma and strengthen the case for safe, secure, and genuinely affordable housing for all.
Watch Council Tenant Stories, produced and directed by Jenny Linton, by clicking on this link
Social Post Caption
Council Tenant Stories shares the voices of council tenants in Brighton and Hove, showing the pride, stability, and connection that living here can bring.
The film highlights real experiences and challenges stereotypes about social housing, including contributions from Donna James, a volunteer with the Bates Estate Residents Association and East Brighton Trust board member.
Watch the full film to hear tenants’ stories and see what makes council housing a home.