SOCIAL housing tenants from across Bury are taking part in a campaign aiming to combat negative media stereotypes.

Titled 'We Benefit Bury', the campaign has been launched by Six Town Housing, which manage 8,000 homes on behalf of Bury Council, in response to benefits-themed television shows and some national newspapers 'depicting council tenants in a negative light'.

It aims to challenge these stereotypes by encouraging tenants to use social media to talk about the contributions they make within the borough.

The campaign will consist of an ongoing series of adverts and posters featuring photos and quotes from a number of local tenant ambassadors who proudly dismiss the stigma.

Through these posters, it is hoped that the ambassadors will encourage others to show their support by downloading a branded Facebook frame and using the hashtag #WeBenefitBury to provide their point of view.

The campaign was launched at Six Town Housing's recent Summer Roadshow event on Powell Street.

The event was attended by James Frith, who met with three of the tenant ambassadors.

The Bury North MP said: “Representations of social housing tenants within the media is often negative, which is damaging as it drives the public to have a stereotypical view of all tenants.

"They usually don’t show the high number of those living in social housing who work hard to support themselves or their families. This campaign aims to provide tenants with a way to show that they are people, not stereotypes.”

Initial ambassadors for the campaign include Kate Walker from Prestwich, who volunteers her time to run a community café to tackle isolation, and Scott Whitestone, a young tenant who is starting his career as an electrician within Six Town Housing’s Repairs Direct team.

Kelly Dickinson, another tenant ambassador for the campaign, said, “The stereotypes are ridiculous. Living in council housing doesn’t make you a certain type of person, it’s up to each individual how they behave and contribute to society.

"I want as many people as possible to get involved with this project to show people how we all pull together and build strong communities.”

Hugh Broadbent, Chair of Six Town Housing’s board, said: "For too long newspapers and TV shows have depicted council tenants in a negative way.

"The truth is tenants are like any other group of residents - nationally 48 per cent are in work, 28 per cent are retired, and only 8 per cent are unemployed. Nearly 60 per cent receive help with their rent, including those in work. "

Tenants live in their homes for an average 11 years, much longer than private tenants. We want to encourage tenants to take ownership of this campaign and show just how valuable they really are as members of their communities."

Tenants who want to share the Facebook frame or find out more about the campaign can do so at www.sixtownhousing.org/WeBenefitBury