Photo story: social housing tenants in lockdown
Photographer Gareth Jones has been raising funds for the NHS with a project documenting people’s experiences of staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Jess McCabe presents his photos of Together Housing tenants
To raise money for a local hospice and the NHS, photographer Gareth Jones started to take ‘doorstep photos’ of families at a safe distance of at least 2m, giving people a record of this unusual and difficult time.
When Together Housing heard about his project, the 36,000-home association decided to commission Mr Jones to take photos of some of its residents as well, across Lancashire and Yorkshire. Together has donated an undisclosed sum.
Many of the residents photographed are key workers, such as postal workers Claire and Matt Dodd (pictured above with children Megan and Harvey). Ms Dodd says: “It feels very strange going out to work when everybody else is stuck indoors. At first we felt very uncomfortable, not knowing what was going on and worried we could bring the virus home to the kids.”
She adds: “We’re missing seeing family very much, especially our older kids Josh and Ellie, who don’t live with us any more.”
Mr Jones says: “It was lovely spending a day chatting to key workers and seeing how neighbours are supporting each other… and we’ve also been able to include people who live on their own so they can send the photos to their grandkids to let them know their neighbours are looking out for them.”
Ian Clark, director of strategy, communications and neighbourhoods at Together Housing, says: “When the kids in these photos grow up and their grandchildren ask them where they were when the pandemic hit, they will be able to show them these photos and tell them how people came together while being kept apart.”
Danielle Pearson and her daughter Lily. Ms Pearson says: “We are happy and doing what we need to do to get through this together”
Angela and Lee Smith usually live with their 21-year-old daughter, Jasmin. But as she has been caring for COVID-19 patients, she has moved into student housing
Teana Dodgson and daughter Eden-Rose. “I am a home carer and I help clients with things like cooking, cleaning and shopping, so I have still been working,” Ms Dodgson says
Gwen and Justin Appleyard. Mr Appleyard says: “With my wife having end-stage kidney failure, keeping her safe became my priority”
Sorin and Dana Maria Rusu and their baby twins
Susan Fletcher, pictured here with her neighbours, was discharged from hospital after pneumonia before lockdown. “I’ve spent my time painting my home. My neighbours and I have also been getting the garden ready for the summer – minding social distancing, of course”
Pat Cocker, Muriel Yates, Christine Bamber and Janet Josse. Ms Cocker says: “All of us keep an eye out for the neighbours. We are our own little community”
Irene Heaney is another resident whose photo was taken as part of Gareth Jones’ project
More on coronavirus
To see all our coronavirus coverage to date – including the latest news, advice to providers, comment and analysis – use the link below.
