Sharon Hendry
Summer on the Farm, The Sunday Times
Summer on the Farm is the story of a generation of children growing up on notorious housing estate Broadwater Farm without the most basic right to play outside during the holidays. It took readers inside a world of poverty and fear, helping to enhance public understanding of a forgotten sector of society left reeling from austerity and ensuing social problems such as gang violence. Sharon Hendry won the trust of residents who allowed her inside their homes, revealing overcrowding and life-threatening conditions overlooked by indifferent council officials and unscrupulous landlords. The article demonstrated the importance of school provision during holiday periods for children increasingly reliant on teachers for nourishment and nurture and prompted a £350k summer school crowdfund.
“I will never forget this” Broadwater Farm’s summer of a lifetime
