Community leisure trust, Oldham Active, has announced a new creative partnership with Rochdale-based production company, Breaking Barriers, to launch ‘Your Voice, Your Stories’ – a series of six short documentary-style films celebrating local residents and community projects.
Oldham Active commissioned the award-winning, community-focused production house to bring Oldham Active’s customers’ experiences to life. Over a six-month period, each film will spotlight a key theme, ranging from youth engagement and mental health to supporting long-term health conditions, ageing well, tackling deprivation and improving employment opportunities.
The project directly champions early-career talent in the creative industries, as part of Breaking Barriers’ commitment to offering hands-on, paid opportunities for local young people aged 18 to 25. Aspiring filmmakers Hannah, aged 20, and Adam, 22, are both earning their very first professional production credit through the campaign, with Hannah working across the first three films and Adam leading on the remaining three.
Stuart Lockward, CEO, Oldham Active says: “As Oldham takes centre stage as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2026, we wanted to capture the real, unscripted human stories behind our leisure services, which are rooted in our local communities, supporting health, wellbeing and social connection. Breaking Barriers’ track record in creating impactful films with local people made them the perfect partner.
“These films aren't about picture-perfect workouts or polished marketing, they show the real everyday stories of local people and we can’t wait to showcase how our services benefit everyone, at every stage of life.”
Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director at Breaking Barriers, says: “We are storytellers at heart, and being selected to document the stories behind Oldham Active’s incredible services is something we are genuinely thrilled about. These are real, human stories of young
people, families, older residents and everyone in between, all finding connection, confidence and community through the facilities on their doorstep.
“What makes this project even more special is the opportunity it creates for young people from Oldham itself. Giving Hannah and Adam their first professional production credits, young people who grew up here and who used these very leisure centres, is exactly what Breaking Barriers is about. Providing meaningful, paid opportunities for early-career talent from the communities we work in is as important to us as the films we make.”
Hannah, originally from Oldham, is studying for a degree in Filmmaking and Creative Technologies at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and will be working as a film assistant on the project. She says: “When looking for creative jobs, everyone asks for professional credits, but it’s hard to get that first credit without already having one, so this opportunity is fantastic. Beyond that, having my very first industry project based in Oldham where I grew up and to film in leisure centres I spent time in as a child has been so much fun.
“At university, everything you do with a camera is assessed to strict criteria, but working alongside the Breaking Barriers team as a camera assistant is giving me the freedom to play around, test out different shots and actually apply what I've learned to real-world environments. Capturing content and interviewing everyone, from energetic kids at dance and swimming classes to parents and instructors, was a great experience. I’m keen to see more creative work opportunities in the North.”
The films will feature a distinct visual style, blending testimonial footage of local people with custom 2D animations that bring personal journeys to life. The first film, focusing on youth activities including gymnastics, swimming, dance and football, is currently in production.
The films will roll out sequentially across Oldham Active’s website and social media platforms and other digital channels. The campaign will also culminate in a special stakeholder cinema-style premiere event, where all six films will be screened for participants, local partners and community leaders.
Adam, from Oldham, is studying Film Making at Manchester Metropolitan University and will start working on the final three films in the new year. He says: “As someone born and raised in Oldham with firsthand experience using Oldham Active’s leisure centres,
I’m keen to showcase our town in a more positive light. It will be wonderful to see these films on the big screen and share my passion for filmmaking and my home town with friends, family and the wider community.”
