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THE STRANGEST VILLAGE IN BRITAIN

Channel 4, 16 June

STAR RATING: 1/5

This latest offering in the Only Human series was filmed at Botton village in Yorkshire. Its approach was underlined by the statement that here "is where being different is the norm". The "villagers" were described as having "special needs, including Down's syndrome, autism and mental illness", write Jean Collins and David McCann.

The film focused on six residents whose institutionalised behaviour was presented for the audience to gawp at in a manner reminiscent of a freak-show. Many scenes followed of chaotic and aimless argument, bitterness and distress, with bullying and physical aggression on show.

Botton is still sufficiently popular with local authorities and families to have a long waiting list, but whether it is equally popular with disabled people was not discussed. Do the "villagers" choose, like their non-disabled "co-workers", to be part of this isolated Christian community?

Do they choose to live as part of a pseudo-family with non-disabled "house parents" and their children? It was never considered.
One man was seen moving into a bedsit after 25 years at Botton. The film focused on his subsequent confusion as if the move itself were to blame. The conclusion we were expected to draw was: safe and secure in Botton; vulnerable and unsupported in the wider world.

Where was Valuing People? Where was person-centred planning? Where were people's rights? This film took us back 50 years.

Jean Collins is chief executive and David McCann is project worker at Values Into Action