Trailer

Show students all four short extracts (listed in order below) without any background information or preparation. The aim is to give students a broad understanding of the story of the film - can they fill in the gaps between the clips. What questions do they have? Suggested focus questions for each extract might be:

• Housing interview: Who has Cathy gone to see? What problem does Cathy have? What seems to be unfair about the process of buying a house? How do you think Reg's accident will affect the family?
• The eviction: Where are Reg and Cathy living now? How might they have found the property? Who owns the property? What is happening to them in this scene?
• Looking for a home: Why are Reg and Cathy struggling to find a house? What kinds of housing does Reg look into? Where do they appear to be living? What are the dangers of their situation?
• A troublemaker: What has changed since the last time we saw the couple? Who do you think Cathy is talking to? How does the final scene make you feel?

After watching the extracts, hear some of students' initial responses. What is the film about? When do they think the film was made? What do they notice about the style of filming?

If students would like more detailed contextual information about the film, they can read the Screenonline analysis in the main area of the site (link on the right under Related Films and TV programmes).

Main Attraction

How has the housing system has changed since the 1960s and what kind of support could Cathy and Reg look for or rely on today?

Challenge students to produce an A4 double sided leaflet, providing basic information on people's rights regarding housing in the either England Scotland or Wales, how homelessness is defined and the organisations and institutions that provide support for those who are living without a home or in temporary/overcrowded accommodation. The leaflets should be targeted at one or more specific groups (left to students' discretion), which might include:

• families like Reg and Cathy's
• young people (below or above the age of 18)
• vulnerable people - in fear of abuse of any kind

Encourage students to work in small groups, dividing up the the research and negotiating a design and layout. Some useful website links are included below.

Given their research, do students think that the housing system has improved compared to the situation shown in Cathy Come Home? Is there still shortage of affordable housing in the UK?

End Credits

Cathy Come Home had a real impact on public awareness regarding housing when it was first broadcast and even led to questions being asked in Prime Minister's question time. Why do students think the film had such a powerful effect? It might be useful to discuss the documentary style of the film in this context.

To wrap up, pose the following question: does TV today have the power to inform people about social problems and encourage political action? It's a tough one, but it will certainly produce some interesting thoughts!