Over 60 Harrow residents, councillors, faith leaders and community organisations gathered at Holy Trinity Church in Wealdstone for the first in a growing series of local screenings of The People’s Emergency Briefing.
“I am so shocked by what I’ve seen.” was one of the first reactions after the lights came back on at Holy Trinity Church, where residents watched a film on the risks climate change and nature loss pose to our country.
How did this all come together?
The screening was spearheaded by Charlotte Woodbridge (no relation) who has lived in Harrow for over 40 years and is a member of Christian Climate Action. She explained, “I just wanted to bring some community leaders, along with other local people, to see this film and have honest conversations about what this means for Harrow residents. And how, in Harrow, we could begin to think through ways to mitigate some of the possible effects, and help our elected representatives be confident enough, in having our backing, to press for government, and local government, action.”
The church was selected as a venue willing to support the screening, and was hosted by the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Revd Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy.
The 45min film which was released on April 7 2026 is a mix between a documentary and a national risk briefing, warning viewers on the loss of nature, rising temperatures and extreme weather with food security.
Its message is that climate change is not a distant environmental issue. Failed harvests and disrupted supply chains can affect food prices, while heat, floods and fires can place pressure on homes, health services and infrastructure.
Charlotte is passionate about the planet and ensuring many people have access to the film and will continue to arrange these screenings.
For many in the room, seeing those risks connected was difficult to absorb. One attendee reflected after the screening “I feel incredibly angry that politicians say they don’t have money for net zero.”
Another local attendee, Cliff Price said: “I feel it is important for the general public to confront this informed knowledge, rather than sleepwalking into climate catastrophe.”
The screening was followed by small group discussions, giving people time to process what they had watched and consider what action could be taken locally.
One attendee said they felt “energised that we can take action through our governments, our councils and our churches and then went on to explain, “everyone has agency on this. We all make decisions about what we eat, how we get around and whether we take care of wildlife”
The sentiment was clear, if you care about the planet, get out and do something. “If we only tell our politicians about fly-tipping and potholes, that is all they will answer to. Use your voice.”
This move from evidence to discussion is central to the screenings. Churches, community groups and other organisations can bring people together to watch the same briefing, then create space for local conversation and action.
Many attendees raised their hands to say they would write to their MP and ask them to support the Parliamentary Call. Others said they would consider hosting a screening themselves.
Messages from Harrow MP Gareth Thomas, and Cllr Raymond Grant
Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas, who was unable to attend, sent a message saying climate change was already affecting people and public services.Councillor Raymond Grant also warned that society was “sleepwalking into oblivion” and failing future generations.
Closing the event, Bishop Lusa described the film as “compelling” and spoke of finding “a thread of hope after these awakenings”.
That hope was visible in the room. The screening did not minimise the risks, but it gave residents and local organisations a shared starting point for discussion and wider conversation.
Voluntary Action Harrow will host two further screenings at Victoria Hall on Tuesday, 21 July, from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm. Holy Trinity Church is also planning another screening on Tuesday, 20 October.
Buy tickets – Voluntary Action Harrow
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Carly is a creative writer with a wide range of interests and a genuine curiosity about people and their experiences. She’s community-focused and enjoys telling real, relatable stories. When she’s not writing, she’s usually exploring something new or working on one of her many projects.
