Independent stories. Shared places.
Common Threads is an independent journalism and visual storytelling platform exploring the people, places and issues shaping our communities, with a particular focus on stories and perspectives often overlooked by mainstream media.
Based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, Common Threads focuses on stories from Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Wigan and surrounding areas, while occasionally exploring stories from further afield.
From grassroots music, theatre and local creativity to community life, social care and the experiences of those whose voices often go unheard, Common Threads brings together a diverse range of stories.
Why Common Threads?
At its heart is the belief that local journalism should be about more than clickbait headlines. It should reflect the communities it serves, telling the stories of the people who live there, celebrating what they’re doing and shining a light on the challenges they face.
Through Common Threads, I want to create a space where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences and have a say in how their stories are told. A space that celebrates local creativity, asks difficult questions and explores the issues affecting everyday lives.
It’s about telling the positive stories without shying away from the more difficult ones.
Behind Common Threads
I’m Lois Barnett, a freelance journalist, photographer and visual storyteller based in Leigh, Greater Manchester.
With a background in writing and visual journalism, my work focuses on community stories, grassroots arts and culture, documentary photography and the social issues affecting people’s everyday lives.
I started Common Threads to bring these different strands of my work together and create a space for independent, people-centred storytelling, putting people and their experiences front and centre and giving them greater agency in how their stories are told.
Get Involved
Common Threads is a growing independent project, with community voices at the heart of everything it aims to achieve.
Whether you have a personal experience to share, know of a local creative project or believe there’s an issue that deserves greater attention, I’d love to hear from you.
After all, it’s your community and your stories that matter.
Every place has a story. What’s yours?
