Carlton’s programming plays an important role in raising public awareness and stimulating debate by regularly covering social and environmental issues.

In the London region Guns On Our Streets addressed the problem of a rising gun culture and black on black crime in some parts of the capital. Carlton London also broadcast programmes on the impact of alcohol including advice on safer drinking. Other programmes tackled the lives of children on a housing estate, post-natal depression, green housing and mental health.

HTV and Carlton West Country produced What On Earth, a week long series coinciding with the Earth Summit in Johannesburg. HTV’s programmes also covered organic gardening, conservation and a controversial landfill site in Rhondda.

Carlton Central’s Teen Week covered issues facing teenagers including, under-age sex and pregnancy, body-image and drugs. Teen Week linked with local organisations and agencies to provided advice and support to the region’s young. Central’s daily programme Life Line kept health issues on the agenda, while Waterworld drew attention to wildlife in the region’s canals.

ITV is committed to programming that attracts viewers by reflecting regional issues relevant to their lives. Our programmes include award-winning documentaries tackling local community issues such as London’s First Edition: Living in A Box; Carlton West Country’s How Green is Our Valley, HTV’s Melting Pot and Central’s Rock Legends: UB40.

Carlton also partnered with British Gas, to develop an innovative energy efficiency campaign. The result, Energy Idols, featured children in one minute films telling viewers about their energy saving ideas.