The Respite Association exposes a broken system

Created by Partizan director Rob Sanderson for The Respite Association, this impactful film paints a striking portrait of disability advocate Isaac Harvey MBE and the failing system that left him without the care he needed.  

Titled Member of the British Empire, the two-and-a-half-minute film splices intimate footage and archival content to document how Harvey was forced from his family home after his local council was unable to provide appropriate respite care for his 83-year-old mother. 

The film reflects on how delay, confusion and unsuitable solutions can leave disabled people without dignity, safety, or certainty at the moments they most need support.

Director and editor Sanderson said: “When I saw Isaac’s social media posts, his sense of frustration and powerlessness was palpable,” says Sanderson. “He writes brilliantly and conveys his emotions with authenticity and clarity. I found it so affecting that I wanted to turn that complex swirl of emotions, relationships and circumstances into a film. Conceptually, it came together almost instantly. All that was left was to make it.”