A "unprecedented" documentary series and combined forum looking at the social divide between the youth and elderly in Bermuda will start this week.

The Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) spearheaded the documentary, titled 'Between the Cracks' in partnership with charities Age Concern and The Family Centre.

Little is known about how Bermuda patterns its current social fabric across generations and the underlying challenges faced by the young and old, said Darlene Ming, programme director at BBC and project coordinator.

In the summer of 2007, the BBC assembled a production team to undertake a documentary series and the result has been the compilation of a number of provocative personal stories about the issues faced by elders, youth and their families.

Ms Ming explained: "Our production team was very moved by what they saw and heard. We have tried to capture on camera the compelling realities of these two groups who need to be understood, protected and valued as a vital part of this community."

Each of three events to take place include a showing of the documentary (there are three parts), a forum and a panel discussion.

The first event of the 'Between the Cracks' series will be hosted by Age Concern on Thursday at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

It will include a forum, moderated by Charles Jeffers and a panel discussion. It will begin at 6.30 p.m. with refreshments and vendor displays. Space is limited, those interested in attending should call Age Concern at 238-7525 to reserve seating.

The second event, on March 18, will focus on young people and will be organised by The Family Centre and will take place at the Number Six Shed on Front Street.

Martha Dismont, executive director of The Family Centre, said: "The youth forum will utilise young people to facilitate a public discussion.

"That will be on the best ways for the community including our elders, to get involved in their lives. The challenges facing our young people are becoming increasingly important. This is as the country is coming to collectively understanding that it is essential for us to heal in order to pass on a legacy of harmony and hope to our children."

For more information on this event, contact The Family Centre at 232-1116.

The final event will take place on April 17 at Charities House on Point Finger Road, Paget. It will consist of the final screening of the documentary and see a forum between the young and the old.

Claudette Fleming, executive director of Age Concern, added: "Each of the forums will have a section with what we call 'a call to action' where we will be calling the public to join us or informing them as to how they can get involved in the lives of our young people and elders."

Eli Sherrell, the documentaries consultant producer and writer commented: "I came to be a part of this team to try to put together a bridge of what's happening with the youth and the elderly because these are two groups that are overlooked.

"As the middle group, (we) don't think about the youth anymore — because we're beyond that — and we don't think about the elderly because we havent gotten there yet.

"But that is a bridge that we have and can hold the ends of and bring them both together."