Clare in the Community

Clare in the Community is a British comic strip in The Guardian newspaper, written by Harry Venning. The title is a pun on 'care in the community'. The strip has been successfully adapted for radio.

Clare is a social worker with all the right jargon who likes to sort out other people's problems while ignoring her own. She is white, middle class and heterosexual - but doesn't like to be reminded of it. She is a control freak but both her personal and professional lives are out of control.

Series 1
Babysitter. Clare is tricked into babysitting Helen's difficult teenage son, but after an awkward start they become friends. 
Adoption. A couple moves into the flat above, and Clare and Brian are kept awake by noisy sex. 
Glad To Be Ray. Clare feels that Ray is too insular, and wonders why she has never been invited to his flat. She drops round uninvited when an opportunity arises. 
Last Words. When one of Clare's clients, a cantankerous old woman, dies, Clare uses the funeral as a reason to take the afternoon off. 
Combat Zone. Clare and Brian get stranded in a rough part of town when their car runs out of petrol. 
Stage Fright. Brian writes a play for his school drama club, about a misunderstood man in a relationship with a cold, unreasonable woman. 

Series 2
Past Caring. Clare meets an old acquaintance, and Clare's workmates go out for Brian's birthday meal. 
Relax. Clare and Brian try to go on holiday. 
Meet The Press. Clare is delighted to be asked to do an interview for Woman's Hour, and Brian is having trouble with an unscrupulous pupil. 
Brian Come Home. Brian storms out after an argument, and moves in with Simon for a while. 
Mean Streets. Clare and her workmates help count homeless people, but it becomes competitive. Megan is preparing for the birth of her baby. 
Doolah's Choice. Simon and Helen get married, and Megan has her baby. 


Series 3
Letter From America. Clare has a pen friendship with a death row prisoner in the US. He learns all about her relationship and work life. 
Merry Christmas Mrs Lawrance. Clare and Brian visit her parents on Christmas day, and Clare goes to fetch her granny from an old people's home. 
Brenda's Birthday. Clare is coerced into helping Megan organize her one-year-old daughter's birthday party.
We Need To Talk About Brian. While 'de-cluttering', Brian's diary from his student days turns up. Although he had already met Clare, there are numerous references to his "Dark Lady". Is he hiding something? 
The Redcap. Clare has a new student social worker with an army background, which is good as Clare doesn't have time to toughen up trainees.
Clare's Last Stand. Clare and her colleagues are enjoying an easy day at a conference - until Clare's nemesis Peggy turns up and issues a challenge that Clare can't refuse.


Series 4
Mother Of All Mothers. Clare's mother piles pressure onto her already faltering relationship with Brian.
A Game Of Two Slavs. At couples counselling, Clare and Brian are encouraged to share their interests.
And The Winner Is. Nominations are required for the Social Worker of the Year Award.
Carry On Up The Amazon. Helen's son is supposed to be travelling during his gap year. So how come Clare finds him living in a squat? 
My Funny Valentine. Brian is amazed that Clare has remembered Valentine's Day and booked a restaurant.
The Long Goodbye. Ray's colleagues celebrate his civil partnership and Brian reassesses his life.


Series 5
Name Calling. There are still plenty of challenges out there for a caring social worker. Or even Clare.
Too Cool For School. Clare manages to make a friend.
Girls On Film. Clare has a new trainee social worker to break in and becomes the subject of a documentary.
It's Good To Talk. An old university friend visits with a confession to make.
Garden Party. Clare organises a petition to keep the Sparrowhawk Family Centre open.
The 1864 Mining Disaster. Clare organises a charity benefit to try to keep the Sparrowhawk Family Centre open.


Series 6
Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire. Clare is now acting team leader as Irene has job swapped. And while Irene is in Melbourne the team are joined by her Aussie counterpart Libby.
Luck Of The Irish. Clare is delighted to find she has an Irish ancestor.
Some Others Do 'Ave 'Em. Clare is back on the social work frontline as a vomiting bug hits her colleagues. Ben and Nali take baby Thomas out for the day and Helen attends the police liaison meeting.
Clare v God. Clare doesn't like people on her patch especially if they're an interfering Vicar.
In The Dog House. Clare is entranced by a dog that follows her into work; Brian less so. However, the dog comes in useful when there's a bump in the night.
The Crush. Clare decides to focus her attention on her son, Thomas. This leads to a chance meeting at Toddler Tunes that could change the course of Clare's life. Meanwhile, Brian's admiration for Nali grows when she visits his school and tames Year Nine. All this plus Clare and Libby both interview for the Team Leader post.

Series 7

The Prisoner. Will the Sparrowhawk Family Centre survive the Big Society? And, at home, will Clare and Brian's relationship survive his infidelity?
To Kill a Mocking Bird. Clare ends her relationship with Brian and is surprised by her colleagues' reaction to the news. On the plus side, she's a single parent.
Rude Girl. Clare is concerned she may be linguistically out of touch with today's youth, and Brian fails to impress Clare with numerous romantic gestures. A Heating Engineer causes a stir in the Family Centre and Megan causes chaos.
Debt of Honour. Clare is plagued by Brian's marriage proposals, her driving lessons lead to an unexpected encounter and there is an unveiling at the family centre.
Heroes. Clare encounters the man whose music influenced and shaped her as a teenager. Meanwhile, Brian has to break some bad news to Nali.
Basic Attraction. Finally, it is Clare and Brian's wedding day. But first there is the Hen Party and Stag Night to get through.