A charity that criticised Benefits Street has issued a “self-defence kit” for communities who want to fight off unwanted attention from reality TV producers.

Oasis, a community charity which runs a primary school on James Turner Street in Birmingham where the controversial Channel 4 series Benefits Street was filmed, has launched a self-help kit on its website.

The charity campaigned against the show earlier this year, claiming it misrepresented residents on the street.

Oasis founder Reverend Steve Chalke said Oasis released the self-defence kit after being approached by residents in Southampton - where follow-up series Immigration Street is to be filmed- about unwarranted attention from reality TV producers.

The “toolkit” for schools, churches and other community groups, contains advice on how communities can fight off unwanted attention and “correct” negative perceptions after a show has been broadcast.

What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Show all 9 1 /9 What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes We think more immigrants claim benefits than they do A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times earlier in January showed that the British public are way off with their estimation of how many immigrants claim jobseekers allowance What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Immigration and benefits Three quarters (76%) of us oppose immigrants being allowed benefits in their first year of residency Getty What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Two thirds of us don't like the system as it is Two thirds (66%) of us think the benefits system is unfit for purpose.. something the Conservatives have saying since they first unveiled the cuts Getty Images What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Benefits Street documentaries don't help Nearly half of us (45%) think people on benefits are portrayed unfairly. In Scotland, 62% think the portrayal of people on benefits is unfair (compared to 45% in the whole of the UK). In London this changes to 40% Channel 4 What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Toughen up benefit rules Two-thirds (66%) want tougher rules about who can claim benefits (picture shows James Turner Street in Birmingham, the setting for Channel 4's documentary series 'Benefits Street') Creative Commons/Peter Whatley What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes We're wrong on benefit fraud According to a study published by Royal Statistical Society and King's College in July, the public think that £24 of every £100 of benefits is fraudulently claimed. Official estimates are that just 70 pence in every £100 is fraudulent - so the public conception is out by a factor of 34 Dan Kitwood/Getty Images What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes We would prefer to make it harder for immigrants to claim benefits A similar poll by YouGov for the Sunday Times in January showed that support for limiting migrants' benefits was widespread What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Poverty and inequality is a big issue for us An Ipsos Mori poll from January showed that poverty and inequality is becoming increasingly important for British people What Britain thinks of benefits: perception, reality and winning votes Benefits is less of an issue than it has been The same Ipsos Mori poll from January showed that pensions/benefits and social security was by far a more pressing issue for other governments, at least by the British public's perception

The kit also contains a TV producer “decoder” to translate when a producer might “really mean” when they say what sort of programme they want to make.

Rev Chalke said: “We can't proactively defend every community in the country... however we believe that the new self defence kit will give people the chance to benefit from what we've learnt.

"We may all dream of having our five minutes of fame, but in recent years countless communities have seen just how savage the spotlight can be."

Benefits Street sparked more than 900 complaints, but Ofcom said the broadcaster did not breach any of its responsibilities under the broadcasting code.

Filming on a second series of Benefits Street is already underway in Stockton-on-Tees, documentary makers Love Productions has confirmed.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “We are always transparent and clear with residents in the extensive briefings that are given pre-filming and operate highly robust duty of care protocols for contributors which were praised by the regulator Ofcom as 'demonstrating best practice'.