communityresolve.uk

1. www.communityresolve.org.uk

2. Community relationships in crisis - ?Tensions in Bristol’s communities Hen Wilkinson Community Resolve University of West of England

3. Contemporary UK urban realities: • accelerating ethnic diversity • mobile populations • diaspora/global influences at a local level New strategies needed to address: • disparate cultural and faith references • disintegrating intergenerational relationships • shifting gender roles • historical and current political/financial contexts

4. Bristol context City among those with largest per capita GDP in the country Large number of most deprived wards in the country Among the least successful schools & highest rates of teenage pregnancy Richest areas almost entirely white Poorest areas highly mixed ethnically Tensions In schools On streets Between different cultural groups eg poorer white residents resisting new arrivals • Criminal groups/dealing activity as • reported by youth/community workers • 1. Southmead • 2. BS5/10 Manor Farm, Upper Horfield • 3. BS2 – Lower Ashley Rd • 4. BS16 – Thicket Avenue • 5. BS5 Easton • 6. BS5 Lower Easton • 7. BS1 - College Green, Central Library • 8. BS4 – Newquay Rd • 9. BS13 – Fulford Rd • 10. Whitchurch Park / Hartcliffe • Linked schools named by those involved (likely to be others) • The Orchard • Bristol Metropolitan • City Academy • Fairfield High Schools • Brunel Academy • Cabot Primary Bristol’s 2007 Indices of Deprivation

5. Demographic shifts One of highest rates of change in the country: - Average pop. growth of 5.3% (390,000 in 2001 to 410,500 in 2006) - Growth of BME communities from 8.2% in 2001 (primarily African Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani heritage) to 11.9% in 2006 (large growth in Somali population) ‘Many of those working in schools and the Council more widely, appear to lack the confidence, knowledge and skill to relate effectively with many BME communities. Cultural awareness and sensitivity – cultural competence - is widely recognised as being insufficiently developed.’ICoCo report 2009

6. One way forward? Extract learning from overseas/N Irish experience of rebuilding communities after ‘intra-state’ conflict Adapt theory/practice for local arena, to: establish/re-establish relationships address structural inequalities

7. Community Resolve:community conflict transformation We carry out • community research • conflict interventions within and between communities and young people • support for residents and families in conflict • conflict advice and coaching • training and facilitation We are committed to recruiting from local communities as well as actively training young adults to work with us. Our workers follow their passions and interest.

8. Ways of working • Action research • Cross-community development initiatives working towards shared goals • Dialogue groups • Storytelling/narrative forums • Collaborative youth programmes • Education programmes • Critical discussions about cultural diversity and respect

9. “So is it our prejudice, is it my fault, if you went up to chat to them [Somali neighbours] they’d be fine, but we don’t, so is it our prejudice?” “I just don’t want people coming over here and getting benefit ...” “They have to anyway, European government said we got to allow so much so we got this Euro allowance, is it £700 million for Somalis?” “Yes but they’re war torn aren’t they ... if you had a chance of dying over there cos there’s a war, or coming to Britain you’d come over here” “Yes but they’ve brought their shit over here” “1984 Band Aid, we’ve all given money to these same people… that’s what we’re like. We’re nice guys... comedy aid, this aid and that aid... you don’t get rich people putting their hands in their pocket.” St George pub– 8 regulars in discussion

10. Connecting Communities‘barriers to community cohesion in six Bristol wards’ March-May 2010 – we talked to 64 people in 17 groups: - 90% white British residents - 62% men - 57% tenants - 55% longstanding residents (20+ years/whole life in area) - 50% aged 16-35 Groups held where different sections of the community gather – pubs, cafes, libraries, youth clubs, hairdressers, school gates and sports/recreation venues. Short film clips and questions about - community spirit, housing availability, family, jobs, benefits, opportunities for young people & taking local action.

11. Barriers to cohesion Us/them – and there’s lots of ‘them’s’… • who they felt received favourable treatment. • who are perceived as receiving support /not, who work or don’t, pay taxes or don’t, get council houses or don’t • Underlying the ‘us / them’ stories was a powerful sense of ‘fairness / unfairness’ ‘Being a middle-aged white single male I’m not high priority for any council services’

12. Lack and loss … of civility, security & community spirit • How things had changed in their local area • New arrivals scapegoated - increasing racial diversity • Lack of neighbourliness, of not greeting each other, not socialising • Lack of opportunities to come together (especially with the decline in pubs), to take part in communal activities • Men feeling as if they were objects of suspicion (CRB checks) • Wistful stories of how they can no longer say hello to a neighbour’s daughters, or joke with a small girl in the butchers. ‘More and more people speak to you less and less’

13. Shifting values – the work ethic, consumption and consideration • the lack of a work ethic (although seen in other ethnic groups with some jealousy • the destructiveness of easy credit, ‘everything now’ culture • a lack of discipline and respect at home and in school - parents seen by some as a root cause of the problem • a world dominated by technology, high levels of consumption and throwaway consumerism • a decline in decent employment opportunities • a lack of intergenerational activities. ‘None of the kids know how to cook anymore’ ‘No-one knows how to sew, or like to put on a button’

14. Poverty traps … physical, financial, emotional, aspirational • Expensive and inadequate public transport – and huge impact on work, social and family life • Few opportunities for employment, competition with Polish workers • financial climate driving down men’s wages and putting pressure on working conditions • being better off on benefits - including those receiving them • being unable to compete in the labour market, being ‘left behind’ • being targeted by loan sharks ‘if [young people] do get a job then none of their friends have got jobs and they’re isolated… so what they know is what they stay with so people deliberately hold themselves back...’

15. Recommendations Local government support and city-wide policy shifts • Provide accessible, engaging and transparent information on key areas of bad feeling – eg housing allocations, transport • Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of little/no job security on the ‘working poor’ and unemployed, and provide support • Encourage sociability through numerous community hubs / places to meet • Develop thriving local economies - local trade/barter, local jobs etc Building on local strengths and skills • Draw on local knowledge so people feel valued & can contribute • Re-learning of basic skills – budgets, sewing, cooking, ‘make do and mend’ • Remove barriers that stop men volunteering/operating in their community Encourage sociability, civility and a sense of individual responsibility • Counter the drift towards social isolation and community fragmentation • Challenge specific rumours that are destructive of social fabric and cohesion.

16. Outcomes from research • 3pp summary expanding on recommendations • Circulated to councillors / community development workers • £7,500 per ward to improve cohesion for the benefit of local residents. *Improving Neighbourhood Partnerships/Forums * Addressing particular areas of tension - eg housing allocation, planning *Support to community hubs or projects accessed by local residents *Volunteering support to local residents *Capacity building training for local residents *Inter-generational projects * Project work with a particular group ie Dads or young people *Local street parties/fun days *Community support in schools *Cross cultural events *Discussion groups *Skill Sharing

17. Creating community resilience • Social challenges – social cohesion, levels of social capital • Psychological challenges – negative stereotypes and prejudices, unsettled grievances • Structural challenges - ongoing disparity in social, economic and political power, structural and cultural violence

18. Conclusion • Challenge of social cohesion in UK’s diverse inner city areas – multiple realities vying for place • Building a shared language/approach to conflict across city useful platform for cohesion/dialogue • Actively recruiting and training from local communities provides leadership and models cohesive working • Organisation has amassed large numbers of supporters from all walks of life - demonstrates potential for mobilisation as well as broad appeal

19. www.communityresolve.org.uk