Transcript Broadwater Farm

‘Success Through Caring’
A model for Community
Regeneration & Enterprise
Development
Clasford Stirling and Nigel Norie
Background: Broadwater Farm in 1981
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Inner-city estate with 1062 accomodation units
Poorly designed layout with ‘Walkways in the Sky’
Approximate population of 4000
60% unemployment among men from 18 to 55
High % of refugee and asylum seeker families
High youth crime rate
No youth club or facilities of any kind
No universal social facilities or childcare provision
Predominantly white Residents Association control
Policy of high police presence and stop and search
Poor estate maintenance and repairs
No representation for ethnic minorities
Triggers for Change:
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Oppressive police targeting of young black males
Residents Association request for on-site police station
Council offices too far away from the estate, so no access
Poorly trained estate staff
Son of Dolly Kiffin wrongfully arrested
Action for Change:
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Young people occupied unused fish & chip shop
Established the BWF Youth Association & BWFYA Co-op
Started to cook and deliver meals on wheels to elderly
Became organised and made a list of demands to council
Ethnic leaders stood for office in Residents Association
Blocked progress for new police station
Lobbied on behalf of the whole community for facilities
Planned, built and managed Enterprise Workshops
Nursery opened and managed by community
How did change happen?
• Community Leaders identified - given responsibility and
resources to represent.
• Local politicians shown to support the intiative
• Survey of residents needs compiled and listed in priority
• Skills Survey carried out of all residents by the RA
• Co-ops set up and given seed funding and contracts for
work on the estate, assisted by council officers
• Targeted training given to young people to enable work
• Landscape and refurbishment work given to local co’s
• Companies ‘encouraged’ to take on local labour
• Building Co. set up by residents to build Enterprise Wkshp
• Business Plan training given to identified entrepreneurs
• Seed funding and premises given to start-up enterprises
• Partnership working between the local community and
central and local government established
What are the benefits?
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Capacity building within all levels of the community
Democratic process embedded into all decision making
Transparency & openness between officers and residents
Local economy stimulated by income of new workers
Employment created via co-ops taking on contracts
Employment created by newly established enterprises
Community Cohesion strengthened by wide participation
Faith groups encouraged to participate in community
More open relationships with the police established
Young people are given work skills and raised esteem
Cycle of unemployment broken & families strengthened
Single parents are supported back into work
Model can be replicated and used elsewhere