By Richard McKeever
Newham in east London is currently undergoing a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity as regeneration of our area, in preparation for the London Olympics 2012, gets underway. Alongside the facilities for the Games millions of pounds are being spent on further building and infrastructure projects which are changing the landscape of east London. Despite the recent economic crises London is still the fourth largest financial centre in the world; a prosperous city.
Yet at the same time over half of the children living in Newham – the Olympic borough -are living in poverty with family income below the government’s stated poverty line of 60% of current national median income; struggling through another day.
It’s a complex picture. Regeneration could, if handled well, create opportunities and enhanced life chances for local communities who have experienced deprivation over generations. Newham has one of the youngest populations in the UK and youth, along with the diversity of east London’s communities, featured significantly in the successful Olympic bid. The promise of community renewal was big part of the Olympic legacy.
So opportunities and possibilities abound … potentially… however as we face recession hopes of “Olympic Gold for all” recede further.
As a locally based organisation we are working … from the ground up, with local communities understanding how people interact with employment, education and welfare services. We take the local experience and, through our research. develop policy recommendations based on the knowledge of those who experience these problems; day in day out.
Our latest publications, launched today, draw together our analysis of complex situations like these, which we as a multipurpose organisation, are engaged with on many levels. The Social Change Series summarise our recent research and sets out our national policy recommendations based on the local evidence.
The first two in the Community Links Social Change Series are available now:
- SC1 Regeneration features our research into the Regeneration of Newham and east London. An article by Community Links co-founder Kevin Jenkins highlights how a focus on buildings and infrastructure risks missing a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in the potential for local communities and young people.
- SC2 Child Poverty highlights the extent of Child Poverty in east London, summarises our research and makes recommendations for change. Aaron Barbour, LinksUK Research and policy manager sets the local picture in a national context. The booklet also contains case studies illustrating the stark reality of families experiencing poverty.
Copies can be downloaded from our website.
Printed copies available on request.
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