‘Success Through Caring’ A model for Community Regeneration & Enterprise Development

1. Broadwater Farm‘To achieve what you have never achieved before and to do what you’ve never done’Creativity and Participation to Promote Integration ‘Success Through Caring’ A model for Community Regeneration & Enterprise Development Clasford Stirling and Nigel Norie

2. Background: Broadwater Farm in 1981 • 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

3. Triggers for Change: • 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: • 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

4. 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

5. What are the benefits? • 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