At the last Spaces + Places meeting, we asked the group to reflect on the latest data about Barking & Dagenham. Their responses ranged from surprise to frustration, despair to determination.
‘Spaces + Places’ brings residents together to decide how to invest £1 million in a community space. The residents, called Neighbourhood Stewards, are building their understanding of local needs so they can recommend how we invest the money.
Statistics aren't the full picture
After reviewing the statistics, many were shocked that crime rates are below average. It contradicted their personal feelings about safety. In fact, talk of crime and antisocial behaviour took up a large chunk of our conversation on 12 February.
For some, the statistics were all too familiar. The borough has the lowest life expectancy in London, the highest rate of domestic abuse, and some of the highest levels of childhood obesity. “None of this is a surprise” one Steward said, while another commented the figures made them feel “powerless” and questioned how meaningful change could be achieved.
From feeling powerless to togetherness
While this may sound negative, by sharing their fears and their feelings the Stewards were better able to understand each other’s perspectives before they moved on to discuss how they might create a sense of “togetherness”.
As the conversation continued Stewards shared activities they knew were offered in the borough and acknowledged they aren’t reaching a wider audience because of lack of promotion or barriers to access.
The conversation progressed to talk of ‘third spaces’ (not home or work), and intergenerational activities for older and younger people to learn from each other and “break down barriers”. Several Stewards said they love living here, while others highlighted the borough’s diversity as a strength.
By the end of the session, the group talked hopefully about using the Spaces + Places investment to create a “magical” and “beautiful” asset for the borough.
Statistics to solutions
While some of the stats felt bleak, they also served as a call to action. One Steward noted:
“It makes me feel like making changes, to improve the situation.”
Over the next six months Neighbourhood Stewards will build their understanding of local needs, learn about investment, hear from community-asset experts and go on field trips so they can make well-informed recommendations.
But as the group noted, there’s only so much we can achieve through Spaces + Places and there’s lots to do. One resident asked:
“With the borough so close to the capital, why are the statistics so grim?”
It’s a question worth reflecting on. Why is Barking & Dagenham so consistently underfunded? With so much potential in London’s youngest borough, funders and decision makers must turn their attention 9 miles east of Westminster.
