Tower Hamlets Plan: our borough, our plan 2018-2023

Working together for a better borough Contents

Our vision 03

Introduction from the Mayor 04

Tower Hamlets: a borough of opportunity 05

The challenge ahead: tackling inequality by building a strong, 09 inclusive and fair borough

Our commitments 13

How we will achieve this: our model of change 14

Our next steps 17

02 Our vision

The Tower Hamlets Plan sets out from a wide range of people so we this plan: tackling inequality by all of us - those of us who live in our shared vision for the future recruited community researchers building a strong, inclusive and the borough, people who work of our borough. to tap into their local networks, fair borough and the four themes and study here and our thriving reaching people that have typically that we will focus on. voluntary and community sector. Tower Hamlets is one of the been under-represented in Only if we all play our part will we most dynamic, exciting and engagement exercises and asked This Plan sets out our priorities over achieve our shared ambitions. diverse places in the country. It what matters most to them. We the next five years and the ways is a borough with a rich history; have used this information to help in which we will work together people are proud to be part of us identify our key objective for to achieve them. It is a plan for this community. Tower Hamlets is also a place of contrasts and contradictions, where a thriving economy co-exists with high our role levels of poverty. But above all it – We will combine our skills and resources, because working together as a team will bring is a place of opportunity. A place about better outcomes for local people. where we can build on the stories of our past, on the great progress we have already made, and on our many strengths, to ensure that this is a borough where all residents your role can thrive. – Play your part and get involved to bring about powerful change in your neighbourhood In the summer of 2017 we and the borough. commissioned a range of evidence gathering projects to provide a robust evidence base for a new borough plan. We met with our partners, stakeholders and residents together to understand the local concerns and changes we want to see. We – We will take action on the things that matter most to you. wanted to make sure we heard

03 Introduction from the Mayor John Biggs Over the past 12 months I have should be: clean and well looked issues set out here, coordinating been working with borough after, with streets and estates that and joining up our efforts where leaders from organisations and feel safer, a fairer place with more possible, and speaking with one community groups representing access to affordable housing voice on behalf of the borough. every corner of Tower Hamlets: and where our residents achieve From Government cuts, welfare the council, the NHS, education their potential. It sets out our key reform, rising demand for local institutions, the police and fire objective, which partners believe services, our fast-growing service, housing associations and they can collectively influence: population to Brexit – there are representatives from the business tackling inequality by building lots of challenges on the horizon. community, faith leaders and a strong, inclusive and fair But I believe that by working community groups. Together we borough, and the four themes together we can ensure our are the Tower Hamlets Partnership. we will focus on. We know we community continues to go from cannot tackle everything at strength to strength. We came together to ask once, therefore the Partnership ourselves a simple question: how will concentrate on fewer things can we make our borough the where we believe we can have best possible place to live? To the greatest impact. explore this question we have reviewed evidence about what is This Plan is only the beginning. It happening in our borough in key is clear from our conversations areas such as health, education that Tower Hamlets is a borough John Biggs and employment, spoken to that is rich in people and and many of our residents and hosted organisations committed to our Chair of the Tower Hamlets the first ever Tower Hamlets shared objectives. But we cannot Partnership Executive Group Community Summit, at which achieve them alone. It is clear that nearly 300 local stakeholders we can only improve local lives by gathered to meet each other and working together. share ideas. The Tower Hamlets Partnership is This Plan is the result of those united behind this common vision. conversations. It is our shared We commit to providing leadership vision for what our borough on the complex, cross-cutting

04 Tower Hamlets: a borough of opportunity Tower Hamlets is a place with a the job opportunities offered by After years of investment and hard rich history or, as many people the rest of . work by our teachers and others who contributed to this Plan we have some of the best schools observed, “many rich histories”. in the country. From its beginnings as an historic We have more jobs docks and manufacturing area than the number it has grown and developed of working age at a faster rate than anywhere residents 37 schools rated else in the UK. This culturally rich ‘Outstanding’, and diverse area faces unique 60 rated ‘Good’ challenges as it moves from a We are the and only three place of deprivation to become fourth youngest ‘Requiring an extension of the central London borough in the UK: Improvement’ economic powerhouse and a almost half of our vibrant borough in its own right. residents (47 %) are aged 20-39 We have great transport links, we “There are real are rich in award-winning open opportunities in Tower “Tower Hamlets is one of green spaces, and we have a the leading performing highly-regarded hospital and good Hamlets, because there is health services. such a strong corporate boroughs in education sector” – local partner up to the age of 16” – local partner More affordable homes are built here There are great opportunities in than anywhere else Tower Hamlets. We have centres of huge employment and new in the country residential developments across the borough. We have the second largest economy in the country, and we are close to the city and

05 and festivals. People told us they “It is a lovely area to also value the borough’s strong “Young Muslim women live in, there are very voluntary and community sector, have high aspirations the Ideas Stores and sports facilities nice parks and a nice and the local markets and other but face a number of community” – resident accessible local amenities. barriers” – local partner

Over the past three decades our We are also one of the most vibrant population has more than doubled There is a huge amount to celebrate and diverse communities in the UK. and we are still growing. about life in Tower Hamlets, and Local people are proud of the high the Partnership will take every levels of community cohesion. It is a testament to our vibrancy opportunity to highlight these and welcome that the borough is successes. One of the recurring such an attractive place to live. themes of our conversations was the feeling that the portrayal of 137 languages Tower Hamlets in the media and are spoken in Our population elsewhere does not reflect the our schools 137 many positive stories we have to recently broke tell, and that this affects the way alone and through the people think about their experience 86% of 300,000 mark of living in the borough. We want residents feel that people and is projected people to have positive associations from different backgrounds to be approaching 400,000 about life in Tower Hamlets, and get on well together by 2027 this Plan and the associated communications campaign that we are launching is part of that effort. People we spoke to value the rich “We need to support cultural offer that comes with this mix, and the new opportunities and encourage young to celebrate this diversity that people to think about we have worked hard to create, university” – local partner through free community events

06 However, we must not hide from This is the highest poverty rate the fact that Tower Hamlets is across all local authorities in The rate of adults receiving also a borough of contradictions. England and Wales, and almost long term support from double the national average. adult social Despite the economic opportunities in our borough, care is among the highest in many in our community do not The employment London benefit from them. rate of residents is below the national average Many in our community The borough is the tenth experience loneliness which is most deprived local closely associated with a range of We know that in-work poverty health issues. authority in England is increasing in the borough. And and has the highest although many of our young levels of pensioner people do very well at school, poverty and child improvements in education do “Even though I like poverty in England not always translate into better my community there opportunities in the jobs market for are some issues with them, and too few go on to the best segregation between An estimated four universities and break into top jobs. groups” – resident 4 in 10 in ten households The borough is tackling some of in Tower Hamlets the toughest health inequalities in are living below the the UK caused by deprivation and poverty line, after housing related housing and employment costs are taken into account needs.

07 Many people we spoke to said These contradictions, or that we could do more to improve inequalities, are what we, the access to and use of our green partners and people of Tower spaces. We also know that crime Hamlets, want to address. They and anti-social behaviour is a are the focus of this Plan. key concern for local people, and has an impact on quality of life for the whole community. “I feel very isolated. It is Despite significant growth in worse now than it used housing in the borough, too many households are waiting for to be” – resident housing, and affordability remains a challenge. “People want Although local people say that opportunities to mix at a they get on well together, we neighbourhood level” – understand they often feel that they are living parallel lives - local partner happily existing alongside each other but never truly integrating. We want to build a strong community where people come together as one. And while we have a thriving voluntary sector, many local people want to be active in their community but find it difficult to overcome barriers to doing so.

08 The challenge ahead

Tackling inequality by building route our young people choose we supported outside of education to a strong, inclusive and fair want to equip them with the skills play a positive role in the borough, “We could do some work borough and confidence to succeed in the for example through youth facilities on apprenticeships to raise modern economy. and sports clubs, and benefit their profile and desirability” As we developed this Plan, nearly from being part of an active and every piece of evidence that we We also want to ensure that our integrated community. – local partner reviewed and conversation that children and young people are took place spoke to the need to utilise the huge opportunities and assets that we have and to Spotlight youth facility respondents which helped secure positive work with young people translate those opportunities into £4 million in external funding. from the local area. benefits for everyone. Set up by Poplar HARCA, Spotlight is a youth focused Since opening, Spotlight has Spotlight facilities include a music We have identified four themes facility where young people can engaged over 7,000 young recording studio, media suite, which we will focus our efforts on think creatively, gain confidence people of which 42% are female. radio room, boxing gym, theatre to help us achieve our objective: and pursue opportunities they The success in serving such a space, games area, café and may not have thought possible. relatively high proportion of dance studios. (i) A better deal for children Spotlight is a safe and inclusive female users has been attributed and young people: aspiration, space providing free services for to a mixture of offering safe and education and skills 11-19 year olds. Over 50 partners secure facilities, female focussed currently provide services at activities and plenty of female High quality education is a stepping Spotlight. staff. stone to high quality employment. We will continue to work hard to Opened in 2014, Spotlight was According to the Metropolitan help our children and young people created in response to local Police’s Annual Crime Count, do well at school and go on to young people saying they had Lansbury Ward saw a 40% reach their full potential. For some nowhere to go that was just for reduction in all crimes from 1,153 this will mean joining the workforce them. The design and offer was incidents in 2013 to 693 in 2015. This or embarking on an excellent based on research conducted by coincides with the opening and apprenticeship, and for others it young people with over 2,000 development of Spotlight and its will involve taking the next steps into higher education. Whatever

09 (ii) Good jobs and employment WorkPath: transforming lives by raising with Sam’s Key Worker helped keep his morale up We want to help local residents aspirations, capabilities and access to and stay committed. to capitalise on the dynamic opportunities employment growth occurring WorkPath was able to secure Sam an interview around them. This is because we Sam, a care leaver had no previous work to become an Electrical Apprentice. Although know that being in work improves experience; he was struggling to find employment the employer was concerned about Sam’s lack of outcomes in many areas of life and was suffering from low morale. He was on work experience, they were persuaded to offer including mental and physical the brink of homelessness and his Key Worker him a work trial. After his first week, the employer health and wellbeing. was concerned that he may resort to crime out of confirmed they would be paying Sam for the desperation. duration of his work trial and following the second We will encourage employers week, they confirmed they would be offering him and education providers to Sam was referred to WorkPath by his key worker. an apprenticeship. Sam was very pleased with the work closely and ensure that Following an initial assessment, it was clear that opportunity to be working on site and is looking the education and skills training Sam required comprehensive advice, support and forward to starting his apprenticeship. available supports the needs of employment interventions to enhance his skillset, the job market. We want residents career ambitions and help him on his journey to Sam’s morale is up, his confidence has increased to take advantage of the skills and work and stability. and he is very optimistic about the future. With the employment training services employability and transferrable skills developed, available locally. And we are An action plan was drawn up to assist Sam, he is now open to various career options. working with local employers comprising of CV development, job search and to ensure they play their role application support. In addition he was given Sam’s case is just one of many who have in supporting the community, training and a work experience placement benefitted from employment and apprenticeship through inclusive recruitment, and was put through the Construction Skills opportunities, secured through S106 planning responsible employment and fair Certification Scheme (CSCS). It took Sam several contributions working with developers. access to jobs. attempts to secure his CSCS card. Close working

We will push for economic investment that is coordinated and focused and for a borough that is business. And as large employers, own organisations are inclusive schemes, community outreach a dynamic place for innovation the members of the Tower Hamlets and open to local people too, and local employment practice. and those who want to set up a Partnership will also ensure our improving our apprenticeship

10 (iii) Strong, resilient and safe to build bridges between different communities parts of the community, tackling Working in partnership - substance misuse services social isolation and contributing to We know that strong and resilient making the borough a safer place. Partners across health, police, probation, housing, social care, communities are happier and licensing, public health and the council come together to deliver healthier communities: when on the broad agenda surrounding substance misuse and work with people look out for each other individuals whose criminal or anti-social behaviour (ASB) is related to they benefit in terms of their “People do want their drug and/or alcohol use. health and well-being, from their opportunities to mix at a connections with the people neighbourhood level” This successful partnership working engaged 20 families in around them. – local partner family interventions between April and December 2017 and 54 interventions were delivered to carers and individuals affected by Against a backdrop of reducing someone else’s substance misuse. public sector resources and increased confidence to report “We need to do things A Specialist Midwife (substance misuse) has been commissioned, crime, we will focus more on crime together like arts and based at the Royal London Hospital, and is working with pregnant prevention and reducing fear of cooking, that aren’t women with an identified drug or alcohol problem. The midwife crime. We will also work closely language based” works closely with other hospital teams, Reset Treatment Service, with communities to tackle crime GPs, Children’s Social Care and Children’s Centres. Many women and anti-social behaviour. – local partner are not in treatment at the time of referral and the service helps them to stabilise on substitute prescribing and allocates them a care We know that residents are coordinator. concerned about the safety and security of their home and we Between April and October 2017, 14 out of 18 babies born to clients of are working closely with housing this service were able to go home with their mothers rather than into providers, the London Fire Brigade, foster care or adoption. tenant and resident associations on issures around fire safety.

We will work together as a community to support greater integration and cohesion, helping

11 (iv) Better health and well-being

We are committed to improving the communities, we will tackle health than improving our health and care mental health by providing spaces health and wellbeing of our local inequalities, improving the quality of services. It involves taking a holistic for people to be active and enjoy. population and the quality of the care life for our residents and managing approach to everything that impacts services they receive. At the heart demand for services. on how we feel, from good quality of this is ensuring our services are housing to accessible parks and person-centred, empowering We know that achieving better open spaces. We know we can and that they make a tangible and health and wellbeing is much wider achieve improved physical and positive difference to people’s lives. We are committed to providing co-ordinated, joined-up services New model for partnership brought all early years services stage, and in many cases that enable people to have greater working makes for a healthier together with the health resolved successfully, reducing independence and more control future for Tower Hamlets visiting service, maternity costs further down the line. In over their care. using information, services, employment services addition, that timely intervention advice, technology and support we While children’s centres across provided by WorkPath and local reduces chronic conditions in will help people to manage their the country are closing due to voluntary and community sector later life like diabetes, coronary health conditions. We aim to give budget cuts, in Tower Hamlets organisations. heart disease and some cancers. the people of Tower Hamlets one of we are working with partners the best systems of interconnected to breathe new life into our From its children’s centres, Tower Concentrating services at health and care in the country. We children’s centres and re- Hamlets Together now delivers children’s centres has had are delivering this through the Tower structure them into child and child health and well-baby other important benefits such Hamlets Together (THT) partnership family hubs. clinics, midwifery, health visitors, as making it easier to access which brings together providers, immunisation against infectious training such as employment commissioners, the community The Tower Hamlets Together diseases, advice on healthy eating, training, particularly helpful for and voluntary and statutory sector, has made significant progress therapies like baby massage as mothers wishing to return to to improve the quality of life for our towards integrating health, well as employment advice. the jobs market, and language residents. employment and social care Having a universal offer enables classes. through the restructured health and social care needs Through further close partnership children’s centres. They have to be identified at an early working, prevention, early intervention and working with our

12 Our commitments Tower Hamlets Strategic Framework: We will use our collective influence People access Our objectives, themes to lead and campaign on the issues People are high quality supported to achieve education and and outcomes that matter most to the people of independent, training healthy, safe and participate in positive Tower Hamlets. fulfilling lives encouragedPeople are to activities such as sports, arts and We have listened to you and have volunteering developed our Tower Hamlets People live in a borough that is Strategic Framework. At the centre clean and green for childrenA better anddeal is our key objective: building a young people

stronger, more inclusive and fairer everyone has the

opportunity to People feel borough. This is underpinned by valued and four themes which we will focus succeed well-being our efforts on. Each theme has Better health and

People have a good level of well-being a set of key outcomes which we happiness and Building a intend to achieve over the next five stronger, more years. inclusive and fairer borough

safe and livePeople feel in a cohesive All the organisations involved in community resilient and safe the Tower Hamlets Partnership are Strong, communities committed to playing their part in access to People have achieving the shared outcomes opportunity lifelong learning, outlined here. However, the bulk of employment and Good jobs and the delivery will be undertaken by People are proud employment of and want to the existing partnership thematic live, work, study and stay in the boards through a refresh of their borough People and work programme, setting out how businesses are supported to be we will achieve these outcomes People live in innovative and a friendly and enterprising and the indicators we will use to welcoming People are borough provided with monitor progress. These outcomes with strong community spirit help to find good will be kept under regular review quality jobs by the Partnership.

13 How we will achieve this: our model of change

A whole system approach businesses have a reach far greater – our role and your role than providing employment and Reducing isolation they can play a role in achieving As partners have reflected on the other outcomes too. By giving staff The East London Pensioners Group (ELPG) is a social club for older key opportunities and challenges time to participate in volunteering, people across east London. The group attracts over 50 guests each facing the borough, we have also mentoring and providing pro bono week. Sadly, loneliness is a problem many people face as they thought hard about how we are work, ie, supporting community become older and often more isolated, and it can lead to various going to achieve our objectives. In groups with their fundraising related health issues, including depression. Socialising at clubs such a time of austerity and uncertainty, or advising on their marketing as this is a fantastic way to reduce that loneliness. ‘less of the same’ will not be strategy. enough. Public sector organisations Employees from businesses in Tower Hamlets have been happy in the borough are already making Businesses can make a significant to help get involved directly with the elderly themselves through big changes to the ways that difference to many aspects of the cooking, socialising, organising events; or by helping build the they work, and this will need to community. By making available capacity and resilience of the expert voluntary and charitable continue. And as the richness of their business assets - people, organisations that work with these residents. The East London our conversations about the role of expertise, time, and goodwill - they Business Alliance (ELBA) operates a volunteer programme engaging organisations and people beyond can have a big impact. local business volunteers to support groups like this, in addition the public sector have shown, to other community groups. Across all of ELBA’s activities they we really do all need to play our Universities too have a role to worked with 12,300 business volunteers last year to support the local part. Responsible local businesses, play that is beyond delivering community. a thriving voluntary sector and educational achievement. This can residents themselves are critical to be about ensuring their facilities are “ELBA events with volunteers have meant that service users have achieving this Plan. accessible to non-students. Whether improved their confidence and motivation to come out of their that is opening up the university homes and interact with other people in their local community. It For example, improving access drama theatre and putting on has greatly helped tackle issues of loneliness amongst the elderly to good employment will require performances for members of the that attend. It has also given them the opportunity to have days out local employers to improve their public to enjoy or inviting aspiring that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.”, said Carol Abbot outreach and work in partnership musicians to access their music who runs the ELPG for elderly people. with local schools, colleges and studios. Its about sharing resources intermediaries. But we want to and spaces for the benefit of all. go further than this because we recognise that employers and

14 We are calling this a ‘whole system’ Public service reform to improve outcomes for local services at the same time, and approach to change in Tower people, rather than the ways that so that people get the support Hamlets, and it will require us to Public services are under huge services have traditionally been that they really need. We will work together in new ways, build long-term financial pressures and provided or the interests of our increase partnership working better alignment of our respective are also facing rising demand from own organisations. We will listen between public services and the efforts in service of our shared service users. There are already to people’s priorities, ensure we community and voluntary sector, aims, and put the interests of many initiatives underway to understand what is happening to ensure that a range of informal the borough above those of our change the way that public services in people’s lives and work with and formal support is available. individual organisations. are designed and run in Tower people to make changes, Hamlets, such as the integration of building on and enhancing their Active communities We already have some excellent health and social care. own strengths. examples of a whole system Public services alone cannot approach. For instance, registered We as civic leaders will need to We will use the collective buying improve people’s lives. Complex social landlords play a vital role in increase our efforts, and ensure a power of public bodies to invest social challenges such as poor providing high quality, affordable greater coherence of approach together in better local outcomes. mental health and social isolation housing for local residents, but across our organisations. cannot be solved with a medical they also help shape the physical • Improving outcomes prescription or a short daily visit environment and increasingly The borough has a huge asset in its and managing demand by from a care worker alone. And deliver and manage a wide thriving community and voluntary intervening early - we will focus we know that being part of a range of community services sector, which is often the first port on understanding the root strong and resilient community and facilities. Another example of call for residents, and there are causes of people’s needs and can improve people’s well-being is the Tower Hamlets Together already many good examples of intervene earlier to prevent as well as help manage demand partnership which is taking a close partnership working. problems from worsening where for services. We need to work population health approach that possible. alongside and with local people, is structured to meet the needs To achieve our vision, we both in the formal voluntary sector of segments of our population commit to: • Working together to provide and more informally, to encourage rather than across diseases or more integrated services that and support the daily interactions organisations. • Focusing on outcomes and respond to the complexity of and relationships that can make assets - rather than people’s needs - we will such a difference to people’s lives. organisations, services or improve the coherence of process. This means that we will local services, so that people Large public sector agencies prioritise on what is most likely do not have to navigate multiple can set the tone, make financial

15 investments in community groups, activities and events, and support Running the Daily Mile and encourage community leaders. We can ensure the voice Tower Hamlets has the highest number of registered Daily Mile of the community is heard when it schools in London. The Daily Mile is an initiative running at schools, comes to the issues that matter to which gets young people to take part in a 15 minute desk to desk them, such as community safety. run or jog. The aim of The Daily Mile is to improve the physical, We will play our part. But we also social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of our children need local people to play theirs. – regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances.

We need your help. Whether The Council’s Healthy Lives Team has worked with almost half it is checking on a neighbour, of all primary schools in Tower Hamlets to support them to take volunteering your time, or being part in the Daily Mile initiative. The feedback has been universally a responsible citizen by recycling, positive. Anecdotally, schools have reported that behaviour and minimising car use, we all have a concentration has improved amongst pupils as well as attainment. part to play. 94% of pupils taking part in the Daily Mile have increased their fitness levels. Their fitness levels have been assessed by the Healthy Lives team before, during and after the Daily Mile project.

Pupils have told us that before the programme “I did not have the confidence to run. I thought it would be hard and I will have to stop all the time.” And since joining the programme they tell us “I really like doing Mile a Day, it makes me feel energetic and it is so fun. I am proud of myself.”

16 Our next steps

As a Partnership, our shared Speaking with one voice on to understand the direction Children and Families Partnership, commitments to the borough for behalf of Tower Hamlets we need to take together, and the Tower Hamlets Housing the next five years are laid out in this creating the space for others to Forum and the Community Safety Plan. Below are some immediate There is power in a range of local make their contribution. We will Partnership, to ensure that the ideas priorities that we are focusing on organisations coming to a shared host a programme of summits are built into their own plans. over the next 12 months. view about issues that will affect throughout the year with local the borough and speaking with citizens and organisations, where Communicating progress and one voice on behalf of local people can come together, meet, Joining up budgets and services sharing the positives people. share ideas and learn from each other. We have already connected We have undertaken the first Changing perceptions The Partnership will support the over 300 local stakeholders ever analysis of total public sector of Tower Hamlets Mayor’s Brexit Commission to through the first summit in spend in the borough, and we examine the impacts that Brexit January 2018. will now explore the opportunity We will lead a high-profile positive will have on the council, our local for more effective alignments communications campaign about economy and residents, and to Taking forward the ideas from of budgets where possible. We the borough, to tackle negative ensure that we can respond swiftly the first Tower Hamlets Summit will also explore opportunities to perceptions and inner city to any challenges or opportunities support services where integration stereotypes. We will showcase the that may arise. A Brexit commission The ideas generated at the first or joint commissioning is already positive experiences that people will enable us to coordinate our Tower Hamlets Summit have taking place, such as health and shared with us as we developed response to central government, been shared with all those who social care, and identify new this Plan, and the many success the and others attended, so that where possible opportunities under each of the stories we have, be it about our more efficiently and effectively. people can take ownership for four themes outlined in this Plan. excellent schools, our diversity moving them forward. Those ideas or the many opportunities local Engaging the community and that require action by members of Co-design and co-production people have to access great local partners the Partnership are reflected here. resources and jobs. We will also We will also be holding discussions We commit to using the principles highlight fantastic projects that are Building the movement for with the other partnerships of co-design and co-production to already underway in the borough change in Tower Hamlets where organisations are coming ensure the community and local that represent the ways of working together to guide priorities such partners have a voice in shaping outlined in this Plan, sharing learning As a Partnership we want to as the Health and Wellbeing the design of local services. and good practice and celebrating ensure that we are working with Board, the Growth and Economic the best of Tower Hamlets. a wide range of local stakeholders Development Partnership, the

17 Planning for the future Future-proofing the NHS in Tower Hamlets Understanding the impact of Brexit We know that Tower Hamlets is the fastest • up to 92 newly built or refurbished clinical growing borough in London. While the current and treatment spaces; Through our work to create this primary healthcare facilities meet the needs of the • the capacity to increase patient lists in excess Plan we explored the potential population today, projections estimate that there of 35,000 residents; and impacts of Brexit on the borough, will be a deficit of 21% in five years’ time. • more than 250,000 additional appointments especially in relation to the future each year. workforce and jobs in the borough. To tackle this, Tower Hamlet’s Public Health This initial work highlighted the team in partnership with the NHS and planning, William Cotton Place in Popular is one beneficiary opportunity for more coordinated finance and infrastructure colleagues created an of the programme. A fantastic new health centre workforce planning, training and innovative programme to direct the funds paid that opened in January 2017, it received £3.1 million recruitment across partners, and by developers to offset the adverse impacts to fit out the newly built premises in an area with we will focus on the potential of of developments (known as Section 106 and high levels of deprivation and poor health. our own organisations to realise Community Infrastructure Levy money) towards these opportunities. WorkPath health improvements. employment service will work with local employers to identify potential Under this programme the team is working skills shortages as a result of Brexit hard to maximise the income from these and will put in place schemes funding streams and use their understanding to meet these shortages where of population trends and the evidence base to possible. make sure the money buys high quality health infrastructure where it is needed most. Since The Partnership will support the 2015 £19.3 million of Section 106 and Community Mayor’s Brexit Commission which Infrastructure Levy money has been grant- focuses on three areas: local funded to the NHS to create: economy, society and public services.

18 Bridging the gap between local Building shared local Culture change and people people and good local jobs accountability development

There is already a great deal of work All the organisations involved in the As large employers in the borough, underway to support residents into Tower Hamlets Partnership sign up the members of the Tower Hamlets local jobs and build relationships to playing their part in achieving Partnership will lead culture change between local employers the shared outcomes. We will also and staff development in our and schools and colleges. The build on the work undertaken for own organisations as a means Partnership will review this work, this Plan by continuing to share data of enabling the new ways of to identify whether there are among partners, creating a shared working set out in this Plan. Each further opportunities that could be understanding of the opportunities partner organisation will review created, particularly with regard to and challenges. its organisational strategies in line influencing large local employers. with the ambitions set out here, and As employers, the members of the the members of the Partnership Partnership will also review our will champion the changes in their own mentoring, apprenticeship, organisations. recruitment and employment practices to ensure we are providing access and opportunity to local people.

19 If you would like to find out more or have any questions about the Tower Hamlets Plan please contact us at the following email: [email protected]

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