Eurocities

• Network of 130 major European cities in 34 countries • Engaged in cross-cutting work including culture, economic development, ICT, environment and social affairs • Roma inclusion is led through our Task Force which has 30 municipalities involved • We lobby EU and are currently finalising a draft Charter for Roma inclusion • We organise mutual learning-in 2013 we undertook a peer review on employability of Roma in Glasgow- copies available today. Govanhill Partnership

Gordon Smith Glasgow City Council Govanhill Partnership membership

Glasgow City Council/ ALEO’s Glasgow Centre for Population Health Govan Law Centre Govanhill Housing Association Glasgow City CHP (South) Police Scotland/SFR Govanhill Residents Priorities

• Develop, implement and monitor Action Plan • Agree local priorities • Coordinate social, physical and economic regeneration • Build community representation and participation • Ensure effective communication • Identify, pursue and mobilise required assets • Direct and monitor the operational hub • Promote projects which support community cohesion • Identify gaps in legislation and statutory powers • Equal opportunities for all Govanhill

• Scotland’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhood • Historically, Glasgow and Scotland’s arrival point for migrants – proximity to the city centre and local industry, large housing units, many properties for rent • Diversity – 53 languages spoken, limited integration, difficulties of engagement, community tensions • Highest population density in Scotland? – crowded and pressure on local environment • Anti-social behaviour – often perceptions • Deprivation – unemployment, low income, poor educational attainment, poor health, addictions problems, crime • Poor media representation • Vibrancy, colour, noise, energy! Potential!

Petition to the Scottish Parliament for ‘Pressured Area Status’ Life in Govanhill’s rented tenements

• High population density – overcrowding, noise, traffic, spillover into streets • Environmental issues – dumping, poor quality greenspace, no care or maintenance, infestation • Lack of understanding of how to manage property, use facilities, engage with agencies • high property maintenance cost – low ‘factoring’ • low % owner occupation and huge number of landlords (around 2,600) –– plus bad practice – substandard housing, overcrowding, high rents, illegal evictions Backcourt Problems • Poor environmental condition – overgrown, poor soil, infestations • Dumping and waste issues • Bin stores – not fit for purpose with limited recycling facilities, poor quality • Poor drying and laundry facilities • Security – fencing, door entry, locks • No social areas – gardening, gathering • Lack of ownership and responsibility • Anti-social behaviour A problem backcourt Transformation

Backcourts training

60 training places for local people, 20 Roma -(integration)

•Soft landscaping – grass, plants, trees •Hard landscaping – ground works, fencing, paving, walls •Construction Skills – techniques, tools, health and safety •Employability – CV preparation, interview skills, building confidence, tackling barriers to employment, ESOL •Money advice – access to benefits, bank accounts •Accreditation where possible •Practical focus •Employment and work experience: minimum wage posts – weekly salary of £210 (approx €250) Backcourt improvements - resources

• Funding from Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council (total £1.35m) • Staffing – Oxfam , Govanhill Community Development Trust, GREAT Gardens, Jobs and Business Glasgow • Broader consultants team – contractor, architect, cost manager Roma Engagement

• Dedicated Roma engagement worker supporting wider engagement activity • Minimal Roma participation in formal consultation process - no Roma residents attended individual backcourt meetings • Some Roma residents engaged on 1-to-1 basis – Czech, Slovak and Romanian • RomanoLav P5 Roma Support Service

• Team leader • Employability advisor • Financial Awareness and Training officer • Engagement and consultation staff • Development and Administration support • Engaged with 550 people • 71 achieved qualification • April-Aug 63 clients entered employment Sustaining the Changes

• Support local people in to employment • Sustain equal access to Education • Sustain equal access to Heath Services • Promote ambition-Sistema • Learning from elsewhere – best practice EU • Learning from mistakes! • Maintain the physical environment-Hub Key learning

• Emphasise no one partner can resolve the issues • All partner organisations and residents benefit from investing in the community, both social and physical • Always take the long view • Employability and Education key factors • No one solution-be flexible • Raise your sights • The starting point is everyone has the right to a decent life…we have an obligation to provide it.