Whitchurch Park Community First Plan

1 Whitchurch Park Community First Plan

1. Whitchurch Park Ward Description

Whitchurch Park Ward lies at the southern edge of the city of Bristol. It is part of the Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership area, along with Hartcliffe and Bishopsworth wards. Neighbourhood Partnership are local governance structures created by Bristol City Council which aim to bring greater local decision-making to local areas by bring Councillors, residents, voluntary and business groups and other statutory services together to focus more precisely on local concerns and issues.

Whitchurch Ward consists of a more deprived section, in the west of the ward and less deprived areas in the east of the ward. Considerable physical regeneration schemes have transformed what was a run-down shopping precinct into a quality supermarket and community centre with a library and access to IT resources. There are opportunities to generate a more cohesive sense of community which the Community First fund can support.

Whitchurch Park 2011 Census: What the community looks like

The total population is: 10,839

Young People (0-15): 21.5% (Bristol average 18.3%) 0-4 year olds are 8.2% (Bristol average 6.9%)

Older People (65+): 16.5% (Bristol average 13.1%)

The ward has both more young people and more older people than the Bristol average. Resources to meet their needs are therefore reflected in the priorities which local people have raised.

Black and minority ethnic : 3.6% (Bristol average 16%) 0.2% up from 3.4% in 2001 Census.

Disabled/limiting long-term illness : Bishopsworth residents 21.9% - higher than Bristol average (16.8%)

The ward has a higher level of disabled people than the Bristol average. The Black and minority ethnic population has increased very little in comparison with the Bristol average increase since 2001 (8.2% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). See Community Safety section below.

Economically Active/Inactive People (16-74)

65.4% economically active (Bristol average 70.6%)

34.6% economically inactive (Bristol average 29.4%)

Of which: 16-25 year olds unemployed: 32.7% (Bristol average 27.2%) 50-74 year olds unemployed: 17.8% (Bristol average 15.8%) 2

Unemployment is a considerably worse for young people than the Bristol average and a little worse for older people in the Ward.

36% of residents are satisfied with jobs in the neighbourhood (Bristol average is 31%)

Deprivation

The Fulford Road South, Hareclive and Bishport Avenue East Super Output Areas (SOAs) are amongst the most deprived 10% in England; Whitchurch Park is also an SOA with significant multiple deprivation, though outside the lowest 10%

Housing

The Ward has 4,701 dwellings in total, of which 54.8% are owner-occupied (64.3% is Bristol average); 33.5% rented from the City Council (14.5% is Bristol average); 3.7% other social rented (5.8% is Bristol average); 5.3% private rented (23.5% is Bristol average)

Amenities

Access to Parks and Green spaces : Whitchurch Park has a lot of open, green space and parks and active residents, Pigeonhouse Stream, the Dundry Slopes to the south and Harcliffe Millennium Green. St Augustine’s Park in the east of the ward has benefitted from investment by the City Council and the Neighbourhood Partnership in a new children’s play park. Some parts of the ward however still do not meet the quality standards for children’s play, being further than 450 metres from a play area – Court Farm Road Open Space being a potential site which could fill this gap. Use of parks and open spaces, satisfaction with the quality of them and % of people visiting them is lower than the city average in the ward. The Friends of groups work alongside the City Council within the Pride of Place Group, which is a sub-group of the Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership. It meets monthly and develops investments plans using Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy funds to improve parks and open spaces.

Education : The Ward has three primary schools and a secondary School – the Bridge Learning Campus – Key Stage 2 Level 4+, English and Maths in 2011 was at 72% (Bristol average: 73%); Key Stage 4 GCSE Grades A*-C, including English and Maths in 2011 was 43% (Bristol average: 49.1%)

Satisfaction with Health resources is close to the Bristol average at 80% compared to 83%. The South Public Health team has an Action Plan in place to focus on key issues within the ward.

Transport : car availability is lower than the Bristol average. Public transport generates a higher-than-average satisfaction level in the ward (67% as against 58% in the city as a whole).

Children’s Centres : there is one Children’s centre, Hartcliffe Children’s Centre, in the ward boundary.

3 Community Buildings/resources Hartcliffe Community Farm, Bristol South Community Watch, @symes Community Building, River of Life Church, Hartcliffe Methodist Church, St Andrews Church, Hareclive Youth Centre, Hartcliffe Community Centre.

Race hate crime: despite a much lower-than-city-wide proportion of Black and minority ethnic residents, Whitchurch Park is amongst the top four locations for race hate incidents per 1000 BME population in Bristol (Hate Crime Needs Assessment 2011). Community cohesion is also indicated to be lower than the Bristol average (2011 Quality of Life survey recorded 58% of ward residents agreeing that people treat other people with respect in their neighbourhood against a city average of 68%.

Anti-social behaviour: 2012 Quality of Life survey, Whitchurch Park recorded 35% of respondents reporting ASB as a problem locally against a city average of 28.8. Personal safety concerns closely reflect the city average.

Some of the common issues that are raised at Whitchurch Park Forums are: Anti social behaviour Motorbikes Speeding Inconsiderate parking Drug dealing Flytipping and littering Lack of park facilities

2. Whitchurch Park Community Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths Weaknesses 1. Hartcliffe and Withywood Community 1. Low levels of community cohesion and Partnership (HWCP) has extended its high per 1000 of BME population recorded focus to cover all Dundry View, including race hate crime Whitchurch Park – experienced, 2. Previous regeneration programmes have longstanding organisation focussed resources on the more deprived 2. WHAM community magazine is now parts of the ward in the south – this has left delivered to every household in the a residue of some resentment that east Dundry NP area, extended into all of side, BS14, have been ‘left out’. Whitchurch Park since 2012. 3. Lack of facilities for Children and Young 3. Active local councillors work closely with People and this can make them feel ‘not local groups, residents and the part of the community’ Neighbourhood Partnership 4. Lack of accessible meeting venues. 4. HWCP co-ordinates Voluntary Sector 5. Community meetings are not attended by forum which enables co-operation and a wide enough section of the community. sharing of resources 5. Good levels of resident participation and active citizenship within the ward 6. HWCP, as the Community Development support for Whitchurch Park, has a good track record of support local residents and groups. Opportunities Threats 1. St Augustines Park build will increase 1. Reduced play and youth work funding local knowledge for residents who live in the and new contract creates uncertainty about 4 east side of the ward of support and funding the level of provision for the future. available for their community. 2. There are three Community Asset 2. Active residents will be able to gain Transfers in process and this could lead to a support and funding for local projects and loss of three resources to the wider events. community. 3. Opportunities to map established groups 3. There is no funding available to enable and create networking and potential community growth. resource sharing. 4. Not having the resources or capacity to 4. Community learning through working with effectively deal with issues raised. active groups. 5. Low morale and a sense that residents 5. Look for alternative funding. have no real influence in decision making. 6. Chance to engage with local schools to 6. Neighbourhood Partnerships are increase children and young peoples input withdrawn. into their community. 7. City wide issues are imposed on the 7. Set up a BME residents group. community and the local voice is not heard.

The Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership provides a degree of co-ordination and people/funding resources for some key Whitchurch Park concerns: development of parks and open spaces; concerns about play and youth provision; focussing of statutory resources to address community concerns through the three-monthly Neighbourhood Forums and the Transport Group, which determines spend on minor traffic schemes. There is a good level of community participation in events and community activity, both self-generated and organised by statutory bodies. The Community First Fund can support the positive trends in this ward and generate activities which counter risks and threats.

3. What residents want in the Ward

In 2011 a community event was organised by the Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership for people from all three wards in the partnership area, including Whitchurch Park. The main priorities below were identified at this event. In addition regular Neighbourhood Forums have been held four times a year in Whitchurch Park which have added in details.

Issues What people want How to deliver Potential for Community First funding? Improving Bishopsworth- Via HWCP Communication relevant articles communication staff within WHAM and websites ? training for yes ‘community reporters’? Information in public Potential for yes places community noticeboards? Development of yes Whitchurch Park community event? Supporting Provision for Young People

Improvement of play Better facilities Engagement in NP potentially and youth facilities processes 5 Issues What people want How to deliver Potential for Community First funding? Support for local yes groups with equipment or events Influencing new New services to Via NP sub-group no provider of youth deliver against local and play needs Supporting Provision for the Older People

Supporting provision Sustained activities Encourage older yes of activities and for older people people’s groups to groups which access funding and engage older people develop volunteering Affordable venues Affordable venues Support for venues yes for groups for groups which are valued by local community Supporting Safer Communities

Reducing fear of Co-ordinated Co-ordinated work Limited potential, crime responses from key by agencies and except for resident agencies and good linkage with groups information about residents groups and impact of prevention businesses and enforcement Reducing impact of Access to support Co-ordinated work No - crime & drug/alcohol services/effective by agencies and use enforcement good linkage with residents groups and businesses – availability of support services Help reduce number Less misuse of Via targeted work yes of illegal motorbikes, green spaces from police, mopeds and quad community safety bikes on green and parks; co- spaces operation with local resident groups Reduce Anti-social Less ASB More diversionary yes behaviour activities for young people; co-ordinated agency action Improving Community Cohesion

Improved respect for Events, activities Via targeted yes and understanding and learning which learning, activities between different brings together designed to groups within the people from different maximise cross- community backgrounds cultural/geographical mixing 6 Issues What people want How to deliver Potential for Community First funding? Proportionally high Reduced incidence Improved support for yes levels of race hate of hate crime, victims – better co- crime incidents improved support for ordination and victims and reporting; improved enforcement against work between perpetrators agencies Improving Satisfaction with the local environment

Help improve parks, Improved parks and Support Park/open yes streets and public open spaces space ‘friends of’ spaces groups with equipment/resources to improve access and appeal of spaces Cleaner Encourage reporting yes streets/public spaces of flytipping/reduction of littering and dog fouling Reduction in Encourage reporting no problem of problems, parking/well- identifying of maintained traffic/highways pavements/roads issues to NP and safe crossings Supporting Healthier Communities

Increasing healthier Accessible ways of Supporting activities Yes lifestyles – reducing improving their own and initiatives which smoking, increasing health make these choices exercise and healthy more accessible to eating local people Reducing isolation Activities which are Supporting Yes and improving welcoming and community activities mental & emotional provide ways of and health increasing sense of groups/organisations wellbeing and sense within the ward; also of control over own self-help initiatives life Supporting work Accessible support Via local/citywide yes around alcohol/drug services voluntary groups misuse operating within ward Improving knowledge, skills and engagement

Increasing Local Via courses yes 7 Issues What people want How to deliver Potential for Community First funding? confidence and skills learning/informal accessed through of community opportunities existing volunteers organisations and networks Increasing Opportunities to Local forums and potentially engagement in local influence service outreach to specific decision-making delivery and how communities and their community interest groups functions Increasing formal Support to local Support to local yes volunteering to organisations with volunteer networks support local groups skills and recruitment Encouragement of Ways to celebrate Community yes community activity impact of individuals celebration events and groups who make a difference

4. Priorities for Community First Grant

The following priorities have been drawn from the above issues/priorities:

1 Safer Communities (initiatives that reduce fear of crime and reduce the impact of crime) and satisfaction with the local environment (with an expectation that long term sustainability is carefully considered on all environmental projects)

2 Healthier Communities: initiatives that help to promote healthier lifestyles, reduce isolation and improve emotional and mental health and initiatives that support work around drug and alcohol misuse

3 Young people: initiatives that increase youth provision and increase satisfaction in local play. Also initiatives that support young people to be involved in local decision making

4 Community cohesion: initiatives that bring people together who are from different backgrounds, ages, cultural and faith groups to build communities and greater understanding

5 Knowledge and Skills: (initiatives that help to build the knowledge and skills of communities so that they can be involved in decisions making and continue to shape the future of their neighbourhood) and problem solving (initiatives where residents have got together to tackle a problem and need some funding to implement the 8 solution).

5. Resources available

Voluntary resources • Local voluntary groups: Hartcliffe Community Farm; Friends of Hartcliffe Millennium Green; Friends of Whitchurch Parks; Friends of Dundry Slopes; South Bristol Community Watch; Seeds of Change; Willow Tenants Group, Enough, River of Life Church, St Augustines Church, Hartcliffe Methodist Church, St Andrews Church, Whitchurch Under 5’s, Hartcliffe and Withywood Angling Group, Ladies Fellowship Group, Big P.

Organisational resources • @ symes Library • Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership/WHAM magazine • Hartcliffe Children’s Centre • Three local primary schools & Bridge Learning Campus secondary school • Hareclive Youth Centre • BCC services: Neighbourhood Partnership team; Community Safety service; Area Environment Officer; Enforcement; Parks; Highways; Community Education; South Bristol Public Health service • Neighbourhood Policing Team

Funding available to Whitchurch Park Ward

• Community First funding until 2015 - £50,865 • Wellbeing Fund via Neighbourhood Partnership – annual • Clean and Green (£500) via BCC • Bristol Green Capital 2015 grants • Other City Council and statutory service fund (Police; health; education) • Local funds – eg. Quartet and other trust funds – via Voscur website • Regional and national charitable funds – Big Lottery etc. • Government funds via Locality and other departmental schemes, Community Development Foundation

August 2014