/ Full Neighbourhood Report

Establishing a baseline for the ‘community perception’ target set out within the Alcohol Theme of ’s Single Outcome Agreement

ADP

Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Methodology and Demographics

• In 2014, Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) commissioned a repeat of the Ripple Effect research (originally undertaken in 2007) across 12 neighbourhoods in Glasgow City. The aim was to provide a baseline of progress towards achieving a reduction in levels of negative community perception of the impact of alcohol use on communities. Alcohol & Drug Community Engagers (ACEs) were trained and supported to undertake the research alongside the existing Prevention and Education service provider commissioned by NHSGGC and a commissioned research company. • Across the City, the research comprised a mixed method approach involving a survey of 2,618 community members (conducted face-to-face, online and self-completion) and 290 individuals taking part in qualitative research (either participatory appraisal methods or focus groups). • This is one of 12 neighbourhood reports, which outlines the results of the quantitative research in relation to Barmulloch/Balornock where 107 questionnaires were completed. There is also a report produced for North East Glasgow which includes the results of 768 questionnaires and the qualitative research undertaken with 95 individuals across / , , Barmulloch/Balornock, and /. There is also a comprehensive report outlining the background/introduction, methodology, results and conclusions/recommendations of the research in relation to Glasgow as a whole which can be accessed at www.ripple-effect.co.uk • The majority of the sample was female (64% versus 36% male). Just over a third of respondents (35%) were aged between 16 and 38 years old, with 45% being aged 50 years or older. Just over six in ten (61%) were in employment with a further 1% being in education. Almost all respondents were of white Scottish origin (99%).

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Barmulloch/Balornock Full Neighbourhood Report Research Findings

Is alcohol a problem in your community? • The significant majority of respondents (70%) agreed that alcohol is a problem, with only 9% disagreeing, 11% neither agreeing nor disagreeing and 10% saying they didn’t know. Perceived problems in the community caused by alcohol • Respondents were asked what problems alcohol creates in communities (see table below).

Table 1: Perceived alcohol problems in the community

Base: Barmulloch/Balornock = 107; North East = 768; All = 2,618 Barmulloch/ Problem North East Glasgow Balornock Antisocial behaviour 69% 71% 69% Litter 47% 49% 45% Violence 44% 60% 61% Drinking Dens 41% 37% 30% Damages reputation of community 40% 45% 40% Vandalism 38% 51% 48% Negative health effects 38% 45% 41% Increased noise at night 33% 45% 43% Sustains poverty cycle 32% 35% 31% Gang fighting 32% 46% 42% Decreased sense of safety 25% 36% 34% Increased gender based violence 19% 25% 21% Increased sexual crimes 11% 21% 17% Territorialism 10% 25% 20% Agent purchase 8% 24% 22% Don’t know 8% 4% 4% • The results for Barmulloch/Balornock vary from both those of North East Glasgow and Glasgow overall. That is, significantly less respondents in Barmulloch/Balornock than both the North East and Glasgow overall perceived the issues displayed in Table 2 to be alcohol related problems.

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Barmulloch/Balornock Full Neighbourhood Report Table 2: Perceived alcohol problems in the community where significantly less respondents in Barmulloch/Balornock than in North East Glasgow and Glasgow overall perceived there to be a problem

Base: Barmulloch/Balornock = 107; North East = 768; All = 2,618 Barmulloch/ Problem North East Glasgow Balornock Violence 44% 60% 61% Vandalism 38% 51% 48% Increased noise at night 33% 45% 43% Gang fighting 32% 46% 42% Decreased sense of safety 25% 36% 34% Territorialism 10% 25% 20% * responses add up to more than 100% as multiple responses were allowed • These results indicate that perceptions of alcohol related problems in the community are significantly less in Barmulloch/Balornock than in other areas in North East Glasgow, and in Glasgow overall. • Despite this, the majority of respondents in Barmulloch/Balornock indicated that antisocial behaviour (69%) was an alcohol related issue in the community. • Violence and gang fighting were also mentioned (44% and 32% respectively). • Litter and vandalism were further alcohol related problems (47% and 38% respectively). • Respondents also indicated that alcohol damages the reputation of the community (40%), has negative health effects (38%), leads to increased noise at night (33%), and results in a decreased sense of safety (25%). How does alcohol in the community affect you personally? • Respondents were asked what types of issues alcohol use in their community created for them personally. This appeared to be a fairly problematic question, as respondents often perceived the question in relation to their own alcohol use and drinking patterns, which despite further explanation and illustration from the interviewer was often difficult to overcome. It may be that this issue was too sensitive and complex to broach in the survey. • The most commonly mentioned ways in which alcohol affected the respondent personally were in relation to personal safety (30%), mental health issues (22%) and physical health issues (22%). • Just under a third of respondents (31%) indicated that alcohol affected the appearance of the area in which they lived. Which community groups are affected by alcohol? • The significant majority agreed that young people were affected (63%) followed by families (47%), children (38%) and older people (35%). • Young people and families (43% and 21% respectively) were highlighted to be most affected.

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Barmulloch/Balornock Full Neighbourhood Report Which community areas are affected by alcohol? • Parks and waste ground were most commonly said to be affected (57%) followed by off licenses and surrounding areas (40%) and secluded areas (30%). • Parks and waste ground were also said to be most affected by 27% of respondents. • Shopping centres were mentioned by 27% of respondents. What can be done? • Just under half of respondents (47%) provided a suggestion on what actions could be taken to improve alcohol related problems in the community. The results are displayed in Table 3.

Table 3: What could be done to improve the issues in your community caused by alcohol?

Barmulloch/Balornock = 50; North East Glasgow = 494; Glasgow = 1,768 Barmulloch/ Solutions North East Glasgow Balornock Community resources More activities for young people 14% 23% 20% More services 10% 19% 20% More and better employment opportunities - 3% 5% Community Safety More community police 47% 31% 32% Education and awareness More education and awareness 25% 21% 22% Licensing issues Stricter licensing 10% 12% 12% Reduce accessibility of alcohol 4% 3% 4% Ban on alcohol - 2% 2% * responses add up to more than 100% as multiple responses were allowed • The most common suggestion was for more community police on the beat (47%). It should be noted that this was a much more common suggestion in Barmulloch/Balornock than in North East Glasgow and Glasgow overall (47% versus 31% and 32%). • A further suggestion was for more education and awareness raising on the impacts of alcohol (25%). • 14% of survey respondents indicated a need for more diversionary activities and youth groups/clubs. • More services including support and rehabilitation services was suggested by 10% of respondents. • The issue of stricter licensing was raised by 10% of respondents, with a further 4% mentioning restricting the accessibility of alcohol.

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Barmulloch/Balornock Full Neighbourhood Report Recommendations

The report generated a range of recommendations relating to the process, key themes, and suggestions to be taken forward for the next Ripple consultation. Key recommendations included the following. It is recommended that: 1. The cultural nature of the problem of alcohol in these communities has to be considered, in order to challenge the long term attitudes and expectations surrounding alcohol consumption and related behaviours; 2. There is greater support and intervention targeting the family, and parents in particular, in order to improve the outcomes for young people; 3. Resources are targeted towards further prevention and education interventions for young people, to delay the onset of alcohol intake, and focus on resilience approaches to risk taking behaviours so young people have the ability to resist peer pressure; 4. There are more tailored diversionary activities for young people, which they are consulted on, to provide an alternative to alcohol consumption; 5. Resources are targeted towards providing opportunities for young people in the form of volunteering, training or employment; 6. The range of factors impacting on the quality of life of community respondents are considered when developing interventions and approaches; 7. Given that the community identified agent purchase as a significant issue, interventions tackling agent purchase are undertaken, e.g. Community Alcohol Campaigns; 8. Interventions to curb antisocial behaviour, vandalism and other problems associated with alcohol are directed to areas including parks and waste ground, secluded areas and shopping centres; 9. Community members should be supported to be more involved and less isolated by having more community events in community venues, and by providing wider opportunities for people to be involved in shaping the future of their community; 10. There is increased promotion and awareness raising of community facilities and youth provision that do exist in communities, and that this is included as part of the dissemination process; 11. Community members, particularly young people, are consulted about improvements and details of service and youth provision; 12. Actions are taken to change the stereotypical view of an individual experiencing alcohol addiction and to raise awareness of the addiction; 13. The results of the Ripple Effect research are shared widely with stakeholders who have an interest and investment in improving Glasgow communities and making them Thriving Places as the scale and complexity of the problem necessitates a multi-agency approach; and 14. Given the scope of the research and the number of factors which have arisen as key themes, it is recommended that where possible the Ripple Effect links in with other related pieces of work such as Community Alcohol Campaigns.

Prepared by Dr Judith Harkins Dudleston Harkins Social Research Ltd [email protected]

www.ripple-effect.co.uk Barmulloch/Balornock Full Neighbourhood Report