HACK ME Project

RECODE REGENT’S ESTATE

HACK ME Project

HACK ME Well-Being Analysis

CLEAR VILLAGE Report date: July 2012 © clear-village.org 2012 4 CONTENTS

PART 1: INTRODUCTION PAGE 6

PART 2: FINDINGS OF THE WELLBEING INTERVIEWS PAGE 12 Positive findings Mixed findings Negative findings

PART 3: A GLANCE INTO THE FUTURE OF REGENT'S ESTATE PAGE 34 Workshop 44 What people would like to see in the public space How people would like to contribute themselves Conclusions RECODE PART 1

ABOUT HACK ME HACK ME is a Clear Village initiative in collaboration with Rolemop, Workshop 44 and CIVA. The first HACK ME is an initiative that aims to tell the good project phase consisted of carrying out a Well- stories of Regent’s Estate in Hackney and enable Being Analysis, which is summarized in this report. local people to turn their estate into a better place Building on the findings of the Well-Being Analysis, to live. The ‘ME’ in the project name emphasises the second phase of HACK ME will see a number of the idea of focusing on individual people who make public space interventions being carried out hand up the social fabric of the area. ‘HACK’ draws in the in hand with local residents in the second half of notion of digital hacking of complex systems and in 2012 in order to increase the vitality of Regent’s this case stands for the growing benefits of a self- Estate and bring it to the attention of local decision- organising and volunteer-based DIY culture. makers.

There has been a great deal of discussion in recent times about the Big Society, Neighbourhood Plans, Localism, social investments and entrepreneurial support to address the complex societal challenges facing us. HACK ME wants to focus on the other side of the equation: namely, how do local people (in this case the residents of Regent’s Estate) experience their neighbourhood and what would they like to see happening in future? © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

6 HACKNEY IS READY! IS READY TO ROCK! NOW WE GOT THE RHYTHM, WE’RE NEVER GONNA STOP WE DON’T NEED NO TRENDY STUFF WE WANT SUBSTANCE AND HEART BABY THAT’S ENOUGH FROM THE HEART, THAT’S WHERE IT STARTS PULSING THROUGH MY BODY AND I’M FEELING THE PART!

SWEET COMBINATION MUSIC JAM IN WORKSHOP 44

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ABOUT THE WELL-BEING ANALYSIS Secondly, the Well-Being Analysis helps to engage the community around the transition process. For The Clear Village Well-Being Analysis is a process any such process to be successful, it is essential to to aggregate quantitative and qualitative data ensure community buy-in. Change that is driven on a community and to provide insight into key top-down is often perceived in negative terms and parameters of well-being. The Well-Being Analysis local people who have invested their lives in the is supported by research, yet above all it is about community will understandably feel that decision- reaching out to the community, engaging its making over their heads is disrespectful. The Well- members, and collating their feedback and views. Being Analysis counteracts this by taking a bottom- up approach and demonstrating to local people that The Well-Being Analysis is usually conducted their opinions and aspirations are valued and form within communities that are undergoing or an integral component of the overall process. about to undergo transition. For instance, it was recently carried out in Atina, Italy, to support the Thirdly, the Well-Being Analysis provides a structural municipality’s efforts to regenerate a struggling yet intuitive insight for design briefs, communication village and in Kiel, Germany, to help an asset briefs, and any work that may be carried out in the management company to increase tenant place by Clear Village or others. As such, it is a key satisfaction in a deprived neighbourhood. In such pre-intervention tool that generates empathy for contexts the Well-Being Analysis serves three local transition and ensures higher relevancy in purposes: tackling problem-solving from the outside.

Firstly, it provides an overview of a community’s At the heart of the Well-Being Analysis lies the strengths and weaknesses as perceived by local conviction that local people are not an obstacle to be people. The Wellbeing Analysis gathers feedback overcome, but an asset to draw upon. Local people on essential community well-being factors such as should be viewed as experts on their community Architecture & Infrastructure; Social & Community with a vast reservoir of embedded knowledge on aspects; Economy & Governance; and the Natural the weaknesses, strengths and opportunities of Environment. Furthermore, each of these larger the place. Any transition process that does not categories contains within it a number of sub- adequately solicit their views and ensure their categories, so that a large-scale Well-Being Analysis engagement is therefore negligent of one of its most results in a breadth of findings as illustrated by the valuable assets. Well-Being Wheel. © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

8 %

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" % " is allowed to override structure. What Clear Village # " % tries to innovate is a means to harness content from conversations, which can then be converted into CLEAR VILLAGE WELL-BEING ANALYSIS IN ATINA, strategic findings, supplemented with statistical data ITALY and other research, and translated into the different ‘languages’ spoken across the entire spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from local community groups to executive boardrooms.

For the sake of interventional purposes in Regent’s Estate, Clear Village tailored the Well-Being Analysis methodology to a combination of (1) detailed Well- Being interviews and (2) a ‘lite’ street-style Well- Being interview. In the ‘lite’ version, 12 statements were provided to which interviewees could reply with ‘agree’, ‘neutral’, ‘disagree’ or ‘not important for me’. 10 of the statements related to the following topics of the Well-Being Wheel: mobility, public space, safety, housing, diversity, community comfort, personal development, employment and

9 RECODE PART 1

governance/empowerment. 2 further statements It goes without saying that this Well-Being were provided on Regent’s Estate-specific topics, report does not pretend to be an exhaustive and namely the growth of Broadway Market and the statistically valid examination of life in Regent’s relevance of Workshop 44 to the estate. And finally Estate. That would be presumptuous on the basis of 4 open questions were developed to elicit more 46 interviews. It does, however, provide a snapshot detailed responses and gauge what wishes people of concerns, issues, hopes, aspirations, suggestions had for the future of Regent’s Estate, what they and ideas among the people of Regent’s Estate that would like to see in the public space, and how they can serve as a foundation for further exploration and would like to contribute themselves. initial public space interventions.

Over a period of 2 months from May to July 2012, As one of the interviewees of the Well-Being Clear Village design analyst Victoria van Wassenhove Analysis put it: spent most of her working time in Regent’s Estate, “THERE ARE SOME FUN FACES HERE IN REGENT’S. getting to know the local community, assisting WE’VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND Workshop 44 with their activities, and conducting PEOPLE STOP AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. IT’S NOT both detailed and ‘lite’ Well-Being interviews. The PERFECT, BUT IT’S A FUNNY LITTLE OASIS. I THINK work was supported by process design developed by I’M LUCKY TO LIVE HERE AND I CAN WALK INTO A Thomas Ermacora, founder and strategic director of SHOP AND CHAT TO PEOPLE AND SAY HEY!” Clear Village, and Alice Holmberg, chief operations officer of Clear Village. Research assistance was We hope that this report gives something of a provided by Robin Houterman and Tom Cowan of the sense of the vibrancy, the challenges and also Clear Village Observatory. the opportunities of the ‘funny little oasis’ that is Regent’s Estate.

In total, 46 members of the local community were interviewed. 12 participated in the long wellbeing interviews, while 34 participated in the ‘lite’ interviews. There was a satisfactory distribution of interviewees in terms of gender and age to ensure a variety of perspectives. In terms of gender: 54% of interviewees were male, while 46% were female. In terms of age: 24% of participants were <20 years old, 22% were 20-35 years old, 17% were 35-50 years old, 20% were 50-65 years old, and 17% were 65+ years old. © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

10 "IT’S A FUNNY LITTLE OASIS." A RESIDENT ABOUT THE REGENT'S ESTATE

11 © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

12 PART 2: FINDINGS OF THE WELLBEING INTERVIEWS

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POSITIVE FINDINGS

DIVERSITY I ENJOY LIVING IN A DIVERSE CULTURAL Hackney has a proud tradition of diversity and NEIGHBOURHOOD tolerance and has long been a melting pot of cultures from all over the world. From the Vietnamese restaurants of Kingsland road, to the kosher butchers of Stamford Hill and the Caribbean grocers of Ridley Road Market, Hackney’s history of multiculturalism is deeply embedded in the social composition of the borough. Residents from Black and Asian ethnic minority groups constitute 41% of Hackney’s population, whilst the borough has the largest refugee and asylum-seeker community in the UK and the third largest Charedi Jewish community in the world. It was, however, also pointed out that Regent’s Estate Hackney’s tradition of tolerance is reflected by the would benefit from having more interaction between findings from the Well-Being Interviews, with 91% of different ethnic groups: interviewees from Regent’s Estate agreeing that they “PEOPLE DON’T ALWAYS MIX BETWEEN ETHNIC enjoyed living in a diverse cultural neighbourhood. AND SOCIAL GROUPS. THEY STAY IN THEIR This number is in line with the findings from the POCKETS.” Place Survey 2008/ 2009 carried out by the London Borough of Hackney, which showed that an impressive four in five residents believe that people MOBILITY from different cultures get on well together. Mobility and public transport also scored highly in the Well-Being interviews, with 88% of interviewees As two of the interviewees of the Well-Being Analysis agreeing that they can get to where they want in put it: a reasonable amount of time. This is perhaps not surprising in view of Regent’s Estate’s proximity to “REGENT’S IS DIVERSE, BUT WE GET ALONG, WE central London, the recently opened East London KNOW EACH OTHER.” Line which runs through nearby Haggerston “DIVERSITY IS PART OF WHAT MAKES GREAT between Dalston and Shoreditch, and the extensive BRITAIN GREAT.” public bus network that runs through the borough. As described in the ‘Hackney Transport Strategy © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

14 2006’, car ownership in Hackney is relatively low in comparison to the UK, with 56% of residents having “IT’S MUCH BETTER no access to a private car, yet a similar proportion regularly use public transport. THAN IT USED TO BE.

As some of the interviewees stated: WE ONLY HAD BUSES “PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS VERY GOOD.” BEFORE, BUT NOW “THE BUSES ARE OK.” THERE'S THE TRAIN.” And most positively of all: A RESIDENT ABOUT MOBILITY “HAGGERSTON HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! I AM NOW ABLE TO BE CONNECTED TO WEST LONDON!”

FROM MY HOME, I CAN GET TO WHERE I WANT TO GO IN A REASONABLE TIME HOUSING Satisfaction with housing also scored relatively highly in the Well-Being Analysis, with 71% of residents agreeing that their home satisfies their needs and those of their family. This is somewhat surprising in view of the statistics related to housing in Hackney. Firstly, Hackney holds a much larger stock of social housing than both the London and UK average. Secondly, levels of overcrowding in social housing are much higher in Hackney than the London and UK average. And thirdly, 32% of social housing stock fails to meet the Decent Homes Standard set by the government. In addition, as described in the ‘Hackney Borough Profile 2010’, there is a drastic need for more affordable housing in the borough due to astronomical rises in house prices, which increased by 197% between 2000 and 2009.

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But others were much more critical, especially about MY HOME SATISFIES MY NEEDS AND THOSE OF Hackney Homes and the Council: MY FAMILY “HACKNEY HOMES NEEDS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH THEIR SERVICES.” “A FEW YEARS BACK, THE COUNCIL PROMISED DOUBLE GLAZING AND NEW BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS. BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.” “THE BUILDING WHERE WE LIVE IS BAD. THE STAIRS ARE TOO LONG FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIKE MY MUM. THE LIFT IS OFTEN BROKEN SO SHE HAS TO USE THE STAIRS A LOT. MY BROTHER GOT STUCK IN THE LIFT A FEW TIMES, ONCE IT TOOK THE FIRE BRIGADE FIVE HOURS TO GET TO HIM!” “THE WINDOWS ARE DRAFTY EVEN WHEN THEY’RE The positive numbers for housing are also surprising SHUT AND THEY DON’T EVEN SHUT TIGHT. WE in light of the anecdotal feedback provided by Well- NEED TO HAVE DOUBLE GLAZING. EVERY THIRTY Being Analysis interviewees. YEARS WE’RE ENTITLED TO REFURBISHMENTS AND WE NEVER GET THEM. SUFFOLK ESTATE ACROSS THE ROAD HAVE HAD DOUBLE GLAZING Some expressed satisfaction with their home: FOR YEARS NOW AND THE REASON WE DON’T IS “IT’S FINE- IT’S WELL BUILT AND STURDY.” BECAUSE OF FUNDING THEY SAY. I LIVE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE PLAY AREA AND I CAN’T “IT’S ALL RIGHT- I KEEP IT IN CONDITION.” TAKE THE NOISE SO I’VE BOUGHT EAR PLUGS. I’VE “WHEN WE BOUGHT HERE, OUR FRIENDS WERE NEVER MADE IMPROVEMENTS MYSELF, BUT I FEEL ALSO LOOKING AND THEY TOLD US THEY WERE WE ARE ENTITLED TO REFURBISHMENTS FROM SURPRISED AT THE QUALITY OF OUR HOUSE, THE COUNCIL.” THE SPACE, THE LOCATION. SO I GUESS IT’S ALL REALLY GOOD.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

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PARKS AND GREEN SPACES The satisfaction with parks and green spaces is reflected in resident accounts of their first Finally, parks and green spaces also scored impressions of Hackney which have been gathered positively in the Well-Being Analysis, with 70% of by ‘Mapping the Change’, a Heritage Lottery-funded interviewees agreeing that there are enough parks, project at the Hackney Museum which aims to green spaces or recreational public spaces within capture the history of Hackney through the voices of reach. This finding cannot be considered surprising. the borough’s diverse communities. Shirley Veronica Hackney has the highest proportion of green and Boateng, a nurse originally from Trinidad, summed open space in inner London, covering almost 25% up her first impressions of Hackney as follows: of the borough. Though the percentage is lower for Queensbridge Ward (16%), which is where Regent’s “ONE THING HACKNEY HAD GOING FOR IT AT THAT Estate is located, the estate is close to parks such TIME I THOUGHT WAS THE GREENERY, WHICH as London Fields with its recently re-opened London I LOVED, AND I STILL LOVE THAT. IT’S NICE TO Fields Lido, London’s only Olympic-size outdoor WALK UP TO THE MARSHES. THERE IS...THAT BIG swimming pool. SAVANNAH I USED TO GO DOWN THERE AND WALK ALL ROUND, AND RUN AROUND, AND SIT DOWN THERE, GO ACROSS TO VICTORIA PARK, GO UP As some of the interviewees mentioned: TO LEYTON… THE GREENERY WAS VERY NICE, THE “THE QUANTITY OF PARKS IS FABULOUS. I OFTEN FRESH AIR AND THINGS LIKE THAT…” GO TO LONDON FIELDS, HAGGERSTON AND VICTORIA PARK.” “HAGGERSTON HAS A FARM WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE THERE ARE ENOUGH PARKS, GREEN SPACES OR TO EVERYONE. LONDON FIELDS HAS A SWIMMING RECREATIONAL PUBLIC SPACES WITHIN REACH POOL. VICTORIA PARK IS ENORMOUS AND THERE IS THE CANAL WALKWAY THAT TAKES YOU ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

18 “THE QUANTITY OF PARKS IS FABULOUS. I OFTEN GO TO LONDON FIELDS, HAGGERSTON AND VICTORIA PARK.” A RESIDENT ABOUT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES

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MIXED FINDINGS

COMMUNITY COMFORT Two very different perspectives became apparent during the Well-Being interviews. On the one hand, Levels of community comfort amongst Well-Being there were residents who felt a strong sense of Analysis interviewees revealed more mixed results. community spirit. Whilst 67% of interviewees agreed that they feel at ease and respected in their neighbourhood, 12% “I KNOW EVERYONE HERE.” were neutral or ambivalent and 15% disagreed. “PEOPLE IN REGENT’S LOOK OUT FOR EACH It does, however, compare favourably to Hackney OTHER.” Council’s ‘Place Survey 2008/2009’, which showed “PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND FAMILY that 48% of Hackney residents considered a lack ORIENTATED.” of respect in their neighbourhood as a very big problem, a higher percentage than the London “IT’S A VERY WELCOMING ESTATE. IF YOU’RE A average. DECENT PERSON, PEOPLE WILL TALK TO YOU.” “YOU CAN CALL ON YOUR NEIGHBOURS OR I FEEL AT EASE AND RESPECTED IN MY FRIENDS; EVERYONE HELPS.” NEIGHBOURHOOD But on the other hand, there were residents who felt that there was insufficient community interaction and that the situation needed to be improved. “NEIGHBOURS AREN’T THE SAME AS BEFORE; THEY DON’T TALK.” “PEOPLE KEEP TO THEMSELVES IN SMALL POCKETS.” “THERE IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH THE ELDERLY AND THE CHILDREN; IT’S THE IN- BETWEENS WHERE THERE ARE THE ISSUES.” “I DON’T FEEL LIKE I BELONG HERE. I’M UNHAPPY WITH WHAT I SEE HAPPENING, WHAT PEOPLE DO AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE PISS ME OFF. RESPECT HAS GONE OUT THE DOOR!”

20 I FEEL SAFE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE OF MY who do not feel safe include both males and females NEIGHBOURHOOD and members of all age groups (<20, 20-35, 35- 50, 50-65, 65+). It is clear, then, that the feeling of inadequate safety is not confined to a single group but is a general problem in Regent’s Estate.

In light of the anecdotal information provided by interviewees, it is not surprising that there are concerns about safety. Many had personally experienced crime on the estate. “WE’VE BEEN BURGLED A FEW TIMES. ONCE MY MUM WAS MUGGED AND THE GUY USED HER KEYS TO TRY AND ROB US; LATER ON HE CAME AT THREE IN THE MORNING.” SAFETY “I’VE HAD TWO BREAK-INS.” The issue of safety within the neighbourhood “WE’VE HAD TWO BURGLARIES.” also produced mixed results. According to the Metropolitan Police (June 2012), Hackney has “WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE I WAS MUGGED AT the fifth highest crime rate in London, while KNIFE POINT BY PEOPLE FROM THE ESTATE.” Queensbridge has the fourth highest crime in the borough. According to the ‘Hackney Community Safety Plan 2008/11’, the council is seeking to promote strong and safe communities through “involving and informing our communities”. And in “THERE ARE DEALERS response to the August 2011 riots, the council and its partners have pledged to review their approach OPERATING AROUND to community engagement concerning crime and further support victims of crimes. HERE AND PEOPLE

Despite these initiatives, 18% of Well-Being Analysis SMOKING WEED.” interviewees do not feel safe in the public space A RESIDENT ABOUT SAFETY of their neighbourhood, while 17% are ambivalent. Moreover, it should be emphasized that interviewees

21 A RESIDENT ABOUT SAFETY “THE RAPE LAST WEEK BASICALLY HAPPENED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE ON BROKE WALK. THE LIGHT THERE IS BROKEN AND I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY POLICE AROUND OR HEARD THEM KNOCKING ON DOORS.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

22 “I WAS BURGLED DURING MY FIRST YEAR ON THE It should be added, however, that interviewees came ESTATE WHILE ON HOLIDAY. THEY HAD STOLEN MY across as very ambivalent about the police and CAR DOCUMENTS, BUT LUCKILY MY CAR WASN’T many reported negative experiences. ON THE ESTATE. LATER ON MY NEIGHBOUR “THERE USED TO BE A LOT OF SEARCHES WHICH BROUGHT ME THE DOCUMENTS BACK, SAYING WAS REALLY DISCRIMINATING.” THAT SOMEONE HAD DROPPED THEM IN FRONT OF HIS DOOR; THEY PROBABLY FELT GUILTY. WHEN I “I KNOW IT’S A HARD JOB FOR THEM, BUT THEY SPOKE TO THE POLICE ASKING IF THEY HAD CCTV DON’T HAVE TO PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON FOOTAGE, THEY TOLD ME THE CAMERAS DIDN’T PEOPLE AND THEY ALWAYS MAKE ASSUMPTIONS WORK.” THAT LEAD TO THEM BEING UNFAIR. ONCE THEY EVEN MOCKED MY HAIR AND SAID: ‘IS THAT A “TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, MUSTAFA FROM CAMERON DIAZ CUT?’” THE LOCAL SHOP WAS ROBBED AND BEATEN UP AT GUN POINT. EVERYONE FELT AWFUL ABOUT IT “I AM AGAINST THEIR UNFAIR TARGETING.” AND WENT TO SEE HIM AND SHOW SUPPORT BY “THEY’RE VIOLENT GITS AND RACISTS.” GOING TO THE SHOP. PEOPLE WERE ANGRY THIS HAPPENED TO HIM.” Clearly, then, if the Council intends to achieve its goal of building stronger and safer communities, Interviewees had mixed views on how the problem of the reality and the perception of the relationship crime should be tackled. Suggestions included: between the police and the community will need to + Improving the two passageways on either side of be improved. Broke Walk, which are viewed as intimidating places where drug use and drinking often take place. + Providing more lighting in the public realm- though there were also residents who thought there was already too much lighting. + Installing more cameras- though there were also residents who doubted that this would make a difference. + Having more police officers on the beat.

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BROADWAY MARKET brought a more diverse mix of people into the area and thus provided a greater sense of security, yet The rejuvenation of Broadway Market, which others complain about rising property prices, the sits directly adjacent to Regent’s Estate and closure of local businesses serving the community, accommodates a largely middle-class weekend and the eviction of local residents by rapacious clientele, has been celebrated by both the Council developers. As Hackney resident and previous and some sections of the media for reviving what in Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen put it in his poem the Guardian was referred to as a “dying street”. The ‘Regeneration Blues’: extent to which Well-Being Analysis interviewees felt they had benefited from the market’s renewal, however, was mixed. Whilst 64% of interviewees IN THE TOWN HALLS agreed that the growth of the market had benefited COUNCILLORS GET EXCITED: the community or themselves, 15% felt neutral or ambivalent and 12% disagreed. “THAT OLD STREET FULL OF SHOPS This reflects wider mixed perceptions of the benefits RUN BY PEOPLE FROM that the growth of Broadway Market has brought AFRICA, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST to the area. Some argue that the market has WITH FLATS UP ABOVE – AREN'T THEY ON SHORT LEASE I FEEL THAT THE COMMUNITY AND/OR I HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE GROWTH OF BROADWAY COS WE WERE ONCE MARKET GOING TO PUT A ROAD THROUGH THERE? THAT OLD POOL THAT OLD SCHOOL DON’T WE OWN THAT? YOU KNOW WHAT? WE COULD DEMOLISH THE LOT GET DEVELOPERS IN: NO TIME TO WAIT REEEE – GENERATE." © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

24 Interviewees of the Well-Being Analysis showed the same mix of opposing perspectives. On the “IT’S NICE TO HAVE one hand, there were some who complained about perceived gentrification: NEW PEOPLE COMING “IT’S A CLASSICAL CASE OF GENTRIFICATION.” “I’VE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE PROPERTY INTO THE AREA.” MARKET.” A RESIDENT ABOUT BROADWAY MARKET “THE YUPPIES DRINK A LOT. I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S BECAUSE THEY NEED TO DRINK TO HAVE FUN.” “LOTS OF SHOPS HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT. THE PET SHOP, A USEFUL SHOP, IS NOW A TRENDY FURNITURE SHOP. HOW USEFUL IS THAT, RIGHT? But on the other hand, there were also interviewees SOME HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY FUCKED OVER. ALSO, who welcomed the changes. THE CANAL USED TO BE LOVELY, BUT NOW IT’S “WE LOVE BROADWAY MARKET.” BECOMING A TRAVEL PATH WHICH IS HORRIBLE “WE MOSTLY GO TO BROADWAY MARKET FOR OUR WITH SPEEDING BIKES. IT’S DEFINITELY LESSENED SHOPPING.” MY QUALITY OF LIFE.”

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EMPLOYMENT Interviewees of the Well-Being Analysis showed mixed degrees of satisfaction with their employment As reported in Hackney Council’s ‘Facts and situation. Overall, the findings are perhaps more Figures’, as of 2011 66% of Hackney residents are positive than would have been expected in light of in employment, less than the London average the macro data. 65% of interviewees agreed that of 68% and the UK average of 70%. Conversely, they are happy with their professional life whilst a 11% of residents are unemployed, which is higher mere 6% are not happy. than the London average of 9% and the UK average of 8%. As described in the ‘Queensbridge Profile 2007’, a high proportion of Hackney and The relatively positive numbers are also surprising in Queensbridge residents are employed in public light of the anecdotal information gathered during services, whilst the two other dominant sectors the Well-Being Analysis. Some interviewees focused of employment for Queensbridge are ‘real estate, on the positive: renting and business activities’ and ‘wholesale and “I WAS BORN A HUSTLER, SO I GET BY, I SURVIVE.” retail trade, repairs’. According to Team Hackney’s Economic Development Partnership, encouraging “I’M DOING FINE. MY SKILLS ARE ALWAYS IN enterprise, supporting apprenticeships and tackling DEMAND.” worklessness are the council’s three priority areas in “THE BUTCHER TOLD ME HE WANTED TO RETIRE, this respect. BUT HE COULDN’T BECAUSE HE’S MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY.”

I AM HAPPY WITH MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE Yet other interviewees had a bleaker view of their professional and economic situation: “IT’S BEEN A BAD TIME SINCE THE RECESSION.” “ANYBODY ORDINARY HAS FELT THE RECESSION. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL IT WAS HARD, DIFFICULT AND STRESSFUL. I LOST A DAY OF WORK, WHICH WAS GOOD IN A WAY, BECAUSE I HAD MORE HEAD SPACE FOR A WHILE. I’M BACK ON FULL TIME NOW.” “WAGES HAVEN’T KEPT UP WITH INFLATION. PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE ON AND DON’T WANT TO WORK LONG HOURS FOR A PITTANCE.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

26 “HACKNEY IS IN PRETTY DIRE STRAITS. WE HAVE 48% ON FREE SCHOOL MEALS.” HEADMASTER OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL

27 © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

28 NEIGHBOURHOOD PUBLIC SPACE THERE ARE ENOUGH PARKS, GREEN SPACES OR According to Hackney Council’s ‘Public Realm RECREATIONAL PUBLIC SPACES WITHIN REACH Strategy 2012’, the Council is working to ensure that all public space is fully accessible, inclusive and caters for a full range of activities; that streets are defined by social and environmental context rather than transport function; and that successful spaces are created through understanding local distinctiveness. As the strategy states: “THE PUBLIC REALM SHOULD BE SHAPED BY THE CHARACTER OF THE DISTINCTIVE NEIGHBOURHOODS, BUILT ELEMENTS SUCH AS BUILDINGS, WALLS, FENCES AND STREETSCAPE, PARKS AND GARDENS, AND LANDMARKS OF THE BOROUGH- OLD AND NEW- AND GIVEN LIFE BY “THERE’S NO TRAFFIC AROUND THE ESTATE. IT THE ACTIVITIES THAT SPILL OUT INTO IT FROM RESULTS IN LESS AIR POLLUTION- WE MEASURED HOMES, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY BUILDINGS, THAT AT THE SCHOOL. IT ALSO MEANS KIDS CAN AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.” PLAY AROUND OUTSIDE, THOUGH YOU DON’T SEE MANY.” “IT’S NOT BAD. THERE’S ENOUGH SPACE WITH Yet the Well-Being Analysis interviews elicited a PLENTY OF CCTV.” mixed response on this topic from residents. Whilst 59% of interviewees agreed that the public space in the neighbourhood satisfies their needs and those But many problems were also mentioned. One of of their family, 20% remained neutral and 21% the ones cited most frequently was issues with the disagreed. drains: “THE DRAINS ON THE ESTATE ARE A MASSIVE Interviewees cited certain positive aspects of the ISSUE AND SMELL REALLY BAD. THEY SHOULD neighbourhood public space: UNBLOCK THE MAIN DRAIN INSTEAD OF DOING IT IN DIFFERENT PLACES EACH TIME AND NOT “WE’RE FORTUNATE IN THE WAY THE ESTATE REALLY FIXING IT. WAS DESIGNED. THERE’S A KIND OF INSIDE AND OUTSIDE BIT.” “THERE ARE SEWAGE WATER ISSUES. THE DRAINS OFTEN GET BLOCKED AND FLOOD DIFFERENT AREAS ON THE ESTATE. YOU GET A BAD SMELL.”

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Another major problem cited by interviewees was There was also dissatisfaction with litter in general the problem of accessibility for elderly and disabled and dog litter in particular: people: “WE ONCE WENT ROUND WITH THE KIDS AND “FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE THINGS ARE DIFFICULT. THE COUNTED THE LITTER. WE GOT TO 200 BETWEEN STAIRS ARE STEEP AND LONG. THERE’S NO LIFT. THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH.” THERE ARE NO RAMPS.“ “PEOPLE NEED TO RESPECT THE AREA AND PICK “THE BOLLARDS SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY. IT’S UP AFTER THEIR DOGS.” DIFFICULT IN A WHEELCHAIR.” “WE USED TO PLAY A GAME AND IT WAS CALLED “DISABLED AND ELDERLY PERSONS’ ACCESS IS COUNT THE MOST POOS.” LIMITED ON THE ESTATE. THE BOLLARDS ARE OFTEN TOO CLOSE TOGETHER FOR WHEELCHAIRS TO PASS. AND THERE AREN’T ANY RAMPS.” Finally, other issues that were mentioned included the lack of benches, the generally uninviting appearance of the public space, the lack of activities especially for young people, and the fact that the council undertakes changes without consultation: “THE PUBLIC SPACE IS JUST WASTED. WHY NOT DO SOMETHING WITH IT?” “THE COUNCIL SUDDENLY DECIDED TO CHOP TREES DOWN WITHOUT ASKING ANYONE.” “THERE SHOULD BE “WE NEED BENCHES, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH KIDS OR OLDER PEOPLE.” SOMETHING FOR “WE SHOULD HAVE AN INTEGRATED SPACE, NOT PARTICULAR TO A CERTAIN AGE OR KIND OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO PERSON BUT FOR EVERYONE.” INSTEAD OF HANGING OUT ON STAIRWELLS.” A RESIDENT ABOUT PUBLIC SPACE © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

30 NEGATIVE FINDINGS

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD, THERE ARE FORMAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR As described in Hackney Council’s ‘Sustainable PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Community Strategy 2008-2018’, educational support for adults and young people is a key feature of the council’s future strategy: “OUR FOCUS IS ON RAISING ASPIRATIONS AND IMPROVING QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THESE ARE THE KEY TO IMPROVING OPPORTUNITIES LATER IN LIFE, AND BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. WORKLESSNESS AND LOW INCOMES ARE THE MAJOR UNDERLYING CAUSES OF POVERTY. OUR AMBITION IS THAT HACKNEY’S CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD DO AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.” Other interviewees stated resignedly: However, only 23% of the Well-Being Analysis “MOTIVATION IN THE COMMUNITY IS LACKING.” interviewees agreed that there are formal and “MAYBE WE SHOULD GET KIDS TO VALUE informal opportunities for professional and personal LEARNING MORE.” development in their neighbourhood, whilst 41% were neutral or ambivalent and 21% disagreed. Also worth highlighting in this respect is that none of the And throughout the Well-Being Analysis process, it interviewees in the <20 age group agreed with the was reported by local residents that there simply isn’t statement. enough for young people to do on the estate. As one young man said to Clear Village design analyst As the local headmaster mentioned: Victoria van Wassenhove: “THERE ARE PLENTY OF OFFERS OUT THERE, BUT “HOW CAN YOU COME TO THE ESTATE EVERY DAY? IT’S ONLY THE ALREADY AFFLUENT MAKING USE IT’S SO BORING HERE!” OF THEM. THIS ONLY INCREASES THE SOCIAL DIVIDE.”

31 RECODE PART 2

EMPOWERMENT I FEEL MY VOICE IS REPRESENTED BY THE LOCAL The Well-Being Analysis statement concerning GOVERNMENT AND DECISION MAKERS representation and empowerment elicited the most negative responses. Hackney Council’s ‘Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-18’ aims to “enable and empower all our citizens to take an active role in local community, civic and democratic life in the borough.” In fact, voter turnout in Hackney in the 2010 General Election matched the national average of around 60%, whilst in the Council elections Queensbridge Ward registered a 58% turnout. Yet interviewees of the Well-Being Analysis showed a high degree of disenfranchisement, with only 21% agreeing that their voice is represented by the local government and decision makers, whilst 41% disagreed. As with the topic of personal “THIS IS OUR WAY TO GET THEM TO LISTEN TO US and professional development, there were no COS THINK ABOUT IT WE’VE BEEN STRUGGLING interviewees in the <20 age group who agreed with FOR YEARS, AND WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR the statement.. US, HONESTLY WHAT IS THE WAY...HOW ELSE DO Some of the interviewees voiced their opinion as WE GET TO THEM?“ follows: “THE OLYMPICS HAS A BIG PART IN THIS “THERE IS TOO MUCH TOP-DOWN. THERE IS TOO BECAUSE THEY’RE REGENERATING HACKNEY MUCH INVASIVE CONTROL.” [BUT] THEY’RE NOT REGENERATING FOR THE PEOPLE...THEY’RE BUILDING UP ALL THESE NICE “PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THEIR SAY MORE OFTEN APARTMENTS THAT YOU SEE...BUT WE HAVE THAN EVERY FOUR YEARS.” TO STAY IN THE ESTATES WE HAVE ALREADY “I DON’T FEEL ANYTHING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. BEEN CLASSED AS SCUM AND ‘BLACK PEOPLE THEY’RE CON ARTISTS- IN SHAMBLES AND THE ARE THE WORST KIND OF PEOPLE’, ALL THESE BIGGEST CRIME ORGANISERS.” ESTATES THAT YOU SEE THAT ARE NOW FENCED The Well-Being Analysis findings on this topic UP, THAT’S TO KEEP YOU IN, TO KEEP YOU are reminiscent of the accounts and perceptions SEGREGATED FROM ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT of the causes of the August 2011 riots, where ARE COMING IN, TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.“ personal accounts commonly refer to alienation, (From the Hackney Citizen, 27.08.2011: Residents disempowerment and under-representation: speak out on Hackney riots at Clarence Road) © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

32 “BASICALLY, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ASKS YOU FOR SOMETHING, THEY’VE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS. THEY DON’T LISTEN. IT’S ALL A FALLACY.” A LOCAL RESIDENT'S VIEW ON EMPOWERMENT

34 PART 3: A GLANCE INTO THE FUTURE OF REGENT'S ESTATE

35 RECODE PART 3

WORKSHOP 44 I KNOW ABOUT WORKSHOP44 AND THINK Workshop 44 is an activity space on Regent’s Estate THE WORK IS RELEVANT TO MYSELF AND THE located in a derelict former shop. It offers a host of COMMUNITY activities, ranging from music sessions to bike repair classes, in order to reach out to local people and engage them in positive activity.

As the findings from the Well-Being Analysis show, 59% of interviewees know about Workshop 44 and think that the work is relevant to themselves and the community. Some of the comments that were mentioned during the interviews include: “IT PROVIDES A SPACE TO HANG OUT FOR PEOPLE, WHICH IS ALREADY USEFUL. ALTERNATIVELY THEY WOULD HANG OUT UNDER THE BRIDGE WAITING “THEY NEED TO GET OUT ON TO THE ESTATE TO GET INTO TROUBLE.” MORE.” “IT KEEPS THE KIDS BUSY.” “THEY REALLY NEED TO BRANCH OUT TO PEOPLE.” “IT’S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER AND “MOST OF US DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S ALL BE INVOLVED AND ACTIVE.” ABOUT. WHAT’S THE OVERARCHING GOAL? THE MESSAGE ISN’T CLEAR. THE MUSIC JAM SEEMS TO BE REALLY GOOD, THOUGH.” The 20% of interviewees who disagreed with the statement in fact all did so because they did not know about Workshop 44, not because they did By doing so, Workshop 44 will be able to ensure not consider the work relevant. Yet this finding does that more people on Regent’s Estate will share the point to a way in which Workshop 44 can enhance sentiment of one particularly positive interviewee: its impact on Regent’s Estate. Several interviewees “WORKSHOP 44 IS BRILLIANT AND CAN FLOURISH. felt that Workshop 44 would benefit from engaging I SPEAK TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT MUST in more active outreach to the community; clarifying BE REALLY HARD BEING THEM AROUND HERE. its goals; and being more pro-active about bringing THEY NEED SOMETHING TO DO! THEY’RE THE LOST people into its programme of activities: GENERATION.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

36 37 WISHES AND DREAMS FOR REGENT’S Yet by far the most ideas revolved around enhancing ESTATE community spirit and providing more activities for local residents: When asked about their wishes and dreams for the future of Regent’s Estate, interviewees replied with a “I WISH FOR NO VIOLENCE AND EVERYONE TO GET host of different ideas. ALONG.” “THAT PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE WHOLE Some actually felt that everything was already COMMUNITY.” satisfactory as it was: “SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS TO DO.” “IT’S OK ALREADY.” “THERE SHOULD BE MORE MUSIC, MORE “IT SHOULD STAY THE WAY IT IS.” EXHIBITIONS, SHOWCASING FILMS.” “A UNITED COMMUNITY.” Others suggested ideas ranging from the purely “THE YOUNG ONES SHOULD DREAM. THERE ARE personal to the entirely impractical: NO PROBLEMS 'HERE', PROBLEMS ARE ALL OVER “TO START A FOOTBALL PROJECT RUN BY ME.” THE WORLD.” “REDUCING COUNCIL CHARGES.” “THE ELDERLY AND THE YOUNG NEED A LITTLE “THE SHOP SHOULD STAY OPEN LATER.” PLACE WHERE THEY CAN HOLD DANCES AND MUSIC FOR ALL RESIDENTS” “FREE PARKING FOR VISITORS.” “SAFER THINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO.” “I WISH FOR IT TO GO ABOUT A MASSIVE RENOVATION AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COUNCIL TO “MORE CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS FOR TURKISH GIVE US NEW HOUSES AND DESTROY THE CRAP AND KURDISH SPEAKING FAMILIES.” EX-COUNCIL SHIT I BOUGHT.” “FOR IT TO MAINTAIN ITS CHARACTER, FOR EVERYONE TO GET ALONG AND FULFIL THE POTENTIAL OF THE VAST TALENT AND CONTINUE TO GROW HEALTHY, STRONG AND WITH INTEGRITY.” “FOR COMMUNITY COHESION TO BE INCREASED, FOR EVERYONE TO CONTINUE CARRYING OUT POSITIVE ACTIVITIES ON THE ESTATE WHICH WILL REFLECT ACROSS THE BOROUGH.”

36 37 RECODE PART 3

WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE And thirdly, linking up to the responses to the PUBLIC SPACE question about the future of Regent’s Estate, interviewees would like to see more communal When asked about what they would like to see in activities in the public space: the public space, interviewees responded with three main points: “PEOPLE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.” “REGENT'S ESTATE FESTIVAL, JUST SOMETHING UNIQUE TO HERE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND.” Firstly, and linking up to the findings from the statement about public space in the neighbourhood, “I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ACTIVITIES AND residents would like to have more benches and STREET PARTIES.” better accessibility for elderly and disabled persons. “OUTDOOR CONCERTS OR MUSIC FESTIVALS ONCE IN A WHILE.” Secondly, a variety of ideas was suggested to “COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN THE improve what is currently perceived as the uninviting AREA (LIKE BBQS).” aspect of the public space: “IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE MORE THINGS GOING “MORE GREEN SPACE.” ON- LESS LOW KEY.” “NICE FLOWER BEDS.” “A PROPER GARDEN PARTY.” “MORE FLOWERS.” “FOOD PARTIES AND STREET EVENTS.” “SCULPTURES, MORE TREES, COLOURFUL AND GREEN BUILDINGS THAT ARE ECO SMART.” “SOME MORE GREENERY.” “A FOUNTAIN ON BROKE WALK WOULD BE NICE FOR WHEN IT’S WARM. ONE OF THOSE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND SO THE KINDS CAN PLAY IN IT.” © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

38 “A CLEAN AND HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT WITH FRIENDLY, HAPPY NEIGHBOURS INTERACTING IN A POSTITIVE AND HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE. FEELING PROUD EVERY DAY OF LIVING IN REGENT'S ESTATE.”

A RESIDENT'S VIEW ON THE FUTURE OF REGENT'S ESTATE

40 HOW PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE THEMSELVES “BEING NICE AND The question as to how local residents would like to contribute to changing the neighbourhood also RESPECTFUL.” elicited a broad range of responses, ranging from “don’t know” and “don’t have the time” to the more A RESIDENT'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE positive: REGENT'S ESTATE “BEING A BETTER PERSON.” “BY ENGAGING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.” As Clear Village has learnt in the course of other community engagement projects, there is of course “I AM UP FOR CHALLENGES & LIKE TO DEVELOP.” a large difference between what people say that are “IN ANY WAY.” willing to do and what they do eventually do. This is “YES, IN WHATEVER WAY IF I HAVE THE TIME.” not a cynical reflection, but a realistic observation which is in line with broader research into civic “FRIENDLINESS AND A SMILEY FACE.” participation. Yet this comment aside, there is no “TEACHING BASIC COMPUTING AND READING.” doubt that there is a vast reservoir of positive intent “SOMETHING WITHIN THE ARTS, I WORK IN THE and enthusiasm amongst residents in Regent’s MUSIC INDUSTRY.” Estate which can be tapped into in order to bring “I ALREADY PARTICIPATE AT THE COMMUNITY HALL about positive change. AND DO BBQS AT PENSIONER’S HALL- I WOULD JUST WANT TO DO THAT MORE.” “PROMOTION AND PUBLICISING SKILLS.” “ORGANISE A HOMEWORK CLUB FOR THE YOUTH IN THE AREA.” “I COULD HELP PEOPLE OUT.” “KEEPING PUBLIC COMMUNAL SPACES CLEAN AND TIDY. HELPING TO IMPROVE GREEN AREAS BY GROWING FLOWERS AND NEW TREES.”

41 RECODE PART 3

CONCLUSIONS

It would be presumptuous to claim that the HACK + And finally, there is substantial motivation and ME project can help the residents of Regent’s enthusiasm among local residents to participate in Estate to tackle all the problems that have been such communal activities and ensure their success. identified in the course of the Well-Being Analysis process. Many require a long-term approach that can only succeed through close collaboration with It is therefore with great excitement that we are key stakeholders such as the Council and Hackney looking forward to phase two of HACK ME and Homes. to working together with the people of Regent’s Estate to bring more life and shared activity to their neighbourhood in order to strengthen the communal That said, we do believe that phase two of the HACK bonds. ME project, which will see a number of public space interventions being carried out hand in hand with local residents in the second half of 2012 in order to Or, to put it in the words of the Sweet Combination increase the vitality of Regent’s Estate and bring it music jam at Workshop 44: to the attention of local decision-makers, will be an extremely valuable step in the right direction.

On the basis of our Well-Being Analysis, we are confident that a number of key factors are in place that will ensure that public space interventions have a significant impact: + Regent’s Estate is a highly diverse and tolerant neighbourhood. + One of its potential strengths is local community spirit, though this needs to be supported and strengthened by having more communal activities. + There is a great desire to see more activities taking place in the public space, in order to provide young people with constructive things to do, bring young and old together, and bridge divides between different ethnic and social groups. © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org

42 A LITTLE BIT OF ME, A LITTLE BIT OF YOU BRIGHTEST STARS ARE ALWAYS GONNA SHINE THROUGH.

EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE TIME TO SHINE IF YOU BREAK ON THROUGH AND WALK THE LINE.

WE JUST HAVE ONE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT EVERYBODY HERE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME!

SWEET COMBINATION MUSIC JAM AT WORKSHOP 44

43 CLEAR VILLAGE Lime Wharf, Vyner Street LONDON E2 9DJ T +44 (0)208 980 9019

Thomas Ermacora Strategic director T +44 (0)7503001345 E [email protected]

Alice Holmberg project leader HACKME T +44 (0)754 99 38840 E [email protected] © clear-village.org 2012 © clear-village.org