Listening to and understanding the local community of St Peter’s Church, by Samuel Verbi and Ben Winkley - Eido Research Introduction Contents “If your church building were a person, 3 what would it be like?” Introduction Nigel Walter, Church Buildings for People 1 About the local area Methodology Churches are typically places that are familiar, welcoming, and valuable to congregation Demographics members and Christians in general. As places of worship they offer a space for members to connect with each other and God, in a well known setting.

1. Identifying needs 8 And yet we rarely consider how our church building is seen by those who aren’t members of the congregation and how it could bring value and benefit to our local communities and Local knowledge residents. Fractured community Lack of activities What are the needs that this building could help meet? And ultimately, if our building were a person, how it could serve those in society who need it the most?

2. How could St Peter’s respond? 12 With a new church building set for completion in Autumn 2018, it is answers to these questions that St Peter’s church wanted to know. With a vision to “share the love of Jesus Which groups should St Peter’s be helping? in Battersea and beyond”, the church wanted to learn how they could use their new building Youth and elderly to “serve those most in need” in the local community. 2 Creating a safe space Following consultation in 2017, St Peter’s asked Eido to learn from the local community exactly what those needs are, and how they can best meet them with their new building. 3. Uses for the new building 14 Structured educational activities Sports groups Benefits

4. Engaging with the community? 20 The challenge of communication A regular presence An online presence Partnering with trusted figures A persistent presence

5. Conclusions 26

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 2 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 3 About the local area Set on the edge of the Winstanley Estate in Battersea, St Peter’s church building, and the space around it, historically has in many ways been a ‘good person’ for the local community. During the 20th century, the original building functioned as a community centre and club house, including a snooker table, for local residents.3 Following a fire in 1970, and the demolition of the the church Methodology building, the space became a makeshift adventure playground for local children, a rarity on the Estate Following an initial consultation meeting on 3rd August 2017, with several subsequent meetings in at that time.4 In 1974, a smaller single story building was constructed, and over the subsequent the weeks afterwards, the research needs of St Peter’s were identified. They were in short, four main years the church ran a youth group with over 200 members from the surrounding area. More recent questions that St Peter’s wanted to know the answers to: community focused projects include God Loves Battersea, as well as other weekly groups and events. Finally, in January 2014 the old building was set for demolition, and construction began on What are the views of the local community? What does the local community want? What does the a new church building, due to be completed in 2018.4 local community need? How can St Peter’s best meet these wants and needs through their new building? The residential area of Battersea has likewise seen dramatic change over Historically St Peter’s in To answer these questions, a representative sample from the population register of the local area recent years. Originally the local area was was taken, and total of 70 homes were approached to conduct short face to face interviews. a Victorian slum and was earmarked for many ways has been a demolition prior to World War II. However ‘good person’ for the local Using volunteers from St Peter’s, as well as researchers from Eido, these interviews were collected heavy bombing during the war levelled throughout the end of 2017 into early 2018. much of the area, and subsequently the community Winstanley Estate was constructed in the Following this, a small focus group of 10 local residents was formed, and presented with more in- 1960s and 1970s, as well as other new properties along the river and along plough road.3 Over depth questions in a 1 hour long discussion meeting held at St Peter’s on the 4th April. the subsequent years the area remained poor, despite the development of surrounding parts of Battersea and Clapham, and the Estate was the location of a high level of crime and a number of The resulting open and closed questions from the door to door survey and focus group, were used murders in the early 2000’s. Following the riots of August 2011, which saw destruction and looting to compile the following research findings and statistics. in Clapham Junction, a Council Report found much of the Winstanley Estate was in the bottom one percent of places for a child to live in.5 Subsequently, in 2014 the local Council agreed proposals for the regeneration of the estate, with building work starting in 2018. Questions: With a vision to bring “significant improvements to the physical environment, and enhanced provision of commercial and community services, jobs, education and training opportunities; helping local What are the views of the local community? people to prosper and achieve their aspirations”,6 this wider regeneration project, at least in theory, What does the local community need? aligns with St Peter’s vision to see their new building bless the local community. How can St Peter’s best meet these wants and needs In this regard, learning from the local residents as to what their needs and concerns are, is valuable, through their new building? not only for St Peter’s, but also for other groups.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 4 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 5 Demographics As was intended, there was a good level of variation in the demographics of respondents in both the survey as well as the focus group.

Of the 70 respondents, 31% were families, 5% were over the age of 65, and 57% were single occupants / sharing with house-mates. The remaining 7% weren’t identifiable as belonging to any of these categories. This representation of age, lines up relatively closely with ward level statistics from the UK census, with 27% of households living with dependants, and 8% being over the age of 65.7

With regards to religious affiliation, the sample also had a good spread of responses. 57% Pictured: Some of the residents from our focus group and interviews indicated that they don’t attend a church, 24% said that they currently did (with another 3% saying that they were looking to attend one), and 14% indicated that they attended another place of worship (such as a mosque or temple).

Finally, an area that St Peter’s were keen to ensure was a voice from those who hadn’t engaged with them as an organization before. With 60% of respondents having never even heard of St Peter’s Church before, and only 9% of respondents having been to a St Peter’s event before, the sample ensured a fresh set of insights and opinions from the community.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 6 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 7 Identifying needs Local Knowledge A fractured community Although it wasn’t an official question, one of the first findings to come from the door to door This first main need for the local area therefore focused on how fractured things felt. conversations was the wealth of opinion and knowledge that local residents had for their “there said one resident. community. With many of them having lived in the area for 30+ years, there was a strong are now a lot of walls in people’s minds” “There isn’t that drive to say consensus of what the community used to look like, and therefore what the community hello and to talk to each other like there once was”. “I remember it when we used to needs were now. In this regard it was problems of social fracturing, as well as a lack of local have a lot of community talking to each other, now I don’t say hello because it feels more added another. activities, that were the most pertinent themes. dangerous and divided”, These sentiments of a fractured feeling were also expressed by residents living near the “Growing up on this estate there used to be a thriving community”, said one resident who river. “In you don’t say hello. I think there is a lot of fear of why someone is saying has lived here since 1975. “We used to have shops, a library, rent office, a grocery store, hello and fear about what other people will do. Don’t walk with your phone out, don’t a hardware story, a laundry, there was a thriving community”. do this, don’t do that, and the minute that it involves someone else in an interaction “We used to go and play at the local community centre” added another, “I remember “there are now a lot of there are 10 things you think they are going regularly attending St Peter’s church back when it had a snooker table and everything”. to do bad to you. So I think that is going to barriers separating us, be very difficult to change”. These ‘barriers “This community has changed a lot, we used to have a much stronger feeling of in people’s minds’ were a major part of the walls in people’s minds” said a third. connection with our neighbours, people used to say hello. It’s all changed”, perceived needs felt. In direct contrast to what it used to be, many residents talked about the issues that faced their neighbourhood now. “This community is now socially suppressed. The social clubs Lack of activities are gone, the things that brought community together are gone”. “There is none of that added another now”, “we’ve got nothing. If a feeling of fractured and divided community was the first need that residents felt should be People aren’t a friendly as they used to be. “Growing up on the estate addressed, a second main difference expressed was the lack of activities residents perceived When you are on your own you are on your they could do. “There was so much more to do then there is now”, said one resident, own”. “We have a so called ‘community there used to be a thriving “now there is nothing to do”. “There used to be a Battersea adventure playground, but centre’, but it isn’t structured and it now its all been commercialized” said another resident. “There also used to be a youth doesn’t have any timetabled events”. community” club, adventure playground that was staffed, in the summer you had activities happening in the park, youth discos, which brought the youth together, now you don’t have things like that”, said a third.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 8 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 9 A desire to get to know their neighbours Whilst there were feelings that the community was oppressed, there also was also a relatively strong desire from residents to get to know their neighbours more. When asked how important this was for them, 57% of the Winstanley estate community responded positively, How important is it for you to get to know your neighbours? with only 27% saying that this was of low importance. “A lot of people think that people on the estate are antisocial, or full of criminals”, said one member. “But it isn’t like that at all. We are good people, with normal lives, and we want to have a better community”. Another community member, when he was offered the £20 incentive to attend the focus group, said “I don’t want an incentive. this would be good for me to be at regardless. I think talking about this kind of thing is important”. Moderately important Low importance Very important 29% 27% In contrast however, those who were asked the 28% same question from apartments along the river, 57% of the Winstanley responded less positively. “I get home late in estate community want Low importance Slightly the evening, and I don’t have the energy or 71% important Moderately 16% important desire to really get to know anyone else in this to get to know their 29% area”, said one resident. “I have my friends neighbours better in other parts of London to be honest. I just sleep here”. For these apartments, 71% of respondents indicated that getting to know their River apartments Winstanley estate neighbours was of low importance to them.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 10 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 11 How could St Peter’s respond? Youth 48% mentioned that St Peter’s should be focusing on helping kids and youth. Having had a glimpse of the felt needs and issues of residents, we asked: These responses ranged from children to late teens. For both of these groups, respondents What could St Peter’s do to benefit the community? were keen that St Peter’s could create a safe space for these groups to go, and engage in alternative activities than they are currently. The worry from residents was that currently A large amount of people didn’t feel they knew precisely, as to how St Peter’s could help youth and kids are either stuck at home (taking up time and energy from parents and the local community. It is possible that with such large perceived problems, it is difficult to carers) or are getting involved in gang and drug related activities. By providing a “safe conceive of any realistic solutions. space” as several residents said, St Peter’s could allow these youths to engage in sports, do homework, or simply just hang out. However we were able to identify two specific groups that St Peter’s could begin to respond to - Elderly Which groups should St Peter’s be helping? The second most mentioned group of individuals was the elderly, with 22% of resident responses mentioning that this was a group that needed particular attention. Here residents particularly spoke of the feeling of isolation in their community. Again though the 60 emphasis was on creating a space where this group of people could come and engage with others, “I’d like things for people like me 50 as well”, said one elderly woman, “being able to come in and chat and meet people. I don’t 70% of respondent 40 mind what activity it is, I just want to talk to suggestions were for someone”. In this second main suggestion it 30 was again a need for a safe space to engage St Peter’s to be helping in interaction with one another that was the youth or elderly 20 expressed.

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% of respondent suggestions % of respondent 0 A safe space Kids & youth Elderly General Homeless Other This idea of a safe space was likewise emphasized for other groups. Whether it was ex- community offenders, single mums, young male adults, or indeed the general community, residents felt that they would benefit from being able to either come themselves, or recommend to others, to a safe space.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 12 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 13 Uses for the new building? Structured educational activities

Having discussed about the needs of isolation and lack of activities available, as well as the The main type of activities that were mentioned were structured educational activities. particular groups of the youth and elderly that most needed help, we can shift attention to Whether it was flower arranging, parenting courses, cookery class, general sports, or even how St Peter’s can address these needs with their new building and look at exactly what life skills, there was a strong consensus that residents would love to have a class or lesson this ‘safe space’ might be able to offer. in something. In response to the door to door survey, over 40% of residents mentioned a group activity that involved learning. In response to the question of what would be helpful to put on in the new church building, there were two main themes that were apparent with regards to the type of activities, as well “I’d love to learn how to do flower arranging”, said one resident who had looked into online as the desired result of these activities. courses before, “but the problem is that they all cost so much money”. “I’d be really up for a nutrition class. With a well known health or wellness figure who could come and teach us a bit about it all”, added another. “There are a lot of youth on the estate who How should St Peter’s use their new building to help the community? would love to learn things like boxing, or climbing. Activities that they can grow and learn in”, said a third.

45 In each instance, the activities that were mentioned 40 were geared towards mental engagement and “I’d love to learn new 35 self-improvement. Rather than simply an event things, and I think 30 that was fun, residents were keen to grow and develop in a skill-set or ability. other people around 25 “Regenerating the estate is fine, but what people are really looking 20 here would like that for is a regeneration of their minds”, said another 15 resident. “I love to learn new things, and I think as well” 10 other people around here would like that as well”. 5 0

% of respondent suggestions % of respondent Classes Sports General Events Other activities

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 14 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 15 Sports groups

Following these suggestions for self-improvement, the most mentioned type of learning based activity was that of sports groups. From football class, to pilates, to zumba, to general fitness, 30% of residents were keen to have education and learning that involved physical activity. “I think sports definitely, everybody is accommodated”, said one resident. “Exercise, physical health, mental health, whatever it is, sports isn’t something that you would be embarrassed say you are going to do”, added another.

For the youth these ideas were typically focused around football, whilst for adults and the elderly it was ideas surrounding a gym and pilates. “Football is the common denominator for most kids, having space to teach and do that would be really valuable”, said one resident. With particular reference to there being numerous gyms in the local area, residents again pointed to the high cost of attending these, as well as the barriers to entry for those who are elderly as well as those who want to bring their kids. “There is nowhere for people to go to do regular exercises” said one resident in response to the idea of going to a normal gym. “There are loads of ‘gyms for big muscles’, but nothing for people like me who are a bit older and just want some good regular exercise”. Likewise, one woman with several children, said that she couldn’t bring her kids to normal gyms but would love to have them involved in group classes “Exercise, physical health, somewhere nearby, “the only gym my child can go to is at school, and you mental health - sports isn’t can’t bring a child to a local regular something that you would gym”. be embarrassed to say you were going to do”

“a class in something as a group would be great as you get to meet more people”

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 16 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 17 Potential benefits? Increased skills With regards to the value that these activities brought residents there were two main aspects. The first was of course the actual skill sets that residents felt were needed by themselves, and by their local community. The idea to have life skills classes, for example, to help young men deal with contemporary life was one suggestion, “teaching boys how to become men, from things like shaving to how to dress for an interview, to how to treat and respect women”. Another suggestion was to have “activities that would “Teaching boys how to help the youth with employability”. Likewise, the skill sets learnt from become men, from things flower arranging for one elderly woman who wanted to start a business in it, like shaving, to ‘how to also provided another area where ‘up- respect women’” skilling’ would be valued.

Increased community However, the main reason for these classes was more often expressed with the sense of community that learning together can bring. “If there was a fitness centre I probably would come”, said one female resident, “but having a class or a lesson in something as a group would be much more ideal. Learning together, it would bring more community”. “I’d like the classes because you don’t just learn something, but you are also “I’d like classes because able to come in and chat and meet people”, added another woman. “For you don’t just learn kids and the youth, having sports activities together as a group is what something, but you are also they need”, said a fourth resident. able to meet people”

“activities that help the youth with life skills, help them with employability”

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 18 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 19 Engaging with the community? A major barrier that has been pointed out by community workers is that whilst activities can be put on, it is difficult to attract and engage the community. Creating a safe space at St Peter’s for people to come to, with classes and lessons, sports and other physical activities, may be a positive response, but how can St Peter’s get these ideas out into the community and engage individuals?

The challenge of communication An idea that has been tried so far by St Peter’s is to use fliers, and to try to post one through every door in the community. The advantages of this approach are of course to reach every person in the local area.

Results from the survey show that 68% of the community have never seen a flier, 8% have seen it but have never read it, 18% have seen it and generally were ok with it, and 5% said they had seen it and they appreciated it. Whilst this data shows that fliers aren’t necessarily a bad approach, the question whether they would actually engage people to attend an event during the discussion group was less positive. “I’ve seen the fliers before, and whilst they are ok, they aren’t face to face and so I’m unlikely to attend anything”, said one resident. “The problem is that people are very hard to engage with unless you do it through conversation” added another. “Face to face is better, because you get fliers, but you don’t see a face”, concluded a third. “Because people’s confidence is so low, people aren’t going to come out of their dwellings. I think you have to reach out, build relationships, build bridges, knock on people’s doors, go door knocking, meet people who are on their own”.

A regular presence One option suggested was to set up a trestle table in one of the squares on the estate and to talk to people face to face about the events that are occurring. These would be great to “advertise what we do” and is a “great way of showing the community you are there”. “If I saw someone at a stand or something, I would be more likely to trust them and talk to them” said one resident. This idea of a table was discussed briefly in the discussion group and although it didn’t get much criticism, it wasn’t met with overwhelming enthusiasm. “You have to reach out, build relationships, build bridges, knock on people’s doors”

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 20 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 21 An online presence

A second suggestion was to keep things online, and focus on building more social media as a way to invite people. “I would be much more likely to attend something if I saw a group online”, said one woman, “rather than being approached with a flier. Generation Z, are all on Instagram, if you make it cool for them”. Likewise however, this idea wasn’t met with a huge amount of agreement with the discussion group.

The problem, as highlighted by one of the discussion group members with both “I would be much more approaches, “was the element of trust”. likely to attend something As has already been discussed, there exists a level of automatic distrust of groups and if I saw a group online, individuals on the estate, unless they are well rather than being known. The danger therefore for St Peter’s was to be an ‘unknown new building’ and approached with a flier” therefore not necessarily trusted.

Partnering with trusted figures To counter this, one suggestion was to have a guest appearance of “a trusted and respected public figure, who could be appearing, or talking, or doing something, or hosting something”, at St Peter’s church. The idea here was that the “association or loyalty with that public figure would bring all walks of people to that regardless of where it is”. “Once you’ve got them there, essentially what you are doing now, you can talk to them how you need to”, added another resident in response to this idea. “It could be a football class hosted by an ex-football player, that will bring in a community of football lovers who “Regenerating the estate is wouldn’t usually come to a church people”. Ideas of who these ‘trusted public figures’ could be varied according to individuals preferences. “Football is the common denominator for most Kids, so having a football fine, but what really needs star coming in on a Sunday evening, would be really powerful”, suggested one resident. “Some health or wellness figure, or nutritionist figure”, someone who could “a trusted and respected “come and talk about these topics and we regeneration are people’s could learn from” added another. “Or have public figure, who could an individual come along from IAAP, and be appearing, or talking, give a free workshop to whoever wanted” mindsets” added a third. hosting something”

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 22 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 23 Whilst each of these ideas overlaps with earlier sentiments of having a ‘learning’ or ‘class element’, some suggestions provided a most community focused approach. “I think you should have someone who has grown up on the estate and who has become a success” said one resident who has been living here since 1975. With direct reference to whether people would trust this person, the belief was that “someone coming from the outside would just be an act, it would just be entertainment”. However, “for someone “have someone who who, grew up amongst us, to give a pep talk. There are a lot of people who have has grown up on the grown up and become very successful. We don’t hear about them too much. You estate who has become a can do it, you don’t need to get stuck in success, to give a talk” here”.

A persistent presence

Although all of these options came with positives and potential negatives, the unifying factor expressed amongst all them was a sense of persistence and regularity from St Peter’s.

Whether it was door knocking, flyering, or having a table set up once every two weeks on the estate, the key was “being in a place consistently. It takes time. It’s relationship building”.

This sentiment was stressed particularly amongst those residents who had been around a while. “You need to be consistent, have a stand consistently”, said one member. “If there was a structure in place that you could come down here every Tuesday, Wednesday Friday, and there was as structure, that would bring other people together”.

“It may take a while, but once people see your face again and again they will start to trust you. When then trust you, they are more likely to come join you in the new building”.

“I think you have to reach out, build relationships, build bridges, knock on people’s doors, go door knocking, meet people who are on their own”. “having a timetable and place to go to that is always there, regularly, so we can meet others”

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 24 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 25 Conclusions

“We are firm believers that church is about people, not References buildings. Having said that, our buildings are the place we call 1 Walter, N. 2014. Church Buildings for People: Reimagining Church Buildings as Nourishing Places. home and a resource for our church family and community” Cambride: Grove Books. St Peter’s Church 2 2 St Peter’s Church. 2017. ‘Annual Report 2017’. Available online at: https://www.spb.church/about (Last In many ways the heart of a community church can be understood by the ways they engage with accessed 18/04/2018) their local residents. Situated at a nexus of differing cultures, ethnicities, ages, and socio-economic 3 Saint, A. and Thom, C. Survey of London: Battersea. London: Yale University Press. classes, St Peter’s church have historically shown they want to serve and bless the individuals in the local area. With their new building set for completion this year, this report has shed light from the 4 St Peter’s Church. 2018. ‘Our Story’. Available online at: https://www.spb.church/about/#ourstory (Last community as to ways St Peter’s can continue being a blessing. accessed 18/04/2018)

Despite the diversity of local residents, there exists a relatively strong consensus over the problems, 5 Blunden, M. 2014. ‘London housing estate where formed set for demolition’. Available needs, solutions and ways that St Peter’s should be engaging: online at: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-housing-estate-where-so-solid-crew-formed- set-for-demolition-9141056.html (Last accessed 18/04/2018) The problems - The problems perceived by the local community are the isolation and 6 Wandsworth Council. 2018. ‘Winstanley and York Road’. Available online at: http://www.wandsworth.gov. barriers individuals feel with each other, as well as the lack of activities to engage in as a uk/WinstanleyYorkRoad (Last accessed 18/04/2018) community.

7 Office For National Statistics. 2013. ‘2011 Census’. Available online at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/help/ The needs of the local community are a for individuals to come to, The needs - safe space localstatistics (Last accessed 18/04/2018) with particularly emphasis on the elderly and the youth. 8 Musgrave, R. 2016. ‘Regeneration News’. Winstanley and York Road. Available online at: www. The solutions - The solutions that St Peter’s can provide are broadly group educational wandsworth.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11799/issue_3_june_2016.pdf (Last accessed 18/04/2018) activities, such as physical exercise, sports, or things such as flower arranging.

The ways to engage - The secret to engaging the community is to build trust. Doing this face to face is the ideal option, consistently being there for people. Once this has been achieved, ideas such as a local well known individual hosting an event in the church would cement this trust.

Overall, as is usually the case, the underlying sentiment expressed by residents throughout this research project was one of building relationships. It is that, rather than regeneration projects or new buildings, that will ultimately bless a community.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 26 Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 27 “Change is never far away. People come and go. Housing and buildings change. There is one thing that does not change - the importance of community, and the importance of faith in the community” - Robert Musgrave, OBE 8

This report was conducted and produced by Eido Research in partnership with St Peter’s church. Special thanks goes to the residents from the local community for their time and thoughts, as well as the volunteers from St Peter’s who helped conduct interviews.

Eido Research is a research partnership based in South West London who specialise in working with faith groups and charities. We provide objective evidence that enables our clients to celebrate their achievements, grow their vision, and improve their strategy.

For more information please go to www.eidoresearch.com.

Listening to the local community of St Peter’s Church - 28