West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 1 of 118
West Howe Strategic Assessment
May 2012
Paul Iggulden
Roland Stout
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An overview of the Strategic Assessment report This Strategic Assessment report is in three parts.
Part I introduces the report. It provides the background and outlines our approach to undertaking this Assessment.
Part II serves as an Executive Summary and Recommendations. It summarises the characteristics of West Howe. A discussion section follows, describing in more detail the challenges faced by West Howe. The key priorities for West Howe are then detailed and a collection of ideas for projects and initiatives to move West Howe forward is included. Part II concludes with a suggested approach for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to guide development and implementation of its action plan.
Part III documents the detailed evidence we have gathered during the Strategic Assessment. The underlying determinants of deprivation in West Howe are considered and analysis of the issues faced in West Howe presented.
A great many people have kindly made themselves available for interviews and provided data to support the Strategic Assessment. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your help and assistance.
In particular we thank West Howe Community Enterprises for the images of West Howe.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction ...... 4 Part II - Executive summary and recommendations 2. Summary of characteristics of West Howe ...... 7 3. Further challenges ...... 15 4. Priorities...... 18 5. Moving forward - our recommendations for progressing the West Howe Regeneration Partnership ...... 29 Part III - Detailed evidence 6. West Howe - demographics ...... 35 7. West Howe Assets ...... 43 8. Overall deprivation in West Howe ...... 49 9. Drivers of Social Cohesion and Community Resilience in West Howe ...... 55 10. Employment, income and benefits - a two sided coin ...... 62 11. Health, wellbeing and social care...... 77 12. Education and skills...... 86 13. Crime and anti-social behaviour...... 97 14. Housing...... 106 Appendix 1: Commentary on root causes and priorities ...... 116
West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 3 of 118 Part I - Introduction
Part I - Introduction
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1. Introduction
Background The Bournemouth 2026 Partnership identified West Howe as one of two priority neighbourhoods in Bournemouth; the other being Boscombe. It was agreed (by the Bournemouth 2026 Trust Board) that a Strategic Assessment of each of its priorities should be undertaken to provide the intelligence for actions by the partnership.
The Strategic Assessment will be used as the evidence based intelligence on which to prepare a 3 year action plan for West Howe which will be incorporated into the Bournemouth Vision 2026 Sustainable Community Strategy 2012-2016 to be published by the end of 2012. The West Howe Regeneration Partnership will be responsible for preparing this action plan subject to approval by the Shadow Partnership Board.
The strategic assessment will be refined as the partnership establishes outcomes and identifies areas requiring further research.
The overall remit for the Strategic Assessment was to identify the reasons for the high levels of deprivation and unemployment and provide conclusions and recommendations about the key issues for the partnership to tackle. The Strategic Assessment will describe the characteristics of the West Howe area focusing particularly on four Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA): Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307), West Howe (309), Poole Lane South (312) and Heathlands (313).
The national Census is a key source of data at LSOA level. The latest Census data available is for the 2001 Census; 2011 Census data is anticipated later in 2012. Where possible we have used more up to date non census data. Some data however is only available for larger populations: Middle Layer Super Output Area (Turbary Common (005) - the four LSOAs are four of the five LSOAs that make up MSOA Turbary Common (005)) and electoral ward level (West Howe is approximately half of the population of the South Kinson ward).
The Strategic Assessment will help the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to move forward and develop a robust plan for improving the wellbeing of West Howe residents. Whilst the Assessment addresses the key challenges facing West Howe, it also identifies further information needed and suggests further areas of enquiry. We thank all of those who have given their time to support the assessment, those residents and service providers who gave up time for interview sessions and workshops and walked us around, and those who kindly provided data and pointers to sources of information.
The assessment draws on both quantitative and qualitative evidence; the latter giving a voice to representatives of the community to begin to express their needs and aspirations.
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We have been encouraged to produce a report ‘about the community, for the community’ and as such have sought to find a balance in writing the report which we hope makes this both informative and interesting to read.
Our approach to the Strategic Assessment The brief for this Assessment places great store in the value of routinely collected data and service performance data. We very much share the desire to make use of routinely available information to inform decision making. We were very pleased that our proposal to use qualitative research techniques (interviews and focus group) to complement the data view was well received by the interview panel. Indeed, in many cases the ‘story behind the data’ will be found through combining analysis of data with insights from qualitative research.
We have undertaken a thorough review of data relating to the West Howe area; our initial analyses have been combined with insights from interviews to generate ideas and areas for further investigation. In many areas, we have returned to data sources to request further data and have used this iterative approach to deepen our understanding.
Initial findings have been shared with the West Howe Regeneration Partnership and we thank all those who participated in a very constructive workshop to review findings and consider how challenges might be addressed. This participative approach is we believe in keeping with a progressive approach to engaging communities in regeneration agendas.
The findings section seeks to bring together the analysis of both quantitative data and insights from the qualitative elements of the Assessment. For most of the findings there is a clear ‘pathway’ back to the supporting evidence chapters detailing the findings of our data analysis. In some cases, findings from the qualitative work have provided important insights and clues to solutions.
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Part II – Executive Summary & Recommendations
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Part II of the report (Executive Summary and Recommendations) provides a summary of the findings of our analysis before a discussion section on the overarching themes emerging from the Strategic Assessment. Five high level priorities are presented before introducing recommendations for future work.
2. Summary of characteristics of West Howe In this section we provide a summary of the findings from our analysis of routine data; the summary mirrors the structure of Part III of the report in which the detailed evidence of findings is provided.
Demographics West Howe occupies the far western end of Bournemouth Borough. To the North is Kinson, to the east is East Howe and Ensbury Park, to the west is Bearwood, and to the south is Wallisdown.
The West Howe estate was built in the 1950’s on heathland, part of the original area was a travellers site. It was Bournemouth’s first large scale local authority housing estate.
There is no defined centre for shopping and services on the estate other than Cunningham Crescent where these are limited in number.
West Howe area has, overall, a younger population than that of Bournemouth as a whole, the region and national averages.
The percentage of the population aged 17 and under (2001 Census) ranged from a high of 35.5% in Heathlands (313) to 29.7% in Poole Lane South (312). These proportions are higher than Bournemouth as a whole (18.7%) and nationally (22.7%).
The proportion of older people (65 and over) tends to be lower in West Howe than the Bournemouth and national averages.
2001 Census suggests that West Howe residents are likely to be disadvantaged economically and live in challenging social situations with less access to private transport, more overcrowding, higher levels of long-term illness and higher proportions of households headed by a lone parent.
2001 Census ethnic group question did not have a 'Gypsy or Irish Traveller' tick-box under the 'White' heading (though the 2011 did and we await results from this later in 2012). Indeed, discussions with key stakeholders suggest that there are probably a few hundred people of Gypsy descent descended from the original settler families living in West Howe.
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The Strategic Assessment has considered, where data is available, variation across the four Lower Super Output Areas within West Howe. Overall, we note many similarities across these sub areas in West Howe.
The findings presented note key differences within the parts of West Howe. Furthermore, Mosaic data provides a means of categorising residents and gives some insights into how best to engage with each category. West Howe is dominated by 4 Mosaic Groups: • O Families in low-rise social housing with high levels of benefit need; • K residents with sufficient incomes in right-to-buy social housing; • M elderly people reliant on state support; and • N Young people renting flats in high density social housing.
Assets The estate adjoins extensive heathland and has a number of areas of park space.
The built environment is dominated by Council built accommodation comprising a mix of low rise flats, semi-detached and some detached properties. Stock condition is reported to be generally good.
Key community facilities in the estate include: ● Cunningham Crescent shops (five units, one currently not open); ● West Howe Library; ● North Bournemouth Children’s Centre; ● Heathlands and Elmrise Primary Schools; ● LeAF campus (formerly Oakmead College of Technology); ● Henry Brown Youth Centre; ● Fernheath Play; ● A number of play areas (Moorside Road, Fernheath Playing Field, Poole Lane Partk, Moore Avenue Park); ● St Philip's Church; ● Health clinic in Cunningham Crescent; and ● The Inspiring Change shop.
There is a well established and active West Howe Action Group bringing together a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community based contributors.
We are aware that there is group of very dedicated and hard working local volunteers undertaking significant work for and with West Howe residents and these we celebrate in the assets section of the report.
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Overall deprivation The West Howe area is made up of four Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs). All four are amongst the 20% most deprived areas in England (as measured by index of multiple deprivation).
The high levels of deprivation in West Howe are not a recent phenomena. The Economic Deprivation Index (EDI) has been constructed to enable robust comparisons over time (for each year from 1999 to 2005).
All four are consistently in the most deprived 20% in England.
Social cohesion The recent West Howe Residents Survey (2012) provides interesting insights into residents’ perceptions. The survey found very high levels of concerns regarding a wide range of anti- social behaviour related issues: anti-social behaviour, drunk or rowdy behaviour, drug use or drug dealing, noisy neighbours or loud parties, teenagers hanging around the streets, rubbish or litter lying around and vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles.
Despite these concerns the overall levels of satisfaction with the local area as a place to live was high (71% West Howe, 2012 West Howe Residents Survey), though not as high as for Bournemouth overall (82% - 2008 Residents Survey)
West Howe respondents were less likely to believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in the local area (66% West Howe 2012 compared with 79% Bournemouth overall 2008) and a lower percentage felt that they belong to their neighbourhood than in Bournemouth overall (42% compared with 49%).
Data from Bournemouth Citizens Advice Bureau shows that for (South Kinson ward residents) seeking advice at the Kinson hub, advice on benefits and debt are consistently the top two reasons for seeking advice. Our interviews and discussions with officers suggest that door step lenders play a significant role on the estate.
Whilst there is group of very dedicated and hard working local volunteers undertaking significant work for and with West Howe residents, local data on levels of volunteering provides some (limited) evidence that supports calls to increase the numbers of people volunteering.
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Employment, income and benefits The 2001 Census showed 3,764 adults of working age in West Howe. Of these 2,108 were economically active (1.927 employed and 181 unemployed) and 1,656 economically inactive.
The proportion of the working age population in employment was 51.2% in West Howe compared with 62.2% for Bournemouth as a whole and 63.2% across England and Wales.
The proportion of the economically active who are unemployed was 8.6% in West Howe compared with 4.6% for Bournemouth as a whole and 5% across England and Wales. The proportion of the working age population unavailable for work (economically inactive) was 44% in West Howe compared with 34.7% for Bournemouth as a whole and 33.5% across England and Wales.
The rate of economic inactivity (those adults of working age unavailable for work) is similar across the four part of West Howe, varying between between 42 and 48%.
One fifth (20%+) of West Howe residents in employment work in wholesale, retail or repair of motor vehicles trades. Across West Howe the proportion working in manufacturing is higher than the Bournemouth average of just under 10%. Construction and health and social work are also important industries for West Howe residents.
Higher proportions of West Howe residents are in part-time work (31%) than in Bournemouth (27%) and nationally (24.7%). Further investigation into the reasons for this may help identify barriers and enablers for supporting West Howe residents into employment.
Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimant count is not an official measure of unemployment, but is recognised as the only indicative statistic available for areas smaller than Local Authorities. JSA claimants across all ages in West Howe have mirrored the general economic climate with declining numbers since the late 1990s and numbers rising following the effects of the late 2000s recession. Youth unemployment follows a similar pattern.
Estimates for household income for Turbary Common (005) for 2007/08 suggest that 37.4% of households in the wider area have an income below 60% of the Median Income (after housing costs) - so are below the government’s poverty line.
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Health Life expectancy in West Howe is estimated to be lower than national levels. Males can expect to live to 74.9 years compared with 78.3 years for England as a whole; females are expected to live longer, 78.3 years compared with 82.3 years nationally (based on data for the slightly larger MSOA area of Turbary Common 005).
The crude rate of teenage pregnancy for West Howe (Kinson Road practice) is much higher than that in the comparator practices. Practice profiles show the Kinson Road practice population to have high percentage of low birth weight babies compared with the PCT as a whole and Regional levels, but below the national level.
Bournemouth and Poole Joint Strategic Needs Assessment provides valuable information on children and young people as carers and in care. This suggests high levels of intensive social care are needed in West Howe; whilst the actual numbers behind these high rates are not great the support and care needs for these children and their families will be highly significant.
Practice profile data confirms the local area as having considerably higher prevalence of 16+ obesity than the comparator areas (Bournemouth and Poole PCT, South West Region and national). Mental Health and depression reported prevalence are both higher for the local practice than local, regional and national comparators.
Local area data shows significantly high levels of hospital admissions for: ● all cause emergency admissions; ● all cause elective admissions; ● Emergency and elective admission for coronary heart disease; and ● Emergency admissions for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Education Educational attainment, across West Howe, is poor at all stages and ages compared with Borough and national averages.
Early Years Foundation Stage data for the school year September 2009 - August 2010 suggests that by the age of 5, children in the wider West Howe area have achieved lower educational development levels than peers in Bournemouth as a whole and the South West region.
High rates of Children aged 7 years living in West Howe and attending Bournemouth schools achieve below 13 points at Key Stage 1.
A similar pattern is found at KS2 and KS3. The overall KS4 measure (all pupils at the end of KS4 Achieving 5 or more A* - C grades) varies in West Howe from a low of 56.3% in West Howe (309) to a high of 65.8% in Heathlands (313), compared with 69.8% for the Borough as a whole and 72.6 % for the Region.
Pass rates fall across all areas if English and Maths are included in the 5 A*-C GCSE passes with the gap between West Howe and the Borough now larger.
High rates of Children aged 5-19 years living in West Howe have been excluded from school for a fixed period of time, Heathlands (313) having the highest LSOA level rate (count = 21 children) across Bournemouth.
High rates of Children aged 5-19 years living in West Howe having below 80% school attendance for Autumn 10 and Spring 11 terms, again Heathlands (313) having the highest rate across all Bournemouth LSOAs (20 children in Heathlands (313)).
Over 4 out of every 10 adults in West Howe have no qualifications, compared with 2.5 out of 10 in Bournemouth as a whole.
There are lower proportions of adults across West Howe with Level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications than across the Borough as a whole or nationally.
Key skills Level 3 qualifications (such as A levels) in West Howe are just below 5% compared with 11.4% for Bournemouth as a whole. Level 4 / 5 qualifications (such as Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas) range from 4.1% to 5.9% in West Howe, compared with just under 20% nationally and 18.8% in Bournemouth.
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Crime Asked in the 2012 West Howe Residents Survey, to identify the things that are most in need of improvement in the local area: ● 57% of West Howe residents selected the level of crime (compared with 31% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey); ● 56% in West Howe (2012) selected perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem compared with 33% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● 43% of West Howe residents (adults) perceived anti-social behaviour to be an issue (compared with 21% in the 2008 Bournemouth wide place survey) ● Activities for teenagers had the fourth highest response rate.
Crime rates (2011) in West Howe were higher for all crime types than the overall Borough rate.
The rates of children aged 19 and under that have committed an offence and received a pre-court or court judgement are high across the West Howe area; West Howe (309) has the second highest rate across all the LSOAs in Bournemouth.
Fifteen percent of crimes in West Howe in 2011 were flagged as involving Domestic Violence, the rate being much higher for West Howe than Bournemouth as a whole.
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Housing The housing stock in West Howe is predominantly Council built properties. Many of these have been bought by tenants under the right to buy scheme.
Bournemouth Housing Landlord Services (the Local Authority housing department) has 5,147 properties across the Borough; nearly a quarter of these properties (1,221) are in the West Howe area.
Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) is dominated by semi-detached properties and purpose builts of flats (low rise); West Howe (309) is again dominated by semi-detached properties and purpose builts of flats (low rise); Poole Lane South (312) housing is made up mainly of semi- detached and detached properties; and Heathlands (313) housing is over 50% semidetached houses or bungalows with 22% of households being purpose built flats.
There are much lower levels of owner occupied households in West Howe than the Borough, Regional and National averages; just under 40% of households in West Howe are owner occupied (owned outright or with a mortgage) compared with 68% for Bournemouth as a whole, 72% regionally and 68% nationally.
There are very high percentages of accommodation rented from the Local Authority in West Howe ( 43%) compared with the borough (7%), Regional (8%) and National averages (13%).
Across the West Howe area there is less under occupancy (Census measure) than the Borough, Regional and National averages. Conversely there is more overcrowding by this measure in West Howe compared with Borough, Regional and National averages.
Almost two thirds of the West Howe tenants awaiting a transfer to bigger accommodation are waiting to move from a 2 bedroom unit to one with 3 bedrooms. Of these 69 tenants, 51 (74%) have been waiting for 3 or more years.
Two thirds of the West Howe residents who are under occupiers on the transfer list to move to a smaller property are awaiting a 1 bedroom place. Of these 36 tenants, 22 (61%) have been waiting for more than 3 years.
Data from the Dorset Energy Advice Centre (DEAC) suggests that, in the West Howe area, there are 250-300 houses that need insulation to their walls: and 400+ needing loft insulation top ups.
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3. Further challenges In this section we summarise overarching themes emerging from the Strategic Assessment. These give important context for the the Action planning work the West Howe Regeneration Partnership is charged with undertaking; they also serve to join up the ‘data-dots’ to present a more complete picture of the assets and issues of West Howe.
The ‘wicked’ problem ‘Wicked problem’ is a phrase originally used in social planning to describe a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize1. The term ‘wicked’ is used, not in the sense of evil, but rather because it is difficult to resolve. Indeed, because of complex interdependencies, the effort to solve one aspect of a wicked problem may reveal or create other problems. Regeneration is seen by many as an example of a wicked problem. Whether we agree with this concept or not, it is almost certainly the case that developing an estate such as West Howe is full of challenges.
Moreover, it was clear from our research (interviews and documentation in particular) that the focus of the majority of efforts of a great many services is addressing the effects of deprivation, that addressing underlying causes often took second place. Given the Strategic nature of this Assessment it is important that the opportunity is taken to bring attention back to causes and to encourage the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to address those causes.
This said a review of the literature on wicked problems gives us hope and some insight into how the West Howe Regeneration Partnership can make progress: “Working in communities, you may find lot of people who are creative, entrepreneurial, and capable of helping their community. But you also may find they lack skills or resources to make a difference. So while you provide some direct service, you also must build the community's creative capacity. You must hire and train people from that community and bring in resources. And you need to make connections so other community members can access those resources.”2
We suggest that building capacity in West Howe is a key challenge faced by the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. The opportunities for addressing this are many and varied; once embraced as a priority area for the Partnership we believe this will make a major difference to the fortunes of the residents of West Howe.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_problem#cite_note-0
2 http://www.wickedproblems.com/1_ryan_hubbard.php
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The following text box illustrates the benefits of a capacity building ethos.
A thumb nail sketch of different approaches to a new Community hub Service provider led approach: Consult on needs, engage community in options appraisal of designs, get funding, build, have an opening event Capacity building partnership approach: Train residents in community research and identify needs, run community design event, develop Intermediate labour market to train residents in appropriate construction skills, get funding, build sustainable centre, establish Community Land Trust or similar structure to manage centre. Both will benefit the community. The second has added value in terms of capacity building and, so the theory goes, a greater sense of ownership. It will probably take longer though.
For further information on Community Land Trusts see http://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/home
Looking back and moving forward West Howe is a relatively new community, the development of the estate beginning in the 1950s. This should not be equated to a lack of heritage. During the 1940s there were communities of Romany travellers camped on the common land in the West Howe and Kinson area, known to them as New England.
Many commentators have referred to the (past) high levels of lawlessness, crime and anti-social behaviour that were common place in the estate and ‘exported’ by residents to other parts of Bournemouth. That was the 1970s and early 80s.
These days, resident’s satisfaction with the estate is generally high but it is still perceived by many outsiders as a troubled area. We have encountered many negative perceptions of the area from community residents, service providers and businesses in other parts of Bournemouth and Poole. Jokes about needing a flack jacket to visit the estate are common place.
Under occupancy of the local primary schools is perhaps an additional effect of the negative perception of the area.
We are pleased to have heard that the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is hoping to fund a paid worker to be based at West Howe library. This is much needed and encouraging; on the down side, volunteers at Kinson were unwilling to come to West Howe.
There is clearly a reputation management agenda to be addressed.
The asset based approach encouraged for this Strategic Assessment is an important part of beginning to promote the good news side of West Howe.
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A tale of two (or more) ‘towns’ West Howe is home to a large number of people on a wide range of benefits; some are unemployed, some too unwell to work, some lack the skills needed to get a job. These residents will clearly need support and encouragement to change. This is not the full picture of West Howe though.
Just over half of the working age population of West Howe was employed (51.2%) at the 2001 Census compared with 62.2% in Bournemouth overall. For these people, going outside the estate for work is a regular activity.
Alongside this, we note that a number of residents and professionals have commented on the perception that West Howe residents, to varying degrees, are reluctant to leave the estate. On the plus side, many of the people we interviewed refer to West Howe as a close-knit community with a great community spirit. However, they also remark on the need for services to come to West Howe to engage with West Howe residents.
A challenge for the future is how to “take West Howe to the outside world, and the outside world to West Howe”.
The title of this section refers to two or more towns. When West Howe was built, many of the Gypsy families gave up their travelling lifestyle and settled in the houses of the new community and today there are probably a few hundred people descended from the Gypsy settlers living here3.
The 2011 Census includes the option for people to identify themselves as ‘White - Gypsy or Irish / Romany Traveller’. It will be interesting to review the results of the survey in terms of the numbers of residents considering themselves to be Gypsy or Irish / Romany Traveller. Identification of Gypsy or Irish / Romany Traveller as a significant minority group in West Howe might become a consideration in how services are delivered and consultation undertaken, and the links that are made to similar estates.. Seen as an asset, that heritage can be recognised, researched and celebrated, developing further past initiatives4.
3 http://westhowe.net/#/west-howe-gypsy-heritage/4544803920
4 West Howe Proper. West Howe Too. ISDN 0904939386
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4. Priorities This Strategic Assessment has identified a wide range of issues faced by the West Howe community. These are captured in the following diagram:
We have reviewed these issues taking into account the work group outputs from the participatory workshop held with members of the West Howe Regeneration Partnership (April 2012). We have identified five priorities for the Regeneration Partnership to address.
These are presented and discussed below and broadly follow what we feel is order of importance, although in truth they interconnect and all have marked potential to create a positive impact on West Howe.
For each priority we provide the rationale for inclusion as a priority, the issues covered by the priority and a suggested key action for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to address the priority.
The five priorities are as follows: ● Roles and role models; ● Skills for life; ● Maximising and managing incomes; ● Proud of our place; and ● The living and built environment and transport.
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Roles and role models “Done too much, much too young” (The Specials) is very relevant. As one interviewee remarked, “the estate is full of adolescents - children grow up too quickly and then don’t mature beyond adolescence”.
In our early years we learn quickly, setting the foundations for future development through copying those around us. ‘The period between pregnancy and 3 years is increasingly seen as a critical period in shaping children’s life chances, based on evidence of brain formation, communication and language development, and the impact of relationships formed during this period on mental health. It is therefore also a critical opportunity to intervene and break cycles of poor outcomes’5.
Pertinently, we note a wide range of issues facing West Howe where the challenge is in part a learned behaviour, the younger generation learning from their parents. High levels of teenage pregnancy, of lone parent families, of children in need or care and high levels of domestic violence are examples along with: unhealthy lifestyles in general and drug misuse in particular; and alcohol consumption (perceived by residents to be an issue). Poor educational attainment and the value placed on learning in the widest sense are two key areas where aspirations need to be raised and the young encouraged to do differently to their parents.
Critically, the population of West Howe has a high proportion of younger people making roles, role models and raising aspirations a real priority and opportunity to make a real difference. This priority covers remodeling of social relationships and parenting skills > the golden thread of raising aspirations.
Suggested key action area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership: to develop a Rights Respecting community6 programme.
5 http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/earlyyears/prebirthtothree/nationalguidance/introduction/sharedvisio n.asp
6 The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of a school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. A rights-respecting school not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between teachers / adults and pupils, between adults and between pupils (see http://www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa). Heathlands school is an early adopter of the programme and holder of the award. A Rights Respecting community programme will extend this beyond the school to cover the whole community. Portland Community Partnership is a local example the West Howe Regeneration Partnership might wish to learn from ( http://www.portlandcp.org.uk/community/rrc.html)
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Skills for life Unemployment and under employment (part time and low skills work) suggest the need for more effective motivation, preparation and training for employment.
Levels of educational attainment in general and further education in particular are low in the area.
Engaging people to take advantages of the current training and employment retraining offers is clearly important.
There is a challenge to service providers to find ways to make training relevant to the particular needs of West Howe residents; part of this we suggest is “starting where the people are at”.
The evidence suggests the need for behaviour change in general and changes towards healthier lifestyles in particular in West Howe. Lack of knowledge and skills are often barriers to making positive changes in life and so we must work to reduce these. Raising aspirations and helping people then to work to meeting them is a key part of this priority.
This priority covers health, finance and general literacy, skills for employment and relevant learning throughout life.
Suggested key action area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership: to work with local agencies to develop a comprehensive early intervention programme7 for West Howe;
7Early Intervention programmes seek to eliminate or reduce costly and damaging social problems for individuals by giving children and parents the right type of evidence based programmes when children are young and in particular in their earliest years. Early interventions refers to specific policies and programmes which help to give “children aged 0–3 the social and emotional bedrock they need to reach their full potential and to those which help older children become the good parents of tomorrow” see: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/early-action-can-make-all-our-children- %E2%80%98schoolready%E2%80%99 http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/early-intervention-smart-investment-massive-savings
9 http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=23565884
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Maximising and managing incomes High levels of benefit claimants, changes to the benefits system, reports of door-step-lenders, low levels of financial literacy and prepay meter payments for utilities are all facets of low income levels in the area.
Many of the people we have engaged with during this assessment work have spoken of many of the residents of West Howe lacking ambition and the need to raise people’s aspirations; we don’t doubt that this may be the case for some people. But we have also met residents seeking to return to work and better themselves who face real barriers to making these changes - child and other carer issues, transport, costs of training for example. Clearly there are currently services in place to help people address these challenges.
Bringing an increased understanding of local needs together and joining up these services to address ‘worklessness’9 in West Howe is a further key area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to take action on.
We also note opportunities to reduce utilities bills through insulation and other home improvements.
Many people who work travel off the estate to do so; we suggest opportunities be explored to ‘grow’ an estate based economy through for example time banks and intermediate labour market (ILM) programmes10.
This priority covers helping individuals prepare for and find employment, maximising benefits uptake, and facilitating the community take advantage of emerging models of enterprise to grow an estate based economy11.
Suggested key action area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership: ensuring an integrated and localised programme for tackling worklessness and localised benefits, and household and financial management advice.
10 http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/intermediate-labour-market 11 http://www.nef-consulting.co.uk/services/local-money-flows-lm3/
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Proud of our place High crime and antisocial behaviour rates including perceived and actual high levels of vandalism, litter in the streets and graffiti suggest a lack of pride in the neighbourhood and respect for others in the local area.
The estate lacks a social hub - there are very limited options for people of mixed ages to gather and socialise.
Despite the close proximity of heathland, 13% of West Howe (2012 Residents Survey) residents noted parks and open spaces as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 8% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey.
Many interviewees talked to West Howe being a close knit community. Helping and supporting neighbours, looking after each other and “being known” are valuable aspects of ‘social capital’. On the flip side, others commented on it being diffcult and taking time to be accepted into the community; valuing diversity and welcoming people into the community are additional aspects of being “proud of our place”.
We note the Gypsy heritage of the area and speculate whether this is an asset that can be built upon.
This priority covers developing community connectors (skills and capacity) to grow the asset base, enriching community life through community based initiatives, eg. arts and culture and better use of green and brown field sites; community self management in line with the Localism Act.
Suggested key action area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership: to consider the case and options for a community-led West Howe community centre or ‘hub’.
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The built and living environments, and transport The neighbouring heathland is a potential asset as either an educational and /or an economic resource. We encourage the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to consider how the heathland might be developed further as an education / tourism asset. Both of these have the potential to lead to economic benefits as a secondary gain.
The 2001 national Census household occupancy rating shows there to be higher levels of overcrowding in households in West Howe (11.6%) compared with the Borough as a whole (10.2%), regionally (5%) and nationally (7%). This measure, based on the number of rooms and residents, suggests outdoor space will play an important role in terms of meeting the needs of residents in general and children in particular for play and social experiences. .
Non-residents frequently refer to the area as feeling spacious and note that many houses have gardens. Alongside this, as noted above, the West Howe 2012 Residents Survey suggests that the community wishes to be better connected with the local outdoor facilities. Exploring these differing perceptions further is we suggest an important area for action for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to consider.
A further aspect of this priority is the large number of homes needing energy efficiency (and money saving) improvements.
This priority covers wild play and active leisure, homes improvements, energy conservation and production, sustainability.
Suggested key action area for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership: to undertake an options appraisal for increasing the health and wellbeing impacts of the West Howe living environment.
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Solution space: initiatives for future work We have gathered a large collection of ideas for initiatives to address these key issues set out above. These have come from discussions with residents, Councillors and service providers and through our networking activities. We have been encouraged to put financial considerations to one side for this aspect of the work and adopt ‘blue sky thinking’.
The suggestions are presented in the following table showing the suggested initiative, which priority it addresses and an indication of the timeframe for such initiatives. Depending upon how initiatives are implemented they may potentially address many priorities. We note the main priority addressed, by X and secondary ones by x.
We then present a selection of case studies exampling how others have implemented similar initiatives.
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Table 1: solution space – possible initiatives to consider
Suggested initiative Addresses key issue Timeframe Roles and Skills for Maximising Proud of The built and role life and our place living models managing environments, incomes and transport Adult reading x X x Short Benefits change and x X Short advice Car pool x X x Medium Community centre hub x x X x Long Community compost x x X Short scheme Community facilitators X x x Short Community education x X x Medium trust Community fund raising x x X x Short skills development Community research x X x Medium model to investigate issues Community respect X x x Short initiative Credit union partnering x X Medium plan and contract Dove plus plus X x Medium Early intervention model in X x x Medium general Elders reading with and to x X x Short younger Financial literacy X x Short Flats review X Short Food buying groups x x X x Medium Food coop x x X x Long General benefits advice to X Short address unclaimed benefits Heritage event x x X x Long Housing maintenance x X x x X Long social enterprise Inter generation, reading x X x Short and computer literacy Landscape projects with x x x X Medium groundspace Library plus cafe x X x Medium Neighbourhood plans led x x X x Medium by Housing Landlord Services Neighbourhood travel x x x X Medium plans Options for addressing x X Short over crowding, mutual exchange Paid health trainers x X x x Long Retail review X x x Medium Take West Howe to the X x Short
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Suggested initiative Addresses key issue Timeframe Roles and Skills for Maximising Proud of The built and role life and our place living models managing environments, incomes and transport world, aspiration raising
Time bank x X x x x Short Tools share x x X Medium Transport needs survey X x Medium Volunteer development x X x Medium program Volunteer health trainers x X x Medium Youth centre revamp x x x X Long Youth panel x X x Medium
West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 27 of 118 Part II – Executive Summary & Recommendations
Case Studies The following case studies provide examples of actions taken in other parts of the country. These are intended to ‘whet the appetite’ and prompt the question “how could these be localised to West Howe?”
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West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 29 of 118 Part II – Executive Summary & Recommendations
5. Moving forward - our recommendations for progressing the West Howe Regeneration Partnership Regeneration is not one dimensional, typically there are many interconnected issues. As such we can identify issues and make an assessment as to key drivers but as we all know increasing life satisfaction for members of the community of West Howe will require action in a number of areas.
Given that there are many strands to the issues faced by West Howe it is important to be clear how actions will positively impact the lives of residents. Most of the ideas in our ‘solution space’ can be implemented in such a way that they address more than one underlying issue.
In this section we provide a suggested way to develop the West Howe Regeneration Partnership, through the “P-cubed” approach.
There are a number of additional suggestions made throughout the report and we conclude this section by bringing these together in a “summary of further suggestions”. We hope this will make it easier for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to then consider these further.
P-cubed approach To maximise the impacts of actions for West Howe, we recommend that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership embrace the P-cubed approach to developing partnership working: ● Priorities ● Principles ● Performance Measures.
Priorities The evidence sections of this Strategic Assessment identify a wide range of issues in West Howe. We have identified five key issues as a focus for the Regeneration activities in West Howe.
P1 : We encourage the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to consider these priorities and agree or amend them as necessary.
Principles It is we believe important that a partnership is bound together by both a common purpose and clarity about how people will work together. We refer to principles as we consider shared values are central to effective partnership working. Others refer to approaches or methods to improve partnership working12.
12 http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=11796919 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/living-values/
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Reaching a consensus on guiding principles is an important early activity for a partnership group. The principles also provide a start point to establishing a set of criteria for evaluating which actions to focus on.
It is important that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership identify and own a set of shared principles. The following is a ‘starter for ten’ list of principles which we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider adopting or adapting: ● A Balanced portfolio ○ Across the key issues and ○ And addressing both underlying causes and effects needing urgent attention ● Evidence based and building ○ Based on good evidence and evaluated so we know how big an impact it’s made ● Community led ○ Because we are seeking to maximise skills transfer and community empowerment ● SMART & outcomes focused ○ Projects should have clear outcomes and objectives be SMART ● Ecological ○ In environmental terms, yes ○ And also are there any unintended consequences of the changes we make? Is there something we might lose which we would want to keep?
P2 : We encourage the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to consider these principles and agree or amend them as necessary.
Performance measures As noted in the solution space section above, potential solutions can, depending upon how they are implemented, impact on a number of the issues faced by West Howe.
We note that it is important at the outset for the Partnership to be clear about what it is seeking to change, both overall and within individual initiatives. The maxim “you get what you focus on” encourages us to be clear about our aims. We suggest clarity at the outset in terms of performance measures will underpin the success of the Partnership.
P3 : We encourage the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to establish clear performance measures to guide both the overall programme and individual projects.
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Summary of further suggestions Here we capture the suggestions made throughout the report of further actions to be considered by the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. We suggest that building capacity in West Howe is a key challenge faced by the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. The opportunities for addressing this are many and varied; once embraced as a priority area for the Partnership we believe this will make a major difference to the fortunes of the residents of West Howe. Extensive Gypsy heritage in West Howe may be a social asset that has yet to be fully acknowledged; assumed high levels of residents with Gypsy heritage may (or may not) suggest the need for changes to engagement and consultation activities. We suggest that the mosaic profiles provide important insights into population groups and that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership use the communication preferences to inform approaches to engagement with the West Howe community. We recommend that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider how best to maintain and publicise the West Howe Action Group listing of assets and hence the assets on offer to residents. We suggest the listing be made available via appropriate websites for example. A possible performance measure for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to consider would be resident membership levels and items borrowed from the library, as proxy measures for reading levels in the community. The relatively low proportion of West Howe residents noting public transport as one of the five things most in need of improvement is an interesting finding that we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership investigate further. We suggest that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership investigate further why a relatively large proportion of West Howe residents noted parks and open spaces as one of the five things most in need of improvement. Given the limited hours of the GP clinic in Cunningham Crescent and the low satisfaction recorded in PCT practice based comparator data (see section III. 11 – Health, wellbeing and social care) we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership review the provision of health services on the estate. We suggest that the Coastal Credit Union could provide an important service in the West Howe area and that this might be an area for action by the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. We suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider further means to measure and develop volunteering in West Howe. The needs of older people in general, and their access to benefits are recommended as priority areas for further investigation. We recommend that support and advice around benefits changes is an important and pressing issue that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership should take action on. Addressing the causes of poor health and wellbeing through helping West Howe residents to adopt healthier lifestyles should be a focus of the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. We recommend that consideration be giving to establishing a Health Trainer service in the area. Health Trainers engage with and support residents in making healthy lifestyle choices and give
West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 32 of 118 Part II – Executive Summary & Recommendations practical support to help people improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in improving their lifestyles (see http://www.healthtrainersengland.com/home.) Further work with Probation and RSLs is recommended to explore further youth migration patterns between Boscombe and West Howe in general and for those with drug dependencies in particular. We suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership engage with the local community and service providers to review patterns of drug taking in general and youth drug experimentation in particular. We recommend that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider working with the local Primary Schools to help address the schools reputation issue and the resulting potential impacts on school places across the Borough. We suggest that NEETs is an issue the West Howe Regeneration Partnership may wish to investigate further; at the time of producing this report local small area data was unavailable. Area of residence of the perpetrator of crimes would be very relevant to the regeneration agenda. We are informed that this can be done but is not available at the moment; we would recommend this be investigated further. Working to establish the extent to which housing and police services are recording the same anti-social behaviour incidents or not is a suggested area for closer partnership working. It may be beneficial for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to work with the Council (HLS) to address concerns regarding the flats in West Howe. The West Howe Regeneration Partnership may wish to work with DEAC and others to improve the uptake of any other future grants or schemes such as Green Deal to then help upgrade heating and install renewable energy sources in homes in West Howe. Given the high proportion of West Howe housing that is council owned, we suggest that HLS are very well placed to encourage area based initiatives; neighbourhood plans, individual travel plans, training and skills development opportunities and area based resident scrutiny are developments we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership might consider as part of action plans.
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Part III – Detailed Evidence
West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 34 of 118 Part III – Detailed Evidence
Introduction In this part III of the report we collate the detailed evidence gathered through the data collection and analysis undertaken as part of the Strategic Assessment.
Part III provides an important data repository which it is hoped will be used by local organisations to inform bid writing and targetting resources. It provides a wide range of quantitative data and is in essence the (quantitative) basis of a neighbourhood profile for West Howe.
Part III is made up of nine sections: • West Howe - demographics • West Howe Assets • Overall deprivation in West Howe • Drivers of Social Cohesion and Community Resilience in West Howe • Employment, income and benefits - a two sided coin • Health, wellbeing and social care • Education and skills • Crime and anti-social behaviour • Housing. The above sections reflect to a large extent, service provision and routine processes within these for data collection. In part II these findings are integrated to give a more wholistic view of West Howe and the people who live there. It is this integrated focus on people as a whole that provides insights into how best to regenerate the community of West Howe. In each section in this part (III) we detail key data collected to support the Strategic Assessment. The sections conclude with a short summary of the key issues and pointers to relevant priorities in Part II.
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6. West Howe - demographics
Introduction In this section we provide an introduction to the population of West Howe. Demographics is concerned with the key characteristics of a population. In this section we define West Howe before considering the following key population characteristics: ● Location (including history) ● Age and sex; ● Ethnicity; and ● Key socio-economic characteristics (including Mosaic profiles).
Defining West Howe The brief for the Strategic Assessment defines West Howe in terms of Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs)13: ● Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307); ● West Howe (309); ● Poole Lane South (312); and ● Heathlands (313).
These are shown in the figure overpage.
13 The 2001 Census used Output Areas (OAs) as areas of consistent size and as building blocks for Super Output Areas. A Super Output Area (SOA) is a geographical area designed for the collection and publication of small area statistics. There are currently two layers of SOA, with areas intermediate in size between 2001 Census Output Areas (OAs) and local authorities, and each layer nests inside the layer above. There are 34,378 Lower Layer SOAs (LSOAs) in England and Wales and 7,193 Middle Layer SOAs (MSOAs).
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The blue line shows an area typically thought of as West Howe - the person on the street view - as being bounded in the north and south by two areas of heathland –– Kinson Common and Turbary Common - to the east Kinson Road, and to the West, Poole Lane.
The four defining LSOAs provide a good fit to the neighbourhood identified area.
Location West Howe occupies the far western end of Bournemouth Borough. To the North is Kinson, to the east is East Howe and Ensbury Park, to the west is Bearwood, and to the south is Wallisdown.
SouthWest of the estate is the Turbary retail park and industrial estate, containing a large number of factory and retail chain units.
There are two primary schools on the estate – Elmrise and Heathlands Schools - and an upper school – the new Studio School developed, as part of the North Bournemouth Learning and Achievement Federation (LeAF) at Oakmead College of Technology in West Howe (Duck Lane).
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There is no defined centre for services or shopping on the estate other than Cunningham Crescent. This is the focus of the estate where most of the local services are located, although these are limited in number. Cunningham Crescent is a mixture of residential flats and shops, with a Post Office, a Library and the Henry Brown Youth Centre, the main facility for young people on the estate. Just across the road on Moore Avenue is the North Bournemouth Childrens Centre.
The Inspiring Change Shop, on Cunningham Crescent, is a volunteer centre, charity shop and incubation hub for community projects and enterprise; there is no ‘‘Community Centre’’ on the estate.
Residents who require more services must either travel up to Wimborne Rd, Kinson, Winton or into Bournemouth or Poole Town Centres.
History The West Howe estate was built in the 1950’s and was Bournemouth’s first large scale local authority housing estate. Part of the original area was a travellers site and the estate retains very close links with the travelling and Gypsy community, with we understand, many settled travelling families living on the estate14.
The estate was built on heathland – and much of the open space around the estate remains heathland.
Age and sex The West Howe area had a resident population of 5,856 in 2001 (Census data) living in an area of 180 hectares. (A hectare is 10,000 square metres. This is the equivalent of a square, each side having a length of 100m. A hectare is about a third bigger than the New Wembly Stadium pitch. So 180 hectares is approximately 230 new Wembly stadium pitches).
West Howe has a higher average household size (2.6 persons per household) than that for Bournemouth overall (2.2 persons per household). The estate has a spacious feel to it, borne of a number of wide tree lined roads. Whilst the population density is comparable to that for Bournemouth overall, there is considerable variation across the four LSOAs as shown in the table over with population density particularly high in Heathlands (313) and West Howe (309).
14 http://westhowe.net/#/west-howe-gypsy-heritage/4544803920
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Table: Population key data, 2001
The table shows estimates of the LSOA level population for 2010. Estimating populations at small area level such as West Howe is problematic as suggested by the large differences in the estimates from the two sources shown in the above table. The results of the 2011 Census will be available later in 2012 giving a valuable update to the population figures for the area.
The age structure of West Howe is shown in the chart below
Source: 2001 Census, ONS Crown Copyright
This shows that the West Howe area has, overall, a younger population than that of Bournemouth as a whole, the region and national averages. Across the West Howe area, the
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Poole Lane South LSOA has the highest percentage of people aged 65 and over, 21.4% compared with an average across Bournemouth of 21%. The Draper Road Dementa Unit accommodates 21 older people in extra care housing and accounts in part for the high number of elderly people in the Poole Lane South (312) LSOA area.
Ethnicity The 2001 Census provides an indication of ethnicity. This shows West Howe to be one of the less diverse areas in terms of ethnicity. Nearly 97% of the area was recorded as White British in the 2001 Census. Non white ethnic groups account for a very small percentage (less than 1%) of the population of West Howe.
We note that the 2001 Census ethnic group question did not have a 'Gypsy or Irish Traveller' tick-box under the 'White' heading (though the 2011 did). We held many discussions with a wide range of stakeholders; some of these we asked what proportion of the West Howe population they thought might have Gypsy heritage. Responses ranged from 10 - 40%, with 20% being the most frequent response. The community website westhowe.net suggests that “When West Howe as we know it was built, many of the gypsy families gave up their travelling lifestyle and settled in the houses of the new community and today there are probably a few hundred families descended from the settlers living here”15.
Extensive Gypsy heritage in West Howe may be a social asset that has yet to be fully acknowledged; assumed high levels of residents with Gypsy heritage may (or may not) suggest the need for changes to engagement and consultation activities.
15 http://westhowe.net/#/west-howe-gypsy-heritage/4544803920
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Socioeconomic characteristics Here we consider some headline findings from the 2001 Census. These give us a helpful ‘thumbnail sketch’ of West Howe; subsequent sections will develop themes further.
The following table provides headlines from the 2001 Census, comparing the four West Howe LSOAs with Bournemouth as a whole, the South West Region and the England and Wales average.
Table: Key Characteristics, 2001
The table shows that, compared with Bournemouth as a whole, the Region and the England and Wales average, West Howe residents are likely to be disadvantaged economically and live in more challenging social situations with less access to private transport, more overcrowding, higher levels of long-term illness and higher proportions of households headed by a lone parent. These themes will be explored in more detail in the following sections.
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Mosaic profiles Mosaic Public Sector is a classification designed specifically for use by the public sector. It provides a detailed and accurate understanding of each citizen's location, their demographics, lifestyles and behaviours. Mosaic Public Sector is developed by Experian using a more than 440 data elements, it classifies people into 69 types and 15 groups providing an accurate and up to date view of citizens and their needs.
Postcode level data for the four LSOAs in West Howe suggests the area can be characterised by four groups. These four groups account for the majority of the population in West Howe, the remaining 11 groups account for very small percentages and hence are not shown below:
Area % of population by main group O K M N Turbary Common, 29 37 10 13 Wallisdown (307) West Howe (309) 35 32 12 12 Poole Lane South 20 24 20 4 (312) Heathlands (313) 57 24 10 10
Mosaic Public Sector groups O, K, M and N are predominant across West Howe. The characterisitcs of these groups are detailed below.
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We suggest that the mosaic profiles provide important insights into population groups and that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership use the communication preferences to inform approaches to engagement with the West Howe community.
In summary West Howe is a relatively young community: a new estate with high proportions of children and young adults.
West Howe residents, compared with Bournemouth as a whole, the Region and the England and Wales average, are likely to be disadvantaged economically and live in more challenging social situations with less access to private transport, more overcrowding, higher levels of long-term illness and higher proportions of households headed by a lone parent.
Elements of these key demographics inform each of the five priority issues detailed in Part II.
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7. West Howe Assets
Introduction This section provides a celebration of the many great projects and services being provided in West Howe.
Taking stock of West Howe community activities in this Strategic Assessment has been made possible because of the very impressive ongoing work undertaken by members of the West Howe Action Group to communicate regularly (through meetings, e-mail and community events) and keep each other updated on activities.
The list of groups and facilities in West Howe is impressively long. To make it easier to navigate the assets they have been grouped into themes: ● Children, Young People and Family activities; ● Adult focused activities; ● Older people activities; ● Other Groups; and ● Resources.
We have mapped information for some of the themes to make it easier to see the spread of assets.
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West Howe Strategic Assessment May 2012 Page 45 of 118 Part III – Detailed Evidence: 7. West Howe Assets
The appendix to this section provides a listing of resources by theme.
Much of the information in this section is taken from the West Howe Action Group community information report. This is a valuable asset in itself, providing not just a stocktake of community activities in West Howe but also giving useful signposting to nearby facilities and resources.
Readers are referred to the West Howe Action Group16 for more detailed and regularly updated information.
We recommend that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider how best to maintain and publicise the listing and hence the assets on offer to residents. We suggest the listing be made available via appropriate websites for example.
We conclude this section with a short feature on the West Howe library.
16 Martha Searle, Fair Share Neighbourhood Development Officer for West Howe e-mail: [email protected]
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West Howe library - more than a place to borrow books The following tables give a snap shot of West Howe library activity.
It has not been possible at this time to identify how many books West Howe residents borrow, though the table suggests significant borrowing activity at the West Howe Library.
A possible performance measure for the West Howe Regenration Partnership to consider would be resident membership levels and items borrowed, as proxy measures for reading levels in the community.
We note that the Library is much more than simply a place to borrow books17 ...
17 http://westhowe.net/#/west-howe-library/4542527295
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Assets Appendix Here we provide a stock take of assets. The listing shows the breadth of local assets. More details of these assets are available through the West Howe Action Group (see page 46 for further details).
For families Listening Ear Sussed Sussed: Young parents Henry Brown Youth Centre: Howe Helpful House of Destiny: DYM Oakmead: Listening Ear Oakmead Studio School workplace experience Heathlands School: Parenting course St Philips: Smarties Fernheath Play Fernheath after school clubs Henry Brown Youth Centre: Dance Bytes Back Cornerstone Church: Mega Club Fernheath Play Association: Splat The House: parent & toddler group St Philips: Sure Tots St Philips: Parent & toddler group North Bournemouth Children’s Centres Fernheath Play Association: parent & toddler group West Howe Library: Wriggle and Rhyme House of Destiny: Destiny Tots Cornerstone Church: Parent & toddler group East Howe Youth Centre King's High football training Fernheath Football training Henry Brown Youth Centre: Dance Bytes Back Henry Brown Youth Centre: Youth activities Henry Brown Youth Centre: Know Howe Henry Brown Youth Centre: Music Henry Brown Youth Centre: Girls sport House of Destiny: Take 5 St Philips youth worker Henry Brown Youth Centre: Girls Allowed Henry Brown Youth Centre: Goals football Cornerstone Church: Guiding
For older people Healing ministry Edward May Court - IT Resource Room Kinson Library: Age Concern Benefits Advice Service Cornerstone Church: Open Door
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For adults Coastal Credit Union West Howe Groups Pelhams Park Leisure Centre Moore Avenue Park Community Group St Andrews free community meals West Howe Library: Alcoholics Anonymous St Andrews: Community Food Bank West Howe Library: Cllr Baxter and Grower Surgery St Philips: Shape Up Circuit Class Inspiring Change Shop volunteers St Philips: Shape Up aerobic exercise and free creche West Howe Community Enterprises & West Howe Now West Howe Library: Bournemouth and West Howe Tours FunBunch Parents Group West Howe Library: Scrabble Club Turbary Park Avenue: Residents group West Howe Library: Moore Avenue Park Community Group Oakmead Gardens newsletter West Howe Library: IT classes Butchers Coppice Scout Camp: Cllr Marley Surgery West Howe Library: Citizens Advice Bureau West Howe Library: Craft Club West Howe Library: Coffee mornings West Howe Library: Knit and Natter Inspiring Change Shop Inspiring Change Shop: Digital photography club Inspiring Change Shop: Coffee mornings Kinson Hub: BCHA Floating Support Kinson Hub: Citizens Advice Bureau Oakmead Amateur Boxing Butcher’s Coppice Children’s Centre: Money Matters Course Children’s Centre: Cooking on a Budget
Other resources Heathlands Primary School Elmrise Primary School Fernheath Play West Howe Library Inspiring Change Shop Leaf Academy Studio School Elmrise Annex Butcher’s Coppice
In summary This section provides a stock take of the wide range of assets in West Howe. These suggest
a rich mix of social activities alongside the natural and built environment of the area. .
These assets represent important resources to be harnessed in addressing the five priority issues detailed in Part II.
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8. Overall deprivation in West Howe
Introduction There are a number of widely used measures of deprivation to enable comparisons of relative deprivation across different areas. These use routinely collected data to calculate indexes (scores) and provide a measure of deprivation, not affluence. It is important to note that these are area measures and not every person in a highly deprived area will themselves be deprived. Equally, there will be some deprived people living in the least deprived areas.
In this section we consider the levels of deprivation as measured by two indices: the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010 (IMD 2010) and the Local Index of Child Well-Being.
Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010 (IMD 2010) The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010 produced by Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)18 combines a number of indicators, chosen to cover a range of economic, social and housing issues, into a single deprivation score for each small area in England. Indices of Deprivation 2010 have been produced at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) level, of which there are 32,482 in England and 107 in the Borough of Bournemouth.
There are 38 separate indicators which are grouped into seven domains to form the IMD. The domains each reflect a different aspect of deprivation and are as follows: • Income • Employment • Health • Education • Crime • Housing and access to services • Living Environment.
The table overleaf summarises IMD rankings for the four LSOAs in West Howe.
18 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/indices2010
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The headlines are: ● The overall IMD rank for all four LSOAs in West Howe is in the lowest quintile, amongst the 20% most deprived areas in England ● West Howe LSOAs are in the most deprived 20% of LSOAs nationally for the domains of income, employment, health and education ● Three of the four are in the worst 20% for crime (the other in the 20-40% most deprived) ● For the barriers to housing and living environment domains, the four LSOAs are all in the second worse quintile (20-40% most deprived) in England.
From the maps below we note that West Howe is one of a small number of islands of high deprivation across Bournemouth and Poole.
West Howe is within the dark blue shading in the North West of the Borough of Bournemouth.
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There are 107 LSOAs in the Bournemouth Unitary Authority area. According to the IMD, 17 of these 107 areas are among the most deprived 20% nationally. These are home to about 26,000 people. Two Bournemouth LSOAs are within the most deprived 5% nationally with both of these in the Boscombe West ward. The wards of South Kinson (in which West Howe is located), East Cliffe and Strouden Park also contain LSOAs in the 2nd most deprived 5% of England.
West Howe is very close to the Borough of Poole. There are 91 LSOAs in the Poole Unitary Authority area. According to the IMD, 5 of these 91 areas are among the most deprived 20% nationally. They are home to about 8,000 people. Two are within Alderney ward, with one each in Poole Town, Hamworthy West, and Newtown.
The IMD measures relative levels of deprivation so the distribution shown above could change over time; for example an area might ‘improve’ against these measures as a result of local initiatives and it’s place in, for example, the most deprived 20% of the country be taken by another area. In practice, the patterns of deprivation shown for 2010 are very similar to those found in 2007, the last time the IMD was calculated.
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These deprivation ranks are show below as ‘barometers’; the further the arrow is to the right, the higher the deprivation.
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Local Index of Child Well-Being The Child Well-being Index (CWI) is produced at Lower Super Output Area level (LSOAs) and is made up of seven domains. The CWI was commissioned by Communities and Local Government and published in 2009, it is the first attempt to create a small area index exclusively for children in England. The seven domains included in the CWI are: ● Material well-being ● Health ● Education ● Crime ● Housing ● Environment ● Children in need.
The CWI shows the four LSOAs in West Howe to very poor levels of child well being. West Howe (309) has the worst child wellbeing in Bournemouth, Heathlands (313) the second worst, Turbary Common, Wallisdown (313) the 4th worst and Poole Lane South (312) the 7th worst in Bournemouth.
All four West Howe LSOAs are in the worst 20% of England in terms of this child wellbeing index.
Source: Communities and Local Government, 2009
Are high levels of deprivation in West Howe a recent phenomena? The short answer is no. The Neighbourhoods Statistical Release produced by CLG19 suggests that nationally, 88% of the LSOAs that were the most deprived in 2010 were also amongst the most deprived in 2007.
19 The English Indices of Deprivation 2010, Department for Communities and Local Government © Crown Copyright, 2011
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The Economic Deprivation Index (EDI) uses indicators from the Income and Employment domains of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and has been constructed in a consistent way at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) to enable robust comparisons over time (for each year from 1999 to 2005).
The EDI is a useful complement to the IMD showing how the pattern of deprivation has changed over time.
The EDI shows some fluctuation in the deprivation ranking of the four West Howe LSOAs between 1999 and 2005, though all four are consistently in the most deprived 20% or LSOAs.
In the following sections of Part III we present in detail the fndings of our analysis of data relating to the key dimensions of deprivation in West Howe.
In summary This section shows the four LSOAs in West Howe to be amongst the 20% most deprived in
England as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
West Howe LSOAs are in the 20% worst in England for the Child Well-being Index (CWI); WestHowe (309) is the worst in Bournemouth.
The four LSOAs in West Howe are consistently in the most deprived 20% in England.
Elements of deprivation inform each of the five priority issues detailed in Part II.
.
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9. Drivers of Social Cohesion and Community Resilience in West Howe
Introduction Many aspects of social cohesion and community resilience have been reported in the assets section of the Strategic Assessment. These are not repeated here, instead we consider some pointers to areas which might be further improved to increase social cohesion and community resilience in West Howe. We introduce here a number themes some of which have been developed further in the part II of the Strategic Assessment
This section is informed by a combination of our qualitative research, the 2012 West Howe Place Survey and data from key third sector partners.
The 2012 West Howe Place Survey The Safer & Stronger Communities Team at Bournemouth Borough Council provided funding for a Residents Survey to be conducted in West Howe in early 2012. The survey was, with minor changes, based on the 2008 Bournemouth wide place survey to facilitate comparison of results. The results have only recently been made available so a full analysis is not possible as part of this Strategic Assessment. However, we include some of the headline findings surrounding residents’ perceptions of their neighbourhood as they are of particular relevance to our understanding of West Howe.
The survey invites residents to identify (tick up to five) things that are most in need of improvement in the local area. The top five responses (from a pick list) were as follows: ● 57% of West Howe residents selected the Level of Crime compared with 31% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● 44% of West Howe residents selected Road and pavement repairs compared with 37% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● 41% of West Howe residents selected Clean streets compared with 25% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● 39% of West Howe residents selected Activities for teenagers compared with 34% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; and ● 29% of West Howe residents selected Job prospects compared with 14% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey.
The full list is shown in the table overleaf.
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We note that this question limited respondents to up to five things that are most in need of improvement. Some of the response rates, when compared with Bournemouth 2008 Place Survey were surprising as they were at odds with views expressed by some of those we interviewed.
In particular we note: 15% of West Howe residents noted public transport as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 20% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey. We anticipated this to be a much bigger issue for West Howe residents given reliance on a limited number of bus services, the operating times of these and the costs. This finding might be explained by the ‘tale of two towns’ theme introduced in Part II. Many West Howe residents who work travel to work by car. Interviewees refer to many non working residents as seldom leaving the estate.
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The relatively low proportion of West Howe residents noting public transport as one of the five things most in need of improvement is an interesting finding that we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership investigate further.
13% of West Howe residents noted parks and open spaces as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 8% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey. Comments made in interviews and discussions had suggested open space was perceived by non-residents as an asset for West Howe.
We suggest that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership investigate further why a relatively large proportion of West Howe residents noted parks and open spaces as one of the five things most in need of improvement.
14% of West Howe residents noted shopping facilities as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 9% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey. We had expected a higher level from West Howe residents given the limited shops in the area.
12% of West Howe residents noted health services as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 9% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey.
Given the limited hours of the GP clinic in Cunningham Crescent and the low satisfaction recorded in PCT practice based comparator data (see section III. 11 – Health, wellbeing and social care) we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership review the provision of health services on the estate.
2% of West Howe residents noted cultural facilities (eg library, museums) as as one of the five things most in need of improvement compared with 8% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey. Interviewees noted the lack of social facilities in the area with there being few built facilities (pub, cafe, community centre for example) in which adults and mixed generations can gather.
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The survey also invites residents to feedback on key areas of satisfaction and perception of their neighbourhood. Across a number of questions relating to anti-social behaviour, West Howe residents perceived more issues that Bournemouth as a whole (from the 2008 Place Survey): ● 43% of West Howe residents (adults) perceived anti-social behaviour to be an issue compared with 21% in 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem were similar - 39% in West Howe (2012) compared with 37% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem 56% in West Howe (2012) compared with 33% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of noisy neighbours or loud parties as a problem 24% in West Howe (2012) compared with 20% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of teenagers hanging around the streets as a problem 59% in West Howe (2012) compared with 36% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● Perceptions of rubbish or litter lying around as a problem 55% in West Howe (2012) compared with 33% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● Perceptions of vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles as a problem 52% in West Howe (2012) compared with 31% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey.
Given these high levels of perception of a range of anti-social behaviour issues, it is interesting to note the high levels of satisfaction with the local area as a place to live (71% for West Howe), though we note this is below the level for Bournemouth as a whole (82%).
More detailed examination of the survey results showed some interesting variations between different groups in the area: ● The percentage of those satisfied with the area as a place to live was significantly higher for those renting from Council (84%) than for those who rented from a private landlord (56%) or are buying on mortgage (57%);% satisfied; ● The percentage of those satisfied with the area as a place to live was significantly lower for those in full time employment (62%) than those who are wholly retired (85%) or looking after the home (94%); ● The percentage of those dissatisfied with the area as a place to live was significantly higher for respondents living in West Howe for up to 3 years (30%) than those living there for 20+ years (5%); ● The percentage of those feeling strongly that they belong to neighbourhood was significantly higher for those who own their home outright (54%) or rented from council (52%) than those who are buying on a mortgage (29%) ● The percentage of people who think that from different backgrounds get on well together was significantly lower for those renting from private landlords than other tenure types (17% for private rented, other tenures no less than 64%): and ● Perceptions of ASB is significantly higher amongst those who rent from private landlords than all other tenure types. Please note: 1. the low number of respondents from some groups (such as those renting from private landlord. 2. When we have noted significance this refers to statistical significance at the 95% confidence level.
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Levels of satisfaction with the area as a place to live and perceptions of how well people from different backgrounds get on well together lend some support to the view raised by some interviewees that the flip side of the strong sense of community in West Howe is the perception that it is less than welcoming to new comers.
Seeking advice - a pointer to needs The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is an important source of advice for many of us, when we have exhausted our own knowledge and that of friends and neighbours.
Data from Bournemouth CAB shows that for those seeking advice at the South Kinson hub, advice on benefits and debt are consistently the top two reasons for seeking advice.
Kinson South CAB enquiries by type
Source: Bournemouth CAB, April 2012
Given the high levels of benefits claimants in West Howe and the low levels of disposable incomes, it is perhaps unsurprising that people are seeking help with benefits and debt.
We were somewhat more surprised at the profile of the Credit Union in West Howe. Our interviews and discussions with officers suggest that door step lenders play a significant role on the estate. High interest rates suggest residents may be paying a high price for access to credit.
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Our telephone interview with Coastal Credit Union suggested a potential role in providing bank facilities and credit to residents of the West Howe. On opening the Kinson branch of the Credit Union, West Howe residents remarked that this did not mean that West Howe was covered. Basing a Credit Union employee in West Howe would be a significant step forward. It was suggested that a joint effort with Bournemouth Borough Council was needed to extend the Credit Union offer to West Howe residents, something that recent and future benefit changes make more urgent.
We suggest that the Coastal Credit Union could provide an important service in the West Howe area and that this might be an area for action by the West Howe Regeneration Partnership.
The value of volunteers From our engagement with the West Howe Action Group we are aware that there is group of very dedicated and hard working local volunteers undertaking significant work for and with West Howe residents and these we celebrate in the assets section of the report.
We are interested to know the levels of volunteering in West Howe. Data from Bournemouth Council for Voluntary Services showed that of the 1261 volunteers registered in 2011/12, just over half (646) did not record the area they live in.
We suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider further means to measure and develop volunteering in West Howe.
Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. But did you know that it can have many benefits for you too? Here are some reasons to volunteer: • Learn or develop a new skill • Be part of your community • Motivation and sense of achievement • Boost your career options • New interests and hobbies • New experiences • Meeting a diverse range of people • Send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family.
Adapted from: http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/ accessed 03 may 2012
The Developing Opportunities for Volunteering & Employability (DOVE) project was launched November 2007 to recruit, train, manage and support adult volunteers in the North
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Bournemouth area. Through this the DOVE project intended to achieve enhanced community capacity and cohesion, a more positive local community identity and increased awareness and use of volunteering within local agencies, schools, libraries and youth organisations.
In the first 18 months of the DOVE project delivered five courses and trained 46 volunteers. Interim evaluation of the project reports that the course is achieving its objective of preparing participants to feel ready to take up a volunteering placement. Twenty seven volunteers completed the end of course questionnaire and overwhelmingly responded that they felt ready to start a placement.20
This has clearly been an important initiative in supporting people towards volunteering and for some as first step towards paid employment.
In summary The West Howe Residents Survey (2012) found very high levels of concerns regarding a wide range of anti-social behaviour related issues.
Despite these concerns the overall levels of satisfaction with the local area as a place to live was high (71% West Howe, 2012 West Howe Place Survey), though not as high as for Bournemouth overall (82% - 2008 Place Survey)
West Howe respondents were less likely to believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in the local area (66% West Howe 2012 compared with 79% Bournemouth overall 2008) and a lower percentage felt that they belong to their neighbourhood than in Bournemouth overall (42% compared with 49%).
Our interviews and discussions suggest that door step lenders play a significant role on the estate.
Whilst there is group of very dedicated and hard working local volunteers undertaking significant work for and with West Howe residents, local data on levels of volunteering provides some (limited) evidence that supports calls to increase the numbers of people volunteering.
These drivers of social cohesion inform each of the five priority issues detailed in Part II and in particular ‘proud of our place’.
20 The DOVE interim evaluation report May2009
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10. Employment, income and benefits - a two sided coin
Introduction In this section we start with a review of key findings from the Census as this provides a reliable and detailed picture of employment and the key features of the work people undertake. The Census data is now ten years old - and the outputs from the 2011 Census due later this year will provide a valuable update to the data presented here. We consider trends in Job Seeker Allowance claims as a proxy for unemployment to see how this has changed in West Howe since the 2001 Census.
Employment is an important source of income. For those out of work or in low paid jobs, benefits provide a key source of income. The second part of this section reports on benefit levels in West Howe.
Employment Across West Howe just over half of the working age population is economically active (available for work). Of those available for work (the economically active) the proportion unemployed was highest in Heathlands (313) at 11%, second in West Howe (309) at 9%, then Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) at 8.5% and lowest in Poole Lane South (312) at 5.8%.
The rate of economic inactivity is similar across the four West Howe areas, varying between between 42 and 48% (see chart below: Key census economic data).
Compared with Bournemouth Borough, the South West region and national (England and Wales) figures, West Howe has: ● lower levels of economically active ● higher unemployment; the lowest proportion of economically active residents who are unemployed in West Howe is found in Poole Lane South (312) and this level is still higher than the Bournemouth wide average (5.8 vs 4.6%), in the other parts of West Howe the proportion of economically active residents who are unemployed was nearly double the Bournemouth wide average ● economic inactivity21 is considerably higher in West Howe than the Bournemouth average - in West Howe 4 adults out of every 10 of working age are economically inactive (44%), compared with 3 out of ten in Bournemouth as a whole (34.7%).
21 Economic inactivity is the status of not looking for a job. It is different from unemployment. People are unemployed if they have no job but are actively seeking work. There are several reasons for economic inactivity. For men, the most common reason is long term sickness. For women, traditionally it has been caring for the home and family. Economic inactivity is defined as people without a job who have not actively sought work in the last four weeks and/or are not available to start work in the next two weeks due to sickness / incapacity or being a carer, student, home- maker or retired.
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Just over half of the working age population of West Howe was employed (51.2%) at the 2001 Census compared with 62.2% in Bournemouth overall.
Table: Key census economic data
At the time of the 2001 Census, 3,764 West Howe residents were of working age. Of these, 1,927 were employed, just over 51% of West Howe residents of working age.
What type of paid employment were West Howe residents doing? West Howe residents were more likely to be employed working in personal service occupations, sales and customer services, as machine operatives or in elementary occupations than the national average. Levels of professional and managerial occupations are much lower than national levels.
Table: employment occupation groups, 2001
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One fifth (20%+) of West Howe residents in employment work in wholesale / retail trade / repair of motor vehicles, this being a few percentage points above the Borough level of 18%. Manufacturing is the second biggest sector for West Howe workers ranging from 15.5% in Heathlands (313) to 11.2% in Poole Lane South (312). In all areas of West Howe the proportion working in manufacturing is higher than the Bournemouth average of just under 10%. Construction and health and social work are also important industry sectors for West Howe residents (See chart Industry of Employment)
Chart: Industry of Employment, April 2001, percentage of people aged 16-74
Source: 2001 Census, ONS Crown Copyright
And how do they travel to work? In line with Borough, Regional and National figures the most popular method of travel to work for West Howe residents is by driving a car or van. The largest proportion is seen in Poole Lane South (312) where 62.6% of those in work drive by car or van, compared with 55% nationally. Lift-share levels are encouraging, with levels in West Howe noticeably higher than the Borough as a whole and nationally. Travel as a passenger in a car or van is lower in Poole Lane South (312) than the other parts of West Howe.
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Bus, minicab or coach use is higher in West Howe than for Bournemouth as a whole and nationally; over 14% in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307), West Howe (309) and Poole Lane South (312) go to work by bus, minicab or coach compared with 8.4% in Heathlands (313).
Bicycle rates in West Howe are slightly higher than for the Borough as a whole with travelling to work on foot lower than the Borough average. Active travel (bicycle and on foot combined) is around 12% of journeys to work for West Howe residents compared with 15% for Bournemouth as a whole (see table below: method of travel to work).
Table: method of travel to work, 2001
And how far do they go? West Howe residents are less likely to work at home than people in Bournemouth as a whole. Less than 15% of the West Howe workers travel less than 2km to work, much less than Bournemouth (22.1%) and nationally (20%). For West Howe residents journeys to work of between 2km and 10km account for approximately 60% of journeys to work, compared about 50% for Bournemouth as a whole and 38% nationally. West Howe residents are much less likely to travel more than 10km to work than the Bournemouth average or nationally (see table below: distance travelled to work).
Table: distance travelled to work, 2001
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We also note from this chart, the relatively high proportion of workers in West Howe with no fixed place of work, these accounting for almost 10% of workers from the West Howe (309) area.
Hours worked Higher proportions of West Howe residents are in part-time work (31%) than in Bournemouth (27%) and nationally (24.7%). In West Howe the highest proportion in part time work is found in Heathlands (313) (34.2%) followed by West Howe (309) (30.7%) and Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) (30.5%) with the lowest proportion in Poole Lane South (312) (29.2%).
The distribution of hours worked is shown in the chart below: Chart: hours worked per week, April 2001
Source: 2001 Census, ONS Crown Copyright
How has the unemployed rate changed since the 2001 Census? JSA claimant count records the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) and National Insurance credits at Jobcentre Plus local offices. This is not an official measure of unemployment, but is recognised as the only indicative statistic available for areas smaller than Local Authorities22.
22 http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/
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The chart below shows the JSA claimant count for the four West Howe areas. Small area JSA claim counts are to the nearest 5 to avoid the disclosure of any personal information. JSA claimants across all ages in West Howe have mirrored the general economic climate with declining numbers since the late 1990s and numbers rising following the effects of the late 2000s recession when manufacturing output down 7% by end 2008.
Chart: benefit claimants - job seekers allowance (total claimants)
ONS Crown Copyright Resrved [from Nomis on 8 May 2012]
Youth unemployment The chart for youth (16-24 years) JSA claimants follows a similar trend to that for the all ages, though the variations are less pronounced (due to smaller numbers). Youth unemployment, as measured by JSA claimants numbered 10 (rounded to nearest 5) in each of the 4 LSOA areas in August 2011.
See overleaf chart benefit claimants - job seekers allowance (age - 16 to 24)
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Chart benefit claimants - job seekers allowance (age - 16 to 24)
ONS Crown Copyright Resrved [from Nomis on 8 May 2012]
Additional income Employment is important for a range of reasons. In addition to earning money to cover the costs of living, work can encourage personal development and provide important social contact.
For many in work, benefits provide additional income to help cover the costs of living; for those out of work benefits provide the principal source of income. In this section we review the types of benefits received by West Howe residents.
Overview of benefits Workless adults actively seeking a full-time job can claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Workless adults unable to work because of ill-health or disability can claim: ● Incapacity Benefit (IB) ● Income Support (IS) ● Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Workless lone parents with young children; carers (under 60) can claim Income Support (IS).
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Those who need care and/ or with mobility difficulties can claim Disability Living Allowance 23(DLA).
The chart below shows working age claimants across the West Howe area as at August 2011. Across the four areas in West Howe there was a total of 915 working age claimants. The largest category of claims was for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity Benefits (these being key benefits for adults unable to work because of ill-health or disability) representing 470 claims (over 50% of working age claimants).
The largest number of working claimants were in the West Howe (309) area with 280 claimants.
Chart: Working age claimants, August 2011
The majority of income support claimants in West Howe (as at August 2011) were aged between 25-49 years (265 out of 390 for all ages). This is a key benefit for Workless lone parents with young children.
Table: Income Support Claimants at August 2011
The highest number of income support claimants are in the West Howe (309) area (130) followed by Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) (100). Both Poole Lane South (312) and Heathlands (313) each had 80 claimants.
23 JRF Working-age ‘welfare’: who gets it, why, and what it costs
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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants in West Howe are more evenly spread across the age bands with the largest numbers again in the 25-49 age group. There are similar numbers of male and female DLA claimants. Unsurprisingly many of these claimants have been receiving the benefit for over five years (See table below).
There is little variation across the four areas of West Howe in the number of DLA claimants; there are 130 claimants in each of West Howe (309) and Heathlands (313), 120 in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) and a further 115 in Poole Lane South (312).
Trends in benefit claims Figures 1-5 below show trends in key benefits across the four areas of West Howe, from August 2005 to August 2010. (all taken from National Statistics, Benefits Data: Summary Statistics: Crown Copyright)
Figure 1: Disability Living Allowance Claimants
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Figure 2: Incapacity Benefit/Severe Figure 3: Income Support Claimants Disablement Allowance Claimants
Figure 4: Job Seekers Allowance Figure 5: Pension Credits claimants
Across the four areas of West Howe, the trends are very similar over this period. For West Howe as a whole: ● Increase in DLA claimants from 380 to 500; ● Decline in Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance Claimants from 460 to 395: ● Decrease in Income support from 525 to 410: and ● Rising JSA claimants from 65 to 155. ● Increases in the numbers of Pension Credit claimants in West Howe (309) and Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) , a flat line for Heathlands (313) and a slight decline in Poole
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Lane South (312). Overall increase in West Howe from 400 in August 2005 to 420 in August 2010.
Older people benefits We note above the small overall increase in number of pensioners claiming pension credit benefit. The English Indices of Deprivation 201024 includes an Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index; all four LSOAs in West Howe are in the most deprived quintile for this index.
We note that about 4 million older people UK wide are entitled to Pension Credit, yet about 1 in 3 of those eligible are still not claiming it25.
The needs of older people in general, and their access to benefits are recommended as priority areas for further investigation.
Tax credits for families with children The following table highlights levels of child and working tax credits for families in West Howe.
A reasonable working assumption is that all families with children will receive child benefit. Working from this assumption we have analysed this data further and note the following key points: • In West Howe 99% of families with children are recipients of one or more types of tax credit (child and /or working) compared with 83% across the South West Region: • In West Howe, 60% of tax credit recipients are families with children with one or more parents in work and 40% are out of work families. In the South West Region 81% of tax
24 CLG ID 2010 25 http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/pension-credit/ accessed 03 may 2012
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credit recipients are families with children with one or more parents in work; and • Approximately three quarters of out of work families with children receiving tax credits are lone parents (74% in West Howe and 73% across the South West Region).
Putting income in context It is important to consider the above data on employment and benefits in the context of overall income levels.
The UK government’s poverty line is where household income is below 60 per cent of the median UK household income, before and after housing costs have been paid26.
The median household income is the amount where half of all households have incomes more than this and half have less. The main poverty measure counts the number of people living in low-income households, below 60% of the median. Below this amount a household and its members are described as living in income poverty. The poverty line is adjusted to take into account how expenditure needs differ between people and types of households (equivalisation).
It is helpful to be clear what this means in practice. The latest year for which household income data is available is 2008/09. In that year, the 60% threshold was worth: • £119 per week for single adult with no dependent children; • £206 per week for a couple with no dependent children; • £202 per week for a single adult with two dependent children under 14; and • £288 per week for a couple with two dependent children under 14. These sums of money are measured after income tax, council tax and housing costs have been deducted, where housing costs include rents, mortgage interest (but not the repayment of principal), buildings insurance and water charges. They therefore represent what the household has available to spend on everything else it needs, from food and heating to travel and entertainment27.
Estimates for household income for Turbary Common (005) for 2007/0828 suggest that 37.4% of households have an income below 60% of the Median Income (after housing costs) - so are below the government’s poverty line.
This is shown graphically in the map overleaf:
26 http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai 27 http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/key%20facts.shtml accessed 23 May 2012 28 Ref neighbourhood statistics
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Changes to benefits The Welfare Reform Act (March 2012) will create the biggest shake up in the benefits system since the start of the welfare state over 65 years ago. Through this new legislation the Coalition Government is seeking to incentivise work and to end the ‘benefit trap’ where some claimants lose over 90p in every £1 they earn as their benefits are withdrawn.
A Universal Credit (UC) will combine and replace a number of existing means tested benefits, including Housing Benefit, for working age claimants. From April 2013, the UC will be subject to a weekly cap based upon average net wages.
The changes are due to be phased in over a number of years. It is anticipated that the changes present risks of loss of income for some groups of claimants29. The shift to online claims and four weekly payments via bank accounts may present additional challenges for low income families and suggest the need for considerable support arrangements to be addressed.
In the following table we summarise some of the key changes and what they might mean to residents:
29 CPAG and ageuk
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Table: Summary of Benefits changes Measure and date Who will it affect? What might the impacts be Spare room rules – This could affect single people, If you get housing benefit, are of from April 2013 elderly people whose children working age and live in a house with have left home and families. a spare bedroom you could lose an average of £14 per week per spare bedroom. If you live in a three bedroom house on your own or with your partner you will have two empty bedrooms and could get £30 a week less housing benefit. You will have to pay this extra money yourself.
Benefits cap – April This does not apply to you if you If you are a couple, lone parent 2013 get working tax credit or you are household or family, your benefits, a war widow or retired. including housing benefit will be capped at £26,000 per year (£500 per week). If you are a single person your benefits will be capped at £350 a week.
Cuts to housing If you, or someone in your Your housing benefit will be cut – the benefit – April 2011 household, is 18 years old and amount depends on how much to April 2014 earning (non-dependent). income the non-dependent gets
Universal Credit – If you get income-related You will get one monthly payment, from October 2013 jobseeker’s allowance, housing known as Universal Credit, paid benefit, child tax credit, working direct to you. This will increase tax credit, income support and benefit entitlement for some people income-related employment but reduce it for others. support allowance
Disability Living If you get Disability Living You will need to take a medical test Allowance (for Allowance this will be replaced to qualify instead of filling out disabled children with a new Personal application forms. and adults) – from Independence Payment. 2013
Changes to the state The government is proposing pension age – from that the state pension age for 2016 women will increase to 65. From 2018 it could increase to 66 for men and women.
Source: based on http://www.chg.org.uk/residents/all-residents/benefits-changes
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The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)30 note the following outcomes of the reforms to benefits: • Owner-occupiers on income-based benefits are at greater risk of more debt, repossession and homelessness due to a shortfall in mortgage interest; • A baby born to a low-income family from April 2011 is around £1,500 worse off compared to a sibling born in April 2010; • A couple with children, one working 20 hours on minimum wage will lose £74.34 a week; and • An unemployed, able-bodied family with six children will not get any help with rent or council tax due to the benefit cap; We suggest that welfare reforms may have a considerable impact on West Howe residents. In particular, we anticipate the run up to changes adding to the stress of everyday life for many residents and any resulting loss of income to lead to increased stress and reduced well being. The introduction of a single monthly payment direct to claimants may be difficult for residents with poor budgeting skills to manage.
We recommend that support and advice around benefits changes is an important and pressing issue that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership should take action on.
In summary This section highlights a range of employment and income related challenges for West Howe.
For those West Howe residents in employment, work is often in roles requiring lower levels of skills and likely as such to attract lower than average pay.
Nearly 4 out of 10 working age adults in West Howe are unavailable for work (economically inactive).
Benefits and tax credits are, overall, important sources of income for West Howe residents. Nearly all (99%) of families with children in West Howe receive tax credits and 37% of households in the Turbary Common (005) area are estimated to be living in income poverty.
In the short term, advice and support to residents around benefit changes are a top priority. The causes of low levels of employment and low paid work are many and interconnected, the golden thread of raising aspirations and improving skills for life are key themes to address.
These employment and income related issues are key drivers of each of the five priorities detailed in Part II and in particular ‘roles and role models’, ‘skills for life’ and ‘maximising and managing incomes’.
30 The Cuts: what they mean for families at risk of poverty Updated February 2012. Child Poverty Action Group
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11. Health, wellbeing and social care
Introduction In this section we collate evidence on the health and well being of West Howe residents. The section considers overall life expectancy and mortality before reviewing health and social care indicators for early years, healthy lifestyle indicators and measures of poor health and use of health services.
Notes on data sources Local Health31 gives access to small area level (Middle Super Output Area level) key health data. The middle layer super output area (MSOA) ‘Turbary Common (005)’ is used in this analysis. The MSOA level data is likely to give a slightly more optimistic view of life in West Howe but a valid, close approximation32.
We also consider comparisons of key health indicators using GP practice level data. The Kinson Road Practice (located a short distance from West Howe) holds sessions at the Cunningham Crescent Clinic (Monday - Friday 10am - 12 noon). Colleagues at the NHS Bournemouth and Poole have recommended that data for this practice will give a good proxy of the health of West Howe residents. The practice profiles cover a wide range of indicators and we provide commentary here on those where the values for the Kinson Road practice are considerably higher (or lower) than PCT wide, regional or national averages.
Life expectancy and Mortality The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) is the ratio of observed deaths to expected deaths, where expected deaths are calculated for the local area of interest by applying the death rates for different ages and genders in the population of England.
A SMR of 100 means the number of observed deaths equals the number expected. Higher than 100, means there are more deaths in the local population that is expected.
Life expectancy in West Howe is lower than national levels. Males in Turbary Common (005) can expect to live to 74.9 years compared with 78.3 years for England as a whole; females are expected to live longer, 78.3 years in Turbary Common (005) area and 82.3 years nationally.
31 http://www.localhealth.org.uk/ 32 Turbary Common (005) is slightly less deprived than the four LSOAs that make up West Howe but the difference is marginal; West Howe is four of the five LSOAs making up ‘Turbary Common (005), the fifth (outside of West Howe and to the south of Turbary Common is slightly less deprived than the West Howe LSOAs being just in the second worst quintile nationally.
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The table and chart (below and overleaf) show life expectancy and SMRs for major causes of death; the local ratios are much higher than 100, being either in the worst or second worst quintile in the country.
‘Life expectancy at birth’ estimates indicate how long, on average, an individual born today, could expect to live, if current mortality rates at different ages, applied throughout their life.
Life expectancy increased considerably in the UK as a whole over the past century. In 1901 females could expect to live to 49, and men to 45. This compares to the England & Wales average of 81 years for women and 77 years for men (2005 – 2007). Increases in life expectancy reflect changing patterns in causes of death. Chronic illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, generally affecting older age groups, have replaced infectious and respiratory diseases as the major killers.
Lower life expectancy in West Howe reflects the higher SMRs shown in the following figures for key causes of death. These being typically a reflection of lower standards of living, poorer housing, education, diet and exercise levels in an area like West Howe and in some cases being compounded by late detection and treatment of conditions.
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Early years The crude rate of teenage pregnancy for West Howe (Kinson Road practice) is much higher than that in comparator populations.
Chart: Births to Teenage Women per 1000 Women Aged 16-19, 2010/11
Legend: National average B&P PCT South West Region Kinson Road Practice Kinson
Source: NHS Comparators, Copyright NHS Infomation Centre. Provided by NHS Bournemouth and Poole
The Teenage Pregnancy / Young Parents Team (Bournemouth Borough Council) provide support to Young Parents, mainly aged under 20 years. The team works with young parents who are unwilling to engage with services on offer in Childrens Centres. The main goal of the team’s work with Young Parents is to support them to access the children’s centres; short term goals include reducing isolation and signposting to relevant agencies.
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The team is Borough wide though West Howe is a priority area for the team: last quarter there were 27 new referrals across Bournemouth, half (14) of these being from West Howe / Kinson.
The team has recently taken on a sexual health worker to undertake education / prevention work in schools setting. An 8 -10 week self-esteem programme is being run using a risk based target list from the school (LEAF). Early indications are that this has led to a shift to Long-term contraceptive protection though the team recognise the importance of evaluation to evidence the benefits of the programme.
Discussion with the service manager reinforced the view expressed by others that taking groups of young people out of the estate for residential trips provides some of the most important and life changing experiences for young people. The service arranges annual trips for young parents aged 16 - 17 years It was remarked that going to Thorpe Park with these young people takes them on the motorway and that for some this is the first time on the motorway.
Low birth weight can cause both immediate and long-term developmental problems for the baby. The practice profiles show the Kinson Road practice population to have high percentage of low birth weight babies compared with the PCT as a whole and Regional levels, but below the national level.
Recent work by the Children’s Service Information Team (Bournemouth Borough Council) for the Bournemouth and Poole Joint Strategic Needs Assessment provides valuable information on children and young people as carers and in care.
Data for 2010/11 allows comparison between West Howe and other areas in Bournemouth across a number of indicators. Key findings are: ● The rate of Children & young people that provide care to a relative or guardian is high in Heathlands (313) compared with other LSOAs in Bournemouth. We note that the actual number of children is low (4 in Heathlands); ● The rates of Children in Need (of local authority social services) are high in West Howe compared with other parts of Bournemouth. In 2010/11 49 children in West Howe (309) were identified, 34 in Heathlands (313), 29 in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) and 26 in Poole Lane South (312); ● Poole Lane South (312) has the second highest rate of Children & young people that are in the public care of the local authority under the Children Act 1989, either at the parents’ request (accommodated) or by Court Order (in care) (Looked after Children) across all LSOAs in Bournemouth and West Howe (309) the fourth highest. These high rates relate to 7 children in Poole Lane South (312), 6 in West Howe (309) and 3 in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307); ● Poole Lane South (312) has the 10th highest rate of children on the child protection register of all 180 LSOAs in Bournemouth (count = 5); and ● Rates of Children & young people that have been identified as children in need of local authority social services that have a disability are relatively high in West Howe compared with other parts of Bournemouth (counts ranging from 10 in West Howe (309) to less than 5 in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307).
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The above suggests high levels of intensive social care is needed in West Howe; whilst the actual numbers behind these high rates are not great the support and care needs for these children and their families will be highly significant.
North Bournemouth Children’s Centres Health Baseline Data (taken from NHS Bournemouth & Poole Children’s Centre Minimum Dataset33) reinforces the picture of health challenges in early years for West Howe infants: • 20.7% of Kinson and West Howe mothers smoking at delivery (the worst of the 9 Children’s Centres across the Borough; • 2nd worst percentage of infants breastfed within 48hours of birth (66.1%); and • the lowest percentage of infants being breastfed at 6 weeks at 36.6%.
Healthy lifestyles Data from the National Child Measurement Programme found the local level of year 6 obesity to be higher than that for the Bournemouth Borough as a whole and slightly higher than national (though not significantly so):
Chart: Comparison of Turbary Common (005) lifestyle indicators
33 North Bournemouth Children’s Centres Health Baseline Data; provided by Service Manager, Action for Children, North Bournemouth Children's Centres & Nursery May 2012
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Modelled estimates suggest the wider Turbary Common (005) area to have higher than Borough wide averages and national proportions of obese adults and adults eating less healthily. The estimate of binge drinking suggests this to be lower in the Turbary Common (005) area than across the Borough as a whole.
Practice profile data confirms the local area as having considerably higher prevalence of 16+ obesity than the comparator areas.
Chart: Obesity Reported Prevalence aged over 16 years 2008/9
Legend: National average B&P PCT South West Region Kinson Road Practice Kinson
Source: NHS Comparators, Copyright NHS Infomation Centre. Provided by NHS Bournemouth and Poole
Addressing the causes of poor health and wellbeing through helping West Howe residents to adopt healthier lifestyles should be the main focus of the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. We recommend that consideration be giving to establishing a Health Trainer service in the area. Health Trainers engage with and support residents in making healthy lifestyle choices and give practical support to help people improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in improving their lifestyles (see http://www.healthtrainersengland.com/home.)
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Drug and Alcohol The Bournemouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) provides support and treatment to people affected by drug or alcohol misuse, including family members.
West Howe residents account for 3.5% of the population of Bournemouth. The total number of adult service users that accessed drug and alcohol treatment in Bournemouth during the three year period 1 April 2008 till 31 March 2011 was 2,714; a number would have accessed and exited treatment more than once. Of the 2,714, there were 192 (7%) recorded as residents in the BH11 postal code area.
A review of 2010/11 DAAT data shows: ● A higher proportion of BH11 residents using the DAAT service are female (48%) compared with Bournemouth as a whole (28%); ● A higher proportion of BH11 residents using the DAAT service are doing so for alcohol (substance of use) (40%) compared with Bournemouth as a whole (32%) (the other category being ‘drugs’; ● As at 26 April 2012 there are 896 services users receiving treatment from the Bournemouth Treatment System and of these 65 were recorded as residents of the BH11 postal code area. ● Of these 65: ○ All children with client:5 ○ Children living with: 6 ○ Children living with other family member: 7 ○ Chlidren living with partner (not client): 7 ○ No children under 18: 8 ○ None living with client: 17 ○ Not a parent: 7 ○ Other: 1 ○ Some of children with client: 5 ○ Not answered: 2 ● During the 2010/11 financial year the needle exchange services delivered specifically to serve the BH11 area had 704 contacts of which there were 47 identifiable users of the service; ● Of the 65, records show that 9 are known to the Criminal Justice Team.
There are small number of Young people being treated by Bournemouth DAAT; data was not available at the time of reporting as a result of a change of service providers.
Service providers noted a potential population flow with West Howe teenagers moving to Boscombe, becoming dependent on drugs and subsequently them and their dependent children being rehoused to West Howe. Further work with Probation and RSLs is recommended to explore further youth migration patterns between Boscombe and West Howe in general and for those with drug dependencies in particular.
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We suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership engage with the local community and service providers to review patterns of drug taking in general and youth drug experimentation in particular.
Poor health and use of services The local area shows significantly high levels of hospital admissions for: ● all cause emergency admissions; ● all cause elective admissions; ● Emergecy and elective admission for coronary heart disease; and ● Emergency admissions for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chart: Hospital admission (standardised admission ratios) for Turbary Common (005)
The practice profiles compare the local practice, Kinson Road, with comparator areas of Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust, the South West Region and National averages. These data show the Kinson Road practice population to have: ● higher prevalence of Mental Health reported prevalence than the comparator areas; ● Higher level of Learning difficulties reported prevalence Aged >=18; ● Higher use of inhaled steriods than comparator areas (as measured by Inhaled Corticosteroids per STAR PU. Corticosteriods reduce imflammation and are used by people with, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthmatics); ● Slightly higher levels of high blood pressure (15%) than the comparator areas (national 13.13%) (as measured by Hypertension Reported Prevalence); ● Heart Failure Reported Prevalence (1.5%) considerably higher than the comparator areas (double the national level (0.73%)); ● Diabetes Reported Prevalence Aged >=17 (6.62%) much higher than comparator areas (national = 5.08%); ● Depression Aged >=18 (11.94%) higher than PCT average of 9.2%; ● Lower dementia reported prevalence than comparator areas; ● Higher Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Reported Prevalence (1.86%) than comparator areas (Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 1.39%);
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● Chronic Kidney Disease Reported Prevalence Aged >=18 (12.89%) is highest across all the PCT practices and higher than the comparator areas (Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 5.51%); ● Coronary Heart Disease Reported Prevalence (5.36%) higher than comparator areas (Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 3.89%); ● Fertility rate (births per 1000 women aged 15-44) is higher 61.2 than the comparator areas (the highest of which is the national figure of 58.5); ● Rate of drugs Acting on Benzodiazepine Receptors per STAR PU is lower than comparator areas; and ● Asthma Reported Prevalence is slightly higher than the comparator areas.
Across all three indicators of access to GP services (% able to get appointment with specific GP, % able to get appointment in advance and % able to get appointment in 48 hrs) the Kinson Road Medical Centre is below comparator area levels and one of the bottom 6 practices across the PCT area.
In summary
This section highlights a large number of health and wellbeing indicators which suggest that West Howe residents experience poorer health that people in Bournemouth as a whole and in many cases against Regional and National averages.
These indicators point to unhealthy lifestyles, high levels of illness in general and mental health issues ,and early death. Improving access to primary care is a consideration as a short term priority. Primary care is an important service provider in it’s own right and also a gateway to other more specialised services.
Addressing the causes of poor health and wellbeing through helping West Howe residents to adopt healthier lifestyles should be the main focus of the West Howe Regeneration Partnership. We recommend that consideration be giving to establishing a Health Trainer service in the area.
These health, wellbeing and social care issues are key drivers of each of the five priorities detailed in Part II and in particular ‘roles and role models’ and ‘skills for life’.
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12. Education and skills
Introduction In this section we consider the progress West Howe children make at school and some indicators of life skills amongst adults in West Howe.
School educational attainment Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits34. Education is a powerful tool by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully as citizens.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a statutory framework that sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five.
All providers are required to use the EYFS to ensure that whatever setting parents choose, they can be confident their child will receive a quality experience that supports their care, learning and development.
State schools in England must teach a range of subjects according to targets set by the National Curriculum. This was established in 1989 to ensure the same standards of teaching and learning across the nation. The National Curriculum covers learning for all children aged 5-16 in state schools, and sets out: ● which subjects should be taught ● the knowledge, skills and understanding your child should achieve in each subject (according to your child’s age) ● targets - so teachers can measure how well your child is doing in each subject ● how information on your child’s progress should be passed on to you.
34 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/right-to-education/
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What are the Key Stages? The National Curriculum is divided into four Key Stages that children are taken through during their school life. For example, Key Stage 1 is taught during Years 1 and 2 of primary school. Targets defined in the National Curriculum are assessed at the end of each Key Stage. The four Key Stages Key Stage Ages School years Expected attainment
Key Stage 1 Ages 5-7 Years 1 and 2 Level 1
Key Stage 2 Ages 7-11 Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 Level 4
Key Stage 3 Ages 11-14 Years 7, 8 and 9 Level 5
Key Stage 4 Ages 14-16 Years 10 and 11 %+ GCSEs grade A*-C
Adapted from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/national_curriculum_key_stages/
How do West Howe children fare in each stage? In this section we review progresss of West Howe children in each of the 4 Key Stages described above. We begin with an overview of early years educational attainment.
Some of the data presented is only available at MSOA level not LSOA level. In these cases, rather than being able to look at each of the four LSOAs we can compare MSOA Turbary Common (005) with Bournemouth as a whole and the South West Region. The Turbary Common (005) area is made up of the four LSOAs defining West Howe plus an additional LSOA (005E); we suggest this provides a good indication of the characteristics of West Howe as a whole.
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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) EYFS data for the school year September 2009 - August 2010 suggests that by the age of 5, children in the greater West Howe area have, on the basis of EYFS programme assessment achieved lower educational development levels than peers in Bournemouth as a whole and the SW region.
We also note from the table below the much higher percentage of Turbary Common (005) children eligible for free school meals. In all areas those having free school meals have poorer results than their peers who don’t. The difference in attainment between those having school meals and those not is very much wider in Bournemouth as a whole and the SW Region than in the Turbary Common (005) area. Indeed we note that the Turbary Common (005) area young children who have free school meals do better than counterparts in Bournemouth and the SW Region.
Table: EYFS achievement Sep09-Aug10
PSE – Personal and Social Education CLL – Communication, Language and Literacy
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Low Attainment at Foundation Stage is shown in West Howe in the following figure.
Figure: Children & young people living in Bournemouth attending Bournemouth schools who achieved below 78 points across the FS Profile at Foundation Stage during the academic year 2010/11 (rate per 10,000)
Source: Bournemouth and Poole Childrens JSNA
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Key Stage 1 (KS 1) At KS 1 assessment around the age of 7, children from Turbary Common (005) are showing lower educational attainment than peers in the borough as a whole and the South West Region for reading, writing (largest difference) and mathematics; the % Pupils Achieving Level 2+; in Science is comparable across the areas.
Again we note the lower attainment for children having free school meals compared with those who do not. Roughly one in three children from the Turbary Common (005) area is eligible for free school meals, almost double the proportion for Bournemouth.
Table: Key Stage 1 attainment
Data from the Bournemouth And Poole Childrens Joint Strategic Needs Assessment35 (JSNA) shows high rates of Children aged 7 years living in West Howe and attending Bournemouth schools that have achieved below national expected attainment level (13 points) at Key Stage 1 during the academic year.
35 http://www.bournemouthandpoole.nhs.uk/aboutus/children.htm
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West Howe has the fifth worse rate of below expected attainment across all the LSOAs in Bournemouth.
Key Stage 2 (KS 2) JSNA children’s data shows high rates of West Howe children aged 11 years having achieved below nationally expected attainment (25 points) at Key Stage 2 during the academic year 2010/11.
Figure: children aged 11 years having achieved below national expected attainment (25 points) at Key Stage 2 during the academic year 2010/11 (rate per 10,000)
Source: Bournemouth and Poole Childrens JSNA
Key stage 3 (KS 3) Key stage 3 assesses young people at end of year 9, aged about 14 years. The latest available resident based data shows the % Pupils Achieving Level 5+; in English, Maths and Science. In all three subjects the percentage for the West Howe LSOAs is considerably lower than that for Bournemouth as a whole and for the Region.
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Key Stage 4 (KS 4) KS 4 involves GCSE and equivalent qualifications. The latest resident based data shows educational attainment for West Howe young people continues to be below that of peers in Bournemouth as a whole and across the Region. The overall measure of All Pupils at the End of KS4 Achieving 5+ A* - C varies from a low of 56.3% in West Howe (309) to a high of 65.8% in Heathlands (313), compared with 69.8% for the Borough as a whole and 72.6 % for the Region.
Pass rates fall across all areas if English and Maths are included in the 5 A*-C GCSE passes with the gap between West Howe and the Borough now larger. The proportion of pupils achieving 2 or more A*-C GCSEs in science subjects falls across all areas and again the gap between West Howe areas and the Borough as a whole has increased.
Table: KS4 attainment
Key Stage 5 (KS 5) It is anticipated that many young people from West Howe will go to the nearby North Bournemouth Learning and Achievement Foundation Studio School (LeAF) (formerly Oakmead College of Technology) for A level and equivalent vocational qualifications. The average points per student achieved at the former Oakmead College of Technology (584.3 in 2011) in 2011 was considerably less than that for the best performing sixth form college in Bournemouth (Talbot Heath 975.1 student average)37.
37 http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/li/sixth_form.compare.Bournemouth/?sort=TALLPPSa accessed 23 May 2012
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A look at local schools From analysis of school places data across Bournemouth38 it is apparent that whilst West Howe residents comprise over half of the intake to Elmrise and Heathlands Primary Schools, children from the Elmrise and Heathlands catchment areas attend a range of schools, see table below of School Attending by Residential Catchment.
The Elmrise and Heathlands Primary schools 2011 Forecast showed low levels of occupancy, 53% and 48% respectively, against a Borough wide figure of 91%, and with consequent impacts on school places across the Borough; these figures suggest reputation issues for the schools and the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to address.
The percentage of pupils at these two Primary Schools reaching KS2 Level 4 in English and maths, the standard that most children in this age group are expected to attain in their Sats tests, was low for 2011 compared with other schools in the Borough, third and second bottom respectively39. This may be a consequence of some local children going to schools outside of West Howe as a result of parental perceptions of Elmrise and Heathlands. There is a negative feedback effect; as numbers drop it (likely) becomes harder to maintain attainment levels and so more parents opt to go to another school.
We recommend that the West Howe Regeneration Partnership consider working with the local Primary Schools to help address the schools reputation issue and the resulting potential impacts on school places across the Borough.
38 Primary And Secondary School Forecasts 2011, Bournemouth Borough Council 39 http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/li/primary_schools.compare.Bournemouth/?sort=PTENGMATX11
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Exclusions and absence from schools Small area data from the JSNA Children’s data show, for 2010/11: ● High rates of children 5-19 living in West Howe that have been identified as having a Special Educational Need (Statemented) ● High rates of West Howe children aged 5-19 excluded from school for a fixed period of time, Heathlands (313) having the highest LSOA level rate, (count = 21 children) across Bournemouth ● High rates of Children 5-19 living in West Howe with below 80% school attendance for Autumn 10 and Spring 11 terms, again Heathlands (313) having the highest rate across all Bournemouth LSOAs (20 children in Heathlands (313), 8 from both Turbary Common (307) and West Howe (309) and 7 from Poole Lane South (312).
Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) Reducing the number of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs) is an important strategic aim. As part of Bournemouth's Plan for Children, Young People & Their Families 2006 - 2011, a NEETs strategy has been developed to raise awareness, engage schools and all partners, promote good practice and link with the Integrated Youth Support and Development Framework and the 14-19 Partnership Plan.
The following map shows the distribution of young people in years 12-14 who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) by ward of residence as at January 2012. The overall Kinson South ward level percentage may include higher percentages within the West Howe estate.
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We suggest that NEETs is an issue the West Howe Regeneration Partnership may wish to investigate further; at the time of producing this report local small area data was unavailable.
Adult qualifications The 2001 Census provides information on the levels of qualifications among the adult population. The Chart below shows very clearly the low levels of educational attainment amongst the adult population in West Howe.
Figure: Adult levels of qualification, 2001
Source: 2001 Census, National Statistics Crown Copyright Definitions of levels of qualification: Adults refers to all people aged 16 to 74 who were usually resident in the area at the time of the 2001 Census. Level 1 qualifications cover: 1+'O' level passes; 1+ CSE/GCSE any grades; NVQ level 1; or Foundation level GNVQ. Level 2 qualifications cover: 5+'O' level passes; 5+ CSE (grade 1's); 5+GCSEs (grades A-C); School Certificate; 1+'A' levels/'AS' levels; NVQ level 2; or Intermediate GNVQ. Level 3 qualifications cover: 2+ 'A' levels; 4+ 'AS' levels; Higher School Certificate; NVQ level 3; or Advanced GNVQ. Level 4/5 qualifications cover: First Degree, Higher Degree, NVQ levels 4 and 5; HNC; HND; Qualified Teacher Status; Qualified Medical Doctor; Qualified Dentist; Qualified Nurse; Midwife; or Health Visitor.
We note in particular that: ● Over 4 out of every 10 has no qualifications, compared with 2.5 out of 10 in Bournemouth as a whole ● There are slightly higher proportions with Level 1 qualifications in all areas of West Howe than in the comparator areas ● There are lower proportions across West Howe with Level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications than across the Borough as a whole or nationally ● Level 3 qualifications in West Howe are just below 5% compared with 11.4% for Bournemouth as a whole.
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● Level 4 / 5 qualifications range from 4.1% to 5.9% in West Howe, compared with just under 20% nationally and 18.8% in Bournemouth.
Adult education services West Howe is a priority area for community working within the Bournemouth and Poole Adult learning service. Recent initiatives focused on West Howe include: • Family learning delivered in partnership with Barnados; • Computer training for older people; • Family history and local history and art programmes to engage residents; • Basic literacy and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes (Families with ESOL parents unable to support children with homework). The following key learnings are noted from these community based projects40: • It can be difficult to find the right people to work with, but once you do they bring the whole community with them. • It takes time and effort to engage with West Howe residents; • Typically, West Howe residents don't like leaving West Howe; and • The need to nurture and empower the community to take ownership of the courses on offer.
In summary
This section highlights low educational attainment for West Howe residents at all ages, from early years through schooling and for adults in the area.
The inter-generational nature of this low attainment suggests low levels of aspiration in the community and possibly an undervaluing of the benefits of education.
Low occupancy levels in the local Primary Schools are an immediate area for action.
These education and skills issues are key drivers of each of the five priorities detailed in Part II and in particular ‘roles and role models’, ‘skills for life’ and ‘maximising and managing incomes’.
40 Telephone interview with Community Learning Manager ,Skills & Learning Bournemouth and Poole 08 May 2012
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13. Crime and anti-social behaviour
Introduction In this section we consider ‘hard’ data from crime and incidents information from Police records alongside survey data of people’s perceptions. We do this as residents’ perceptions of their safety are important as they will impact on how secure they feel and on their day to day decisions.
Perception that West Howe residents have of West Howe We note, in relation to crime and disorder, the following key findings from the 2012 West Howe Residents Survey: ● Asked to identify the things that are most in need of improvement in the local area: ● 57% of West Howe residents said the level of crime compared with 31% across Bournemouth in the 2008 Place Survey, the level of crime was the highest response rate from West Howe ; ● Activities for teenagers had the fourth highest response rate (39% West Howe 2012 compared with 34% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● 43% of West Howe residents (adults) perceived anti-social behaviour to be an issue compared with 21% in the 2008 Bournemouth wide place survey ● Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem were similar - 39% in West Howe (2012) compared with 37% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem 56% in West Howe (2012) compared with 33% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of noisy neighbours or loud parties as a problem 24% in West Howe (2012) compared with 20% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey; ● Perceptions of teenagers hanging around the streets as a problem 59% in West Howe (2012) compared with 36% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● Perceptions of rubbish or litter lying around as a problem 55% in West Howe (2012) compared with 33% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey ● Perceptions of vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles as a problem 52% in West Howe (2012) compared with 31% in the 2008 Bournemouth Place Survey.
Crime and disorder rates Crime rates in West Howe are higher than in the Borough as a whole. There has been a 10% decrease in the overall levels of all crimes in West Howe between 2009 and 2011.
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The number of all crimes in West Howe have fallen over the last three calendar years (see t he table below). Based on 2011 data: ● the largest category of crime in West Howe is Thefts - Other Than From Vehicles (Dorset Crime Type 14 which includes shoplifting, theft from dwellings and from the person) accounting for 26% of crimes (214 out of 820) ● the second largest is criminal damage (25.5%) ● The third being wounding (DCT category 2 which includes harassment and bodily harms) ● 15% of crimes in West Howe were flagged as involving Domestic Violence, the rate being much higher for West Howe than Bournemouth as a whole; and ● The rate of alcohol flagged crimes was lower in West Howe than in Bournemouth as a whole.
Crime rates (2011) in West Howe were higher for all crime types than the overall Borough rate, with the exception of half a percentage point differences for theft from vehicles and possession of drugs.
Table: West Howe and Bournemouth borough crime rate comparison
The above crime rates detail crime by location of crime. Area of residence of the perpetrator would be very relevant to the regeneration agenda. We are informed that this can be done but is not available at the moment; we would recommend this be investigated further.
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The above data shows high rates of Domestic Violence (DV) flagged crimes in West Howe. This was surprising as a number of officers had drawn attention to a tendancy for people to cover up or deny DV. We would anticipate the real level to be even higher.
The rate of domestic violence related contacts to Children's Social Care services is high in West Howe compared with other parts of Bournemouth. West Howe (309) has the second highest rate across all LSOAs in Bournemouth (number = 15), Heathlands (313) the 6th highest rate (11 contacts), Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) had 9 and Poole Lane South (312) 6 contacts in 2010/11.
Rates of Children & young people with contacts to Children's Social Care relating to domestic violence in the household between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 per 10,000
Source: Bournemouth and Poole Childrens JSNA
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The chart below (rate of children aged 19 and under that have committed an offence and received a pre-court or court judgement) shows high rates of young offenders aged 19 and under across the West Howe area; West Howe (309) has the second highest rate across all the LSOAs in Bournemouth, there were 7 such judgements served in 2010/11 to West Howe (309) youths.
The rate of children aged 19 and under that have committed an offence and received a pre-court or court judgement between 1 April and 31 March 2011 per 10,000
Source: Bournemouth and Poole Childrens JSNA
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Anti-social behaviour This section considers all age anti-social behaviour. Police records of anti-social behaviour show a borough wide decrease between 2010/11 and 2011/12 of 10.9%. The beat area covering West Howe (CNJA Kinson South) showed a 19.4% decrease in this period (see chart below: Antisocial Behaviour Incidents in Kinson South (excluding CNKA) Reported to Dorset Police).
Source: Dorset Police
Anti-social behaviour is an important neighbourhood issue and often is dealt with by Housing Landlord staff. Records from the Council Housing Department lends some support to an overall downward trend in incidents (as shown in the chart below)
Source: Housing Landlord Services, Bournemouth Borough Council May 2012
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ASB reports from the Housing Service are highest in West Howe reflecting the high numbers of Council properties in the area. We are unable at this stage to explain the differences in numbers of ASB recorded by the two services. This suggests an area for closer partnership working to establish the extent to which housing and police services are recording the same anti-social behaviour incidents or not.
The Housing Landlord service provided a breakdown of the category of ASB, In both years for which data was available, and in both West Howe and across the Borough as a whole: ● Noise is the biggest source of ASB (55% in West Howe in 2011/12) ● Verbal abuse, harassment /intimidation/threatening behaviour being the second biggest (26% in West Howe in 2011/12) ● Third largest was Drugs/substance misuse/dealing representing 6.5% of West Howe ASB in 20011/12.
Fire service data Deliberate fires in Bournemouth as whole fell over the five year period 2007/8 to 2011/12. Accidental fires across Bournemouth are on a (slight) downward trajectory since 2008/9.
Whilst the numbers within West Howe are in absolute terms small, there are a number of key points to note: ● Deliberate and accidental fires in West Howe are a growing proportion of the Borough wide figure; ● Given that West Howe represents 3.5% of the Borough population, deliberate fires are over represented and accidental fires under represented. This may well be a consequence of West Howe being close to open heathland.
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Life after crime A criminal record can be an added source of anxiety in an already stressful job search. Depending on the severity of offense(s), a criminal record may not affect employment prospects at all, or it may make finding a job nearly impossible.
Reducing reoffending and supporting offenders into healthier lifestyles are important policy objectives; these were part of the package of national Indicators for Local Authorities. We note from the recent Strategic Assessment carried out by Bournemouth’s Community Safety Partnership41 that in Bournemouth’s April 10 to March 11 offender cohort (numbering 2468), that 258 had re-offended (actual re- offending rate of 10.45%).
Data from Dorset Probation Trust details the current caseload of people being supported by Probation Services.
Source: Dorset Probation Trust May 2012
Based on this data the crude rate of people on probation is the same for West Howe as across the whole of Dorset (approximately 42 per 10,000 total population.
Just over half of West Howe residents on probation were sentenced to a community order (52%) compared with 37% for Dorset as a whole.
A further quarter of West Howe residents being seen by Probation were serving suspended sentences.
41 Bournemouth’s Community Safety Partnership ‘Safer and Stronger Communities’ Strategic Assessment January 2012
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16% of West Howe residents being seen by Probation were in adult custody; much lower than the in Dorset as a whole (31%).
West Howe residents on the Dorset Probation caseload are younger than those for Dorset as a whole. We note much higher proportions of females on the caseload for West Howe than for Dorset as a whole. (see following tables)
Probation services play an important role in helping past offenders to get paid employment and stay the right side of the law, as the following case study highlights:
Many of you will know Steve Mowlem as the sports development worker for Nacro who provides football training for people living in West Howe.
Steve hasn’t always been a sports development worker. His youth was spent in and out of trouble, with police and parents. Rough sleeping followed along with drug problems.
With the help of the Probation charity Nacro, Steve turned things around and is now a Sports Development Worker for Nacro and is Chair of Fernheath Community Sports Association in West Howe.
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In summary
This section highlights that West Howe residents perceive crime, drug use and drug dealing, and anti- social behaviour to be issues in need of improvement in the area..
Crime rates (2011) in West Howe were higher for all crime types than the overall Borough rate.
The rates of children aged 19 and under that have committed an offence and received a pre-court or court judgement are high across the West Howe area; West Howe (309) has the second highest rate across all the LSOAs in Bournemouth.
Almost a quarter (24%) of crimes in West Howe in 2011 were flagged as involving Domestic Violence, the rate being much higher for West Howe than Bournemouth as a whole.
These crime and anti-social behaviour issues are key drivers of each of the five priorities detailed in Part II.
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14. Housing
Introduction This section reviews the housing available to West Howe residents. The type of housing in the area is considered first before looking at housing tenure. Occupancy levels of the overall housing stock is shown before considering some headlines relating to the Local Authority housing in the area.
West Howe is a relatively new estate, the majority of the housing being built in the 1950s as a Local Authority Housing estate. The housing stock is dominated by Council built properties. Many of these have been bought by tenants under the right to buy scheme. A walk around of the estate suggests the stock is overall of good condition with the Council properties being kept to ‘Decent Homes’ standards42.
Type of housing The housing mix varies considerably across the four LSOA areas within West Howe. Housing type by area is shown in the chart overleaf. The key findings are: ● Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) is dominated by semi-detached properties and purpose builts of flats (low rise); ● West Howe (309) is again dominated by semi-detached properties and purpose builts of flats (low rise) with just over 10% detached (compared with 2% in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307); ● Poole Lane South (312) housing is made up mainly of semidetached and detached properties, with half the proportion of purpose built flats found in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) and West Howe (309); and ● Heathlands (313) housing is over 50% semidetached houses or bungalows with 22% of households being purpose built flats.
42 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/decenthome
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Chart: Accommodation type, April 2001
Source: 2001 Census, National Statistics Crown Copyright
Whilst much of the estate was built as council property much of it has been sold under the right to buy scheme. The chart below shows the breakdown of households by tenure as at the Census in 2001.
Chart: Housing tenure, 2001
Source: 2001 Census, National Statistics Crown Copyright
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The above chart shows clear differences between West Howe as a whole and the Borough and Regional averages, and some variation within the West Howe area. Across the four West Howe areas there are: ● Much lower levels of owner occupied households than the Borough, Regional and National averages; ● There are very high percentages of accommodation rented from the Local Authority in West Howe ( 43%) compared with the borough (7%), Regional (8%) and National averages (13%); ● Wide variation in the proportion of accommodation rented from Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), ranging from 2% in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) to almost 18% in Heathlands (313); and ● Private renting is much lower than the Borough, Regional and National averages.
Within the four West Howe areas we note that: ● Poole Lane South (312) has a much higher level of owner occupied homes than other parts of West Howe, though still less than the Borough, Regional and National averages; ● Poole Lane South (312) has a lower level of Local Authority renting than the other parts of West Howe, but this is still much higher than the Borough, Regional and National averages; ● Renting from a RSL and shared ownership with RSL combined is much higher in Poole Lane South (312) than rest of West Howe; ● Renting from a RSL is highest in Heathlands (313) and almost three times the National average; ● Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307) and West Howe (309) have similar tenure profiles; ● Heathlands (313) has lower levels of owner occupied housing balanced by higher renting from RSLs.
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Occupancy rating The 2001 Census provides data on the levels of occupancy in households. The occupancy rating provides a measure of under-occupancy and over-crowding. For example a value of -1 implies that there is one room too few and that there is overcrowding in the household; a value of +1 that there is one room more than is needed and the accommodation is under occupied. The rating is calculated by relating the actual number of rooms to the number of rooms 'required' by the members of the household (based on an assessment of the relationship between household members, their ages and gender).
Across the West Howe area we see less under occupancy (+1 and +2) than the Borough, Regional and National averages. Conversely overcrowding by this measure is higher in West Howe. Within West Howe, overcrowding is highest in Turbary Common, Wallisdown (307), then Poole Lane South (312), followed by West Howe (309) with Heathlands (313) having the lowest level of overcrowding.
Chart: Occupancy ratings, April 2001
Source: 2001 Census, National Statistics Crown Copyright
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A number of interviewees (outside of HLS) commented that the purpose built council flats in West Howe are in need of extensive renovation and suggested that rebuild may be the most cost effective option. Whilst those commentating are not, as far as we know, qualified housing / building professionals, it may be beneficial for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to work with the Council (HLS) to address these concerns.
Whilst we are not in a position to comment on the accuracy of these comments, it may be beneficial for the West Howe Regeneration Partnership to work with the Council (HLS) to address these concerns.
Within the Local Authority housing Bournemouth Housing Landlord Services (Local Authority housing department) has 5,176 properties across the Borough; nearly a quarter of these properties (1,256) are in the West Howe area.
Many council tenants have been housed by the Local Authority for many years with the proportion for the Borough as a whole being very similar to those for West Howe tenancies.
Chart: West Howe Council Tenancies
Source: HLS, Bournemouth Borough Council April 2012
Property type The types of Council property is shown in the table below. Table: Council housing property types
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Our research has suggested that overcrowding and under-utilisation are connected issues in West Howe; that families in overcrowded flats are unable to move to bigger properties and that older people are unable to move to smaller sized accommodation.
Data from the Council Housing Register 43 provides a snap shot of West Howe residents waiting for a transfer. This is shown in the following tables.
Almost two thirds of the West Howe tenants awaiting a transfer to a bigger accommodation are waiting to move from a 2 bedroom unit to one with three bedrooms. Of these 69 tenants: ● 18 have been waiting under three years ● 31 have been waiting between 3 and 5 years; and ● 20 have been waiting over five years.
Two thirds of the West Howe residents who are under occupiers on the transfer list to move to a smaller property are awaiting a one bedroom place. Of these 3644 tenants: ● 14 have been waiting under three years ● 12 have been waiting between 3 and 5 years; and ● 10 have been waiting over five years.
43 Provided by Bournemouth Borough Council April 2012 44 We note that HLS data suggests that 24 West Howe tenants are awaiting transfer to a smaller property. In the time available we have been unable to reconcile these data.
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Allocation of Council Housing Bournemouth Borough Council adopted Choice Based Lettings (CBL) in 2008, changing from the previous system in which the Council offered vacant properties to applicants based on their points assessment as a means of letting Social Housing (Council and Registered Social Landlord owned housing)45.
Under Choice Based Lettings the speed with which an applicant is housed will depend on how long they have been on the register as well as their level of housing need. Once an application is received it is assessed according to the allocations policy and placed into a Priority Band.
At the heart of Choice Based Lettings is the bidding process. Applicants are able to express an interest in advertised vacant properties by putting in a bid (rather than the Council matching applicants to vacant properties).
Available properties are advertised at agreed intervals and the adverts give information about each individual property. Applicants will only be able to bid for properties appropriate to their needs in terms of type and size (so, if you are a single person for example your bid would not be accepted for a 2 bedroomed house — only for bedsits and one bedroomed flats).
People accepted onto the Housing Register can take part and bid for homes that they are eligible for on Dorset Home Choice46.
The properties advertised belong to either partner local authorities or to Registered Providers of social housing who are our partners. Properties will be advertised on a weekly basis.
45 Housing Register & Allocations Policy Bournemouth Borough Council Housing Solutions Team April 2008 46 http://www.dorsethomechoice.org/dorset-homechoice/home.aspx
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Tenants in rent trouble For those in financial troubles, maintaining a tenancy may well present a major challenge. Of course the impact of failing to pay rent and being evicted will be significant on the tenants. The following chart gives a sense of the scale of Bournemouth Borough Council tenants with rent arrears.
There are 1256 council tenants in the West Howe area and 5176 overall. Based on the figures above we note that in 2011/12: • 4.7% of West Howe tenants were served notices for non payment of rent compared with 4.8% across all areas; and • 4.8% of West Howe tenants had arrears over £500 compared with 3.7% across all areas.
Saving (money on) fuel Data from the Dorset Energy Advice Centre (DEAC) suggests that, in the West Howe area, there are: ● 250-300 houses that need insulation to their walls: and ● 400+ needing loft insulation top ups.
DEAC are encouraging residents to contact them to have these works undertaken, as soon as possible, and while it is still free. Homes and businesses across the UK waste approximately £3 billion of energy every year47.
The Green Deal seeks to tackle this with high quality, government accredited energy efficiency installations designed to ensure British families and businesses pay no more than necessary to keep warm.
47 http://www.green-deal-guide.co.uk/ accessed 08 May 2012
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The Green Deal proposals will benefit millions of homeowners and tenants across the UK, providing long term savings and warmer, more energy efficient homes under a repayment plan everyone can afford.
Customers who are eligible for services to their property under the Green Deal plan are guaranteed quality-assured work from accredited, trusted providers for no upfront charge, and they will have a unique opportunity to pay for this work directly from the savings they make from their utility bill.
The West Howe Regeneration Partnership may wish to work with DEAC and others to improve the uptake of any other future grants or schemes such as Green Deal to then help upgrade heating and install renewable energy sources in homes in West Howe.
Tenants working together to improve their neighbourhood BBC Housing Landlord Services provides a number of opportunities through which tenants can become more involved in housing decisions which impact on them.
Neighbourhood inspections provide an opportunity for a range of people including tenants to come together during the day to walk a neighbourhood and identify issues to be addressed.
Tenants are also encouraged to engage with scrutiny of Housing Landlord services through participation in Standard Groups covering all areas of the Housing Service work: ● Environmental Improvements Standard Group ● Equality Diversity Panel ● Home News & Communications Panel ● Home Standard Group ● Leaseholders Panel ● Neighbourhood & Communities Standard Group ● Senior Living Standard Group ● Tenancy Standard Group ● Tenants Involvement & Empowerment Standard Group ● Value for Money Standard Group
We note the tenant involvement activities being undertaken by Housing Landlord Services.
Given the high proportion of West Howe housing that is council owned, we suggest that HLS are very well placed to encourage area based initiatives; neighbourhood plans, individual travel plans, training and skills development opportunities and area based resident scrutiny are developments we suggest the West Howe Regeneration Partnership might consider as part of action plans.
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Planning developments impacting on West Howe The Bournemouth Plan48 notes a number of opportunities for the Kinson area. Improving green linkages with other parts of Bournemouth and the Stour Valley are suggested. Land has been reserved for a Kinson relief road and road management measures to prioritise public transport, reduce congestion and make improvements to cycling infrastructure are cited.
The plan notes that a new supermarket has the potential to rejuventate the centre (of Kinson) and improve the appearance of the area. Whilst there is limited potential in the Kinson area for residential development due to heathlands restrictions, this is noted as a key location for community uses.
Planning applications in the West Howe area A recent review of current planning applications granted for housing in the West Howe area showed there to be no current permissions for housing within the four LSOAs. There are 4 applications for new dwellings within Kinson South but these are all outside the Strategic assessment area49.
In summary This section highlights key features of housing in West Howe. The housing stock in West Howe is predominantly Council built properties. Many of these have been bought by tenants under the right to buy scheme.
There are much lower levels of owner occupied households in West Howe than the Borough, Regional and National averages; just under 40% of households in West Howe are owner occupied (owned outright or with a mortgage) compared with 68% for Bournemouth as a whole, 72% regionally and 68% nationally.
There are very high percentages of accommodation rented from the Local Authority in West Howe ( 43%) compared with the borough (7%), Regional (8%) and National averages (13%).
Across the West Howe area there is less under occupancy (Census measure) than the Borough, Regional and National averages. Conversely there is more overcrowding by this measure in West Howe compared with Borough, Regional and National averages.
Almost two thirds of the West Howe tenants awaiting a transfer to bigger accommodation are waiting to move from a 2 bedroom unit to one with 3 bedrooms. Of these 69 tenants, 51 (74%) have been waiting for 3 or more years.
Data from the Dorset Energy Advice Centre (DEAC) suggests that, in the West Howe area, there are 250- 300 houses that need insulation to their walls: and 400+ needing loft insulation top ups.
These housing issues are drivers of the five priorities detailed in Part II and in particular ‘proud of our place’ and ‘the living and built environment and transport’.
48 Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Document, Bournemouth Borough Council June 2010 49 Bournemouth Borough Council, Planning and Transport 03 May 2012
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Appendix 1: Commentary on root causes and priorities
Introduction The Strategic Assessment report has been written to engage as wide an audience as possible and to highlight local assets alongside needs. The report details five key priorities to be addressed in West Howe. These were identified through our analysis and are expressions of the root causes of overall deprivation in West Howe; these key priorities have been well received by the wider Regeneration Partnership (workshop of 27th June) and set out key areas that need to be addressed.
In this short appendix we highlight the breadth of root causes which are embedded in the five priorities. The message is clear: if the five priority areas are not addressed effectively and as a matter of some urgency, then we anticipate the issues listed below to get worse for the population of West Howe.
Here we present the five key priorities and highlight issues (the root causes) that drive these priorities.
Roles and role models A wide range of the issues facing West Howe are symptomatic of poor learnt behaviours from parents and peers. Manifestations of this root cause include: • High teenage pregnancy • Poor educational attainment likely reflecting low value placed on education • Low employment related skills levels • High levels of Domestic violence related crime • Low tolerance of others (outsiders) • High levels of criminality.
Skills for life Many poor outcomes for West Howe residents have roots in low levels of social and health literacy skills e.g. • Low educational attainment • Widespread reported drug and alcohol misuse • Poor nutrition and low levels of exercise • Poor health outcomes and access to Primary Care facilities • Low literacy and numeracy, and financial / budget management skills.
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Maximising and managing incomes Low income and benefits dependency are knock on effects of a low skills base and poor financial literacy. Indeed many residents are trapped in a poor income cycle. Key manifestations of this include: • Reliance on benefits • Prey to door step lenders • Financial barriers to retraining and taking up employment • Low skilled employment • Long term unemployment – worklessness – and youth unemployment. We note the potential for developing an estate based economy – nurturing local interests to develop enterprises to serve the estate and to grow these to offer services further afield as relevant. Also noted is the importance of ensuring training and return to work programmes are tailored to the needs of West Howe residents and delivered to maximise resident participation • Indebtedness > poor finance / budgeting skills • Concerns over the impact of welfare changes.
Proud of our place Whilst there are many reports of a strong sense of community within West Howe there are indications of the need for developing further community cohesion and social capital. Key issues that reflect a lack of such include: • Various antisocial behaviour • The estate has a poor reputation amongst non residents • Intolerance of new comers and some reports of racial intolerance • Low levels of satisfaction amongst new comers (often in private sector rented accommodation) • Population ‘churn’. By this we refer to reported potential patterns in which aspirant newcomers take opportunities to better themselves and then leave the estate, whilst elements of the established residents miss such opportunities. • A sense of an isolated community with the perception that very few non residents visit the estate • The extent and relative integration of the Gypsy (or Irish Traveller) community – this could be a great asset for the area and should be a source of celebration. The 2011 Census may reveal the extent of Gypsy (or Irish Traveller) heritage in the estate and introduce requirements on service providers as Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are legally recognised as ethnic groups, and as such protected from discrimination by the Race Relations Act (1976, amended 2000) and the Human Rights Act (1998). In terms of health and education, these are one of the most deprived groups in the Britain.
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The built and living environments Indicated overcrowding combined with a shortage of communal built space and residents perceptions of (poor) access to open space suggest the need to review the built and natural landscapes and in particular the interaction between the two. Key issues that might benefit from better use of landscapes include: • Antisocial behaviour • Perceptions of safety • Physical activity levels • Sense of belonging and community well being.
During the Strategic Assessment work we have identified a wide range of potential interventions to address the above key priorities. We present an approach to underpin the West Howe Regeneration Partnership as it begins to address these challenges – P3: Priorities, Principle and Performance Measures. The P3 approach provides a pragmatic framework which will assist the Partnership in general and reduce overall or generic risks that might be encountered in such partnership work. As the West Howe Regeneration Partnership begins to develop it’s action plan, risks to specific outcomes will need to be considered. These are clearly specific to the particular initiative being progressed and cannot be anticipated at this time.