Govanhill Partnership Action Plan: a Local Outcome Agreement for Govanhill
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Govanhill Partnership Action Plan: A Local Outcome Agreement for Govanhill Final Draft June 2015 1. About this Action Plan A positive future for Govanhill Govanhill is an area with many opportunities and assets – but with many challenges and problems too. Govanhill Partnership is a group of public and voluntary organisations working in Govanhill. The Partnership will seek to work with communities to build a strong and resilient neighbourhood, which is an excellent place to live and work. There are many different things that need to happen to build a strong Govanhill for the future. There is a great deal of good work already going on in the area. But some of the issues Govanhill faces are too complex for one organisation or group to tackle alone. By working better together, we can share our expertise, resources and skills, and create the momentum for real change to happen in the area. The role of Govanhill Partnership This Action Plan sets out the three main areas of work that the Govanhill Partnership will work on collectively. This is in addition to the wide range of work that partners are already working on (some of which is captured in plans for People; Place and the Economy). The draft Action Plan is deliberately short, sharp and focused. We wish to focus the partnership’s work on three themes which are important to Govanhill and where effective progress will be made only by all partners working together with the community – over the short, medium and long term. The status of this Action Plan This Action Plan is currently in final draft form. We want to use this draft as the start of a process of developing the Action Plan through co-production, by working jointly as partners and with local communities. We want to make sure that this is an Action Plan that everyone with an interest in Govanhill will work towards achieving. Partners should be ready to change the way they work – and the way that they work with others - to make sure that good outcomes are achieved for the people of Govanhill. 1 2. About Govanhill Govanhill has many assets There are many aspects of Govanhill which make it a unique and positive place to live. It is a clearly identifiable neighbourhood, with its own sense of community and heritage. It has many active and connected community and voluntary groups in the area, and a strong community spirit. It is one of Scotland’s most ethnically diverse communities. And there are lots of agencies working in the area, providing a wide range of services – with a clear recognition that Govanhill is a neighbourhood which is quite different from other Glasgow neighbourhoods, and needs a different approach1. Public and voluntary organisations in the area are already working well together – and are committed to doing more. Govanhill Partnership (previously Govanhill Neighbourhood Management Group) was set up in 2008, and is in a strong position to foster collaborative partnership working around key priority areas. The Govanhill Hub was established in 2010 and is a major contributor to Partnership working in the area2. Govanhill has many challenges While Govanhill has many strengths – and real potential to be a thriving and exciting neighbourhood – it also has many challenges. People living in Govanhill have expressed a wide range of issues they experience in their everyday life. And some people living in Govanhill are so vulnerable and excluded that their experiences aren’t heard and understood. Just some of the key challenges experienced in Govanhill are outlined below. Challenges – housing and the physical environment Some of the main challenges in Govanhill relate to the housing system. Govanhill has a high proportion of private rented properties provided at low cost – which attracts many people to the area, particularly people coming to Glasgow or Scotland for the first time. There is a particularly high concentration of private renting within 13 blocks in the south west of Govanhill. This high concentration of private rented properties creates challenges across the area: 1 Govanhill’s Neighbourhood Audit (ODS, 2013) found that all partner organisations working in Govanhill gave it a priority, compared to the rest of Glasgow – particularly due to its uniqueness and diverse community; the size and poor condition of the private rented sector; the complexity of the problems facing the area; language support needs; and the high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. 2 Evaluation report from the Govanhill Equally Well Test Site (Glasgow Centre for Population Health, 2012) found that “the Hub represents the very embodiment of service redesign and partnership working as described in Equally Well.” 2 High turnover - While many people stay in Govanhill long term, some settle in Govanhill as a first base, and move on to other areas. This means that there is a turnover of different families and communities with a temporary connection with the area. Some residents are also mobile within the area. Private landlords – There are over 2,600 private landlords in Govanhill. A significant number are not looking after their properties through routine maintenance and repair; and there are further concerns that some landlords are exploiting vulnerable people and breaching their rights. This is an area which is hard to regulate and take action on, within current powers. Overcrowding – In many cases, large, extended or multiple families are living in private rented housing. This leads to difficult living conditions for many and issues with relations between neighbours and perceptions of antisocial behaviour – in an already densely populated area. Segregation – It is believed that there could be around 3,500 Roma people living in the 13 blocks with particularly high private renting levels – and in other parts of Govanhill. This creates issues around segregation and clear distinctions between the quality of life in this particular area, and other areas of Govanhill. Challenges – language, literacy and employment Govanhill is an extremely ethnically diverse neighbourhood, and is historically a first point of settlement for many who are new to Glasgow or Scotland. Approximately 40 per cent of Govanhill’s community is made up of minority ethnic people3. Pupils at schools in Govanhill have 57 different home languages – and in one primary school, English is the home language of just 4 per cent of pupils. This presents clear challenges in meeting the education needs of pupils. Adults also face barriers to accessing services and support; community participation and employment due to language and literacy issues. Many individuals lack the basic literacy levels to engage effectively. Unemployment levels in Govanhill are slightly higher than across the city. However, unemployed people living in Govanhill are more likely to have qualifications than those in other parts of Glasgow. Clearly people in Govanhill are facing other barriers to employment – one of which is often language and literacy issues. Language barriers can mean that people are more vulnerable, and more likely to take on jobs where they are exploited and poorly treated. They are also less likely to access and utilise a range of basic public services and provision. Language barriers can also stop people making use of the skills they have. However, people in Govanhill speak a wide range of languages – and there will be opportunities for people to use these language skills in employment. 3 Govanhill Neighbourhood Audit, ODS Consulting, 2013 3 Challenges – children and families Govanhill is a youthful population – and is becoming more so. There are many young children and families living in the area, however data from 20094 demonstrates that at least 31 per cent of children in Govanhill are living in poverty, compared to a Glasgow average of 34 per cent and a Scottish average of 19 per cent. This is calculated based on children living in families in receipt of certain benefits, however many new migrants (particularly Roma communities) may not be in receipt of these benefits, and so won’t be counted within these figures. Given the large scale of recent migration from Eastern Europe, and the variable access and uptake of benefits among these communities, it is likely that in 2014 the proportion of children living in poverty in Govanhill is considerably higher than the reported Glasgow figure. Research exploring experiences of Roma people in Govanhill found that Roma children faced particular issues – including low attendance at school; poor educational attainment; issues around integration at school; literacy issues; and low take up of school meals. High levels of poverty, poor health and overcrowding were also noted. There is evidence of improvement, but these issues still give cause for concern. “We had to do a coat drive because pupils were coming to school without coats and appropriate shoes.” (Local primary school) Challenges – promoting a positive image Govanhill is an interesting, unique and diverse area. But much of what is written and said about Govanhill focuses on its problems – and ‘good news’ stories can be accused of glossing over the significant underlying problems in the area. One reason that there has been a focus on the problems is that this is often the way that an area gets attention and funding. But there are many positive and successful initiatives and activities in Govanhill, which can be lost under the negative publicity for the area. The need for positive high profile stories about the area has been highlighted as a key priority. 4 Govanhill Neighbourhood Audit, ODS Consulting, 2013 4 3. Partnership Priority Outcomes About these priority outcomes This Action Plan focuses on a small number of priority outcomes which can be achieved through partners in Govanhill working jointly together. The Plan recognises that there are many other valuable activities ongoing in Govanhill – and does not attempt to draw all of the existing activities, initiatives and programmes together in this document.