By Clive Tritton
SHOCKED is a word I’ve seen more than any over the past few days.
And whilst I agree the scenes of looting and people intent on destroying their own communities are shocking and disturbing, these actions really don’t come as a surprise. We all know there’s a small minority of people out there who are so detached from their communities that they have no regard whatsoever for the impact of their actions. Normally, this manifests itself in nothing more than petty crime and we can tut and move on. Now though, these individuals have raised the stakes.
The questions being posed in many arenas is whether the week’s events are only the beginning given the cuts in public funds for projects geared towards bringing the disengaged back into society. Similarly, many of the people interviewed in recent days have talked of blaming the parents. The point they’re missing is that, in the most deprived parts of London, many families have been excluded for generations.
That is why the work of organisations at the heart of our communities is so important. I am reminded of an impressive young man who came to talk to a group of professionals about his experiences with a social enterprise that Renaisi works with. Having been in trouble for most of his life and part of a local gang, he was persuaded to take up an offer of training in a social enterprise restaurant. As a result he obtained a job at the Savoy. His presentation was impressive to say the least. When someone asked what his friends thought of his new job at a fancy hotel he went very quiet before saying, ‘they’re not really my friends any more’. I suspect he hasn’t been rioting over the last few days – I can’t speak for his former friends.
Of course it’s not all been doom and gloom. From the now iconic image of Hackney resident Pauline Pearce publicly standing up to and condemning the actions of hooligans, to the rise of ‘Riot Wombles’ determined to help with the cleanup and the numerous fundraising campaigns set up by every day people, there’s a sense of community spirit across London that can only be applauded.
So what will come from all of this?
With Eric Pickles’ announcement today that £20million will be made available to help get businesses back on their feet again and a further pledge of £50milliion from Boris to make long term improvements to London’s town centres and high streets, it is encouraging to see the suggestion communities will be supported to re-build themselves from within. (See my colleague, John Hitchin’s thoughts on the advantages of this approach at the end of his blog here).
The concept of communities coming up with their own solutions for how to improve their neighbourhoods rather than having it done to them is one we are currently applying through the National Lottery’s Big Local programme. It will see £1million invested in 150 local areas throughout the UK in the next ten years and local people will be at the forefront of the process when deciding how the money will be invested. More on Big Local here.
Finally I’d like to end with a statement posted on Facebook yesterday by Karen Homer, a resident living in south Islington where Renaisi managed the 10-year EC1 New Deal for Communities programme:
“Just heard youths in Manchester saying they are hard done by as they can’t get a job etc. Well nor could i for years! I got off my arse though and done a course and passed 5 exams and got a diploma and I became a volunteer which I love and still do and I now have a job that I also love.”
