Area Profile Our Vision: To support a diverse and thriving Aberfeldy community where people look after each other and feel safe. To facilitate increased and varied employment, health and leisure opportunities for all.
Introduction Aberfeldy Big Local Area Proposed Redevelopment How it will look Aberfeldy in the East India and Lansbury ward, lies in the Poplar area of Tower Hamlets. Aberfeldy is bordered to the west by the Blackwall Tunnel, to the south by the busy East India Dock Road, and to the north-east by the Bow Creek River. The area is home to around 4,000 people, 30% of these residents are under 16. There are more than 1,000 homes in the area. Many of these homes are council owned, low rise blocks. There is a 250m regeneration commenced its first of six phases. Planning permission was granted midway through 2012. The scheme plans for the demolition of 297 existing homes and building of 1176 new homes, this equates an increase of 879 homes. Population in the estate is estimated to double in the next ten years. Artist s impression!
What is already available in the area: Aberfeldy Neighbourhood Centre Culloden Bangladeshi Parent s Association Poplar Bangladeshi Community Project Milestone Community Organisation St Nicholas Church Aberfeldy Mosque Aberfeldy Children s centre Culloden Primary School Local shops including take away and convenient shops The Community Advise Shop Aberfeldy Practice (GP) The Aberfeldy Well London Lottery programme, which has funded 14 resident led projects to encourage local volunteering. Big local promotional activities have included: Aberfeldy Fate September Logo Competition Aberfeldy Neighbourhood Centre Visioning Day St Nicholas Church Visioning Day Young people s BBQ Culloden School Council meeting Primary and secondary school assemblies Consultations outside school Mosque Drop in sessions Numerous house meetings. Continuous door knocking. 1-2-1s with residents to build relationship Big Local BBQ Residents at Big Local Visioning day looking at Aberfeldy Village plan Big Local consultation outside the school Winning logo by Humaira from Culloden Primary School. All logo competition entries
How the community currently looks: Demographic: Aberfeldy on average hosts 2.81 residents per households, this equates to approximately 4,000 residents. This is estimated to double over the next 10 years. 2011 census showed habitation by young people aged 0-15 is 31.4% compared to the borough average of 20%. 27.50% 31.20% 44.90% 8.80% 4.00% 14.00% 11.70% 4.10% 7.30% 14.90% 8.80% 11.40% 5.00% 13.30% 39.20% 32.00% 19.20% 2.70% East India & Lansbury LBTH London White British White Other Mixed Black All other Bangladeshi Deprivation: Percentage of young children living in income deprived families was ranked the highest out of 17 wards, with an average of 66%. The borough average on this measure was 59% (the highest local authority figure in England) and the London average for the percentage of children living in income deprived households was 32%. What residents like about the area: A diverse community, everyone knows everyone and we look after each other Clean and quiet Friendly people, I feel safe walking around the estate Sense of community It is quiet, not much trouble where I live I love living here, have been living on the estate for more than three decades
Important organisations to residents: Culloden Primary School Dee St London E14 0PT Aberfeldy Community Centre Aberfeldy St London E14 0NU Aberfeldy Practice (GP) 2A Ettrick St London E14 0PU Aberfeldy Mosque and Cultural Centre 36-38 Aberfeldy Street Poplar London E14 0NU St Nicholas Church Aberfeldy St London E14 0QD
28.57% 38.78% 42.86% 57.14% 38.57% 10.20% 56.45% 18.37% 18.37% 8.16% 10.20% 6.12% 2.04% What would make Aberfeldy a better place to Live? Response from over 750 residents 60.00% Bringing people together, community cohesion 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% Making the area safer for people to live in, reducing the fear of crime Supporting local people into employment Having activities to do and places to go for children and young people Making Aberfeldy a healthier living area Supporting small businesses and start-ups 20.00% Improving public spaces such as streets and parks/play areas Doing things together more to improve the area 10.00% Improving facilities for older and vulnerable people Valuing difference and treating people with respect 0.00% 1
The five Big Priorities for Aberfeldy residents Activities for Children and young people: Proportionally Aberfeldy resides the most amount of young people in the borough at 30% aged 15 and under. A growing concern in Aberfeldy amongst the residents is young people s welfare; there are very few activities to engage younger children (under 13). Over 57% of people consulted expressed needs for more young people s activities. Improving public spaces such as streets play/park area Suggestions for improving play/park areas were also to benefit young people. Overall, residents were satisfied with amount of green spaces on the estate but dissent was on the usefulness of those spaces. Parks and play areas are not appealing to young people; there are not many activities or playing equipment. Employment Employment was also a concern for a lot of people, especially considering the welfare reform being effective from the 1 st of April 2014. Residents would like help to get into employment, while some would like entrepreneurial opportunities to set up businesses and social enterprises that develop local employment. Making Aberfeldy safer The things that people did not like in the area are ASB; kids hanging around on the estate in groups which are sometimes referred to as gangs. People are also concerned with drugs misuse and drug dealing on the estate. Although the reported cases of ASB, theft, vandalism and drug dealing have decreased is not reflective of the concerns expressed by the residents, according to them crime is going unreported. Also there is a history of conflict between young people of this estate and at least one other nearby estate, which has a big impact on the lives of young people and their families, although it is relatively quiet at the moment. Making Aberfeldy a healthier living area According to the Health deprivation hotspots - -Indices of Deprivation 2010 there are 1372 people in Aberfeldy fall within health deprived Hotspot, this accounts for 38% of Aberfeldy residents. Nearly 39% of residents were concerned about health related issues including mental health. Residens would like to see more done to tackle health inequality.
Below is Poplar survey on activities people would like to see run from the community centre or more information about. (% based on PH total respondents -2658) (Aberfeldy 311respondents) Type of Service Aberfeldy % Aberfeldy Total % Poplar HARCA Advice (housing, legal and welfare benefits) 161 52% 1363 51% Mental health groups 113 36% 320 12% After school clubs and summer schemes 104 33% 926 35% Youth activities 94 30% 811 31% Community Café 89 29% 519 20% The Story so far... Aberfeldy Big Local is the final wave of 150m investment made by the Big Lottery across the country. As the other 149 areas Aberfeldy has been allocated 1m for the community to make a lasting positive difference for the defined Big Local area. Big Local is focused on communities identifying needs and responding to them and making the area better, without having to rely on government or national organisations. It is a long term plan to provide more opportunities to allow the community to work together to tackle local social issues and make a positive difference in the area. An informal steering group has been formed, which mostly made up of residents and representatives from local organisations. Poplar HARCA (RSL) has been nominated by the steering group as the locally trusted organisation to hold the money on behalf of the residents.
Quick wins Some of the Pathways funding will soon be accessed to deliver some quick wins projects which will show how Big Local can make impact in the area. Projects and events were agreed by the steering group based on consultation with residents. The decisions were based on what can be done immediately to raise the profile of Big Local and increase community engagement in the process. Project Festival Football Men's exercise Yoga Sewing project BL worker Quick wins Description 7th June Developing two local football teams Weekly exercise classes and health promotion For women Continuation of existing project which is well attended 1 day week for 6 months What happens next? The next step of the Big Local pathway to make the Steering Group into a formal Local Partnership made up mostly of residents, and put together a Big Local Plan. Developing the Big Local Partnership Board: Keen and enthusiastic members of the community currently make up the Steering Group. Residents and partners will formally express their interest to be part of the Partnership board, residents populating minimum of 51% of the board and rest by other partners. Current partners are representatives of local organisations: Poplar HARCA Aberfeldy Mosque and Cultural Centre St Nicholas Church Culloden Primary School Milestone Community Organisation London Borough of Tower Hamlets Public Health
For more information on Aberfeldy Big Local, or to get involved in making Aberfeldy a better place to live; please contact: Shah Rahman Shah@milestonelondon.co.uk 079 4485 7681 Let s make it happen!