Community Cohesion Strategy

Introduction - Barking and Dagenham today

Barking and Dagenham is located at the heart of the Thames Gateway, approximately 11 miles from central London.

The most recent figures indicate a population of some 170,000. The borough is one of the fastest-growing in the country. By 2020 the population is likely to have increased to 205,000.

The Thames Gateway, social and physical regeneration in the south of the borough will bring increased demand for services, together with great opportunities. The borough has a higher proportion of older people than the London average, 19% are over the age of 60 and relatively few in the 15-60 age-group.

An important recent change has been the rapid rise to 25% in the proportion of black and minority ethnic residents, an increase of some 15% since 2001.

Historically, there has been a stable white, working-class population in many parts of the borough, although in areas of Barking there has been significant ethnic diversity for well over a decade. Increasing diversity offers considerable opportunities, but the pace of change poses a number of real challenges for community cohesion.

The borough has low levels of income and high rates of social exclusion, with high levels of teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, health inequalities and young people not in education, employment or training. We are tackling these through strong and inclusive partnership working, successful bidding for investment, and capacity-building for our community.

The percentage of residents with no qualifications is the highest in London and the percentage with degree level qualifications is the lowest. Levels of adult basic skills are also very low, but are improving. As a result of long-term development, primary and secondary pupils achieve test and examination results close to the national average on many measures.

This offers great hope for the future as the council and its partners support residents to capitalise on an untapped reservoir of talent, and a willingness to explore new possibilities.

In terms of health inequalities, Barking and Dagenham is in many ways unlike most other London boroughs. Its industrial past and socioeconomic make-up make it more akin to many northern areas on the outskirts of industrial cities, and the health indicators for the population are consistently challenging in the following areas:

Lower life expectancy for men and women than the England and London average, and higher mortality rates from circulatory diseases and all cancers
Higher rates of self-reported limiting long term illness than the England and London average
Lifestyle issues related to those conditions- particularly obesity and smoking
A higher Mental Illness Needs Index than the England average
A very high HIV prevalence rate compared to the England and London average

This high level of ill health reflects the level of deprivation in the borough, which ranks 42nd out of 345 local authorities in England on deprivation scores used by Communities and Local Government.

Nationally, hate crime (including race hate crime) is hugely under reported. According to Police, as much as 90% of all hate crimes go unreported. Reported hate crime in Barking and Dagenham currently reflects this trend with only 383 hate incidents reported to the Police in the financial year 2006-2007.

However the Barking and Dagenham Partnership is investing strongly in supporting the community and mechanisms are being put in place to strengthen the reporting of hate crime, ensuring a coordinated response and efficient services for victims once they report an incident.

The voluntary and community sector in Barking and Dagenham, and particularly a small number of comparatively large, well-established and skilled organisations, is playing an increasing role in service delivery in partnership with the statutory services.

The challenge now is to develop the strategic capacity and skills of a range of much smaller organisations, building on their expertise in meeting the needs of very closely defined communities, and enabling them to support increased cohesion by working with and bringing together a wider range of groups within the community.

Over the next 15-20 years we will build new sustainable and cohesive communities on some of the largest development sites in the country, creating 25,000 new homes. These homes will be built to a high quality design with a range of housing tenures, supported by new transport links and the necessary social infrastructure of shops and schools.

The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will bring considerable opportunities to the borough, and will be a catalyst for new businesses and sporting opportunities. Through our external public and private partnerships we will secure £1.2 billion of investment to transform Barking Town Centre, providing employment and business opportunities as well as modern housing.

The significant regeneration schemes associated with Thames Gateway and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative will rejuvenate the borough, sweeping away many of the negative images of the past, providing enhanced job opportunities and building local pride.

Community Cohesion Strategy

Introduction - Barking and Dagenham today

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