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Section 3 Issues and concerns in research and consultation

Using research to promote participation and build capacity – Southside Housing Association

Southside Housing Association (SHA) has just over 500 properties in the south side of Glasgow including many in the neighbourhood of East Pollokshields which has the largest black and minority ethnic population in Scotland. Over 30% of the association’s tenants are from black and minority ethnic communities. East Pollokshields as an area has significant evidence of social and economic deprivation. It has no special area status and it sits between two large Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) that do attract additional investment.

Staff at SHA were frustrated at the lack of investment and the lack of services and amenities in the area despite evidence of pressing need. This was shared by other professionals working in the area. However, the local population lacked a cohesive community voice.

The response

Working together with social work staff from a local project, staff decided to carry out a Community Profile to raise awareness of the reality of life in East Pollokshields, develop a list of aspirations from the community of the types of changes they would like to see and develop a cohesive and effective community voice. The original thinking was that this would be a quantitative piece of work that would provide the kind of evidence of need produced by the SIPs. What happened in practice is a good example of using research to promote participation and build capacity.

During the process of community consultation the nature of the assignment changed. A group of 15-20 residents and agency representatives came together to oversee the process. The group revised the original brief so that the Profile would be more appreciative and focus on the positives of the neighbourhood as well as the negatives.

A small steering group of residents was formed to interview prospective consultants to undertake the work, with support from the SHA Community Development Officer. Consultants were appointed whose approach focussed on a mixture of desk based research, community consultation events, focus groups and agency interviews.

The first stage of the work was a desk based analysis of existing data sources which provided a detailed socio-economic profile of the neighbourhood. This was followed by two consultation sessions with the community. Interviews were also conducted with all statutory and voluntary sector organisations working in the area and a number of focus groups held to explore key issues such as housing, the environment, older people and youth issues.

This work was written up in a report which was considered over a number of sessions by the larger group of residents and agency representatives. In addition the consultants worked with this group to consider community structures, future roles and direction. A final report incorporating priorities for action into a formal action plan was presented to a public meeting involving the local authority and other agencies and posted to every household in the area.

This process is still ongoing. However, there have been a number of improvements in joint working between agencies in the area and better relationships with funders. There is now a new community representative structure that is gaining in confidence and credibility and an action plan that reflects community aspirations. A number of the action points have been implemented including a new CCTV scheme to meet community safety concerns.

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