5A: Engagement
There are wide variations in levels of engagement in local communities (local and national election turnout, development and support for community groups.) A: local communities vary in attitudes.
People who live in areas in need of regeneration known they live in deprived, run-down areas, but may not be in a position to do much about it. The most common way to measure engagement is to consider election turnout (the percentage of people who have a right to vote in an election that actually do vote).
In the 2015 UK general election 66.1% of voters who could vote, did. There were large variations in the turnout:
In local elections, to elect local councillors who run councils on a day-to-day basis, turnout is much lower, only 36% in the UK 2014 local elections.
The factors that can explain variation in political engagement include:
This is important because the very communities that need regeneration the most are often the least engaged in the political processes that influence regeneration.
Support for Local Community Groups
Regeneration relies on community participation in all stages. There are about 9000 grant organisations - including the Government, the National Lottery, supermarket chains and charities - and they may be able to help with basic administration and running costs. Examples on the Cabinet Office website. Charitable status can help fundraising. The internet has made information and support for these groups more accessible.
The voluntery sector has been effective in youth mentoring schemes. addiction treatment centres and welfare-to-work organisations.
People who live in areas in need of regeneration known they live in deprived, run-down areas, but may not be in a position to do much about it. The most common way to measure engagement is to consider election turnout (the percentage of people who have a right to vote in an election that actually do vote).
In the 2015 UK general election 66.1% of voters who could vote, did. There were large variations in the turnout:
- 78% of people aged over 65 voted, compared to only 43% of people aged 18-24.
- Locally, turnout ranged from 51% in Stoke on Trent Central to 82% in East Dunbartonshire in Scotland.
- Turnout is the lowest in deprived inner cities and higher in wealthy suburbs and commuter belt rural areas.
- The proportion of men and women who chose to vote was very similar.
- Professional and managerial turnout was 75%, whereas among manual workers it was only 57%.
- Only 55% of ethnic minorities groups chose to vote.
In local elections, to elect local councillors who run councils on a day-to-day basis, turnout is much lower, only 36% in the UK 2014 local elections.
The factors that can explain variation in political engagement include:
- Language barriers, especially among recently arrived immigrants
- Lack of trust in politicians, strongest among the young and some ethnic minority groups
- Feeling that one has no influence, strongest among minorities
- Lack of belonging to a community giving a feeling of isolation.
This is important because the very communities that need regeneration the most are often the least engaged in the political processes that influence regeneration.
Support for Local Community Groups
- This varies across the country, depending upon local willingness and the group's aim
- Range from committees running local allotments, open spaces and nature reserves to village shops and more powerful and vociferous 'NIMBY' (not in my back yard) groups protesting over planned developments such as new housing, fracking and wind farms.
- Or fundraising and helping more vulnerable people in the local community (meals on wheels, transport to hospitals and friendship groups)
- Residents in an estate may form a group, and can be effective in reducing antisocial behaviour.
Regeneration relies on community participation in all stages. There are about 9000 grant organisations - including the Government, the National Lottery, supermarket chains and charities - and they may be able to help with basic administration and running costs. Examples on the Cabinet Office website. Charitable status can help fundraising. The internet has made information and support for these groups more accessible.
The voluntery sector has been effective in youth mentoring schemes. addiction treatment centres and welfare-to-work organisations.
