As part of the Supporting London Boroughs Engagement Project, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and delivered in partnership with London Councils, we’re shining a spotlight on Hackney, Haringey, and Hounslow councils. These boroughs have implemented exciting initiatives to enhance community engagement and build resilience in response to local challenges.
Hackney Council: Improving equality of access to job opportunities across Hackney
Hackney Council has focused on addressing disparities in access to job opportunities, Their project was born out of a survey finding that residents from certain backgrounds in the borough did not agree that access to job opportunities were available equally in the borough. A resident interviewed as part of Hackney’s research commented:
“There’s a lot until you're 25 but then what?
I still need help and don’t know where to go”.
Recognising this decline in residents' confidence that job opportunities were equally accessible, Hackney utilised their grant to deepen their understanding of this issue through innovative research and community engagement.
Using participatory and ethnographic research methods the council gathered insights from residents to complement existing data, exploring how some residents felt disconnected from available employment resources and opportunities. In response, the Council is developing a strategy to provide targeted employment support to these underrepresented groups, based on their findings. The methodologies they used, involving residents in shaping council priorities, are now being scaled across different service areas.
By adopting this participatory approach, LB Hackney has developed trust and relationships with new members of the community, setting a new standard for inclusive community involvement. The council's approach highlights the importance of combining data-driven insights with direct community engagement to address systemic issues effectively.
Haringey Council: Haringey Community Researchers
For this project, Haringey Council recruited a diverse group of residents from seldom heard communities to understand their experiences during the cost of living crisis, including access to information and support. The residents were recruited and trained to carry out interviews within their communities, as well as shaping the direction of the research alongside council staff.
Working with community researchers in this way was a first for the council, and over the course of the project the council staff and community researchers built genuinely meaningful relationships, based on trust. Some of these relationships have sustained beyond the span of the project.
As a result of this project, the council has identified valuable insights that could only have been obtainable through the unique expertise of their community researchers. They have also built a new network of community researchers to work with in the future, and developed new internal processes (e.g. reimbursement procedures) that strengthen its capacity to work in effective partnership with residents.
The ongoing impact of this project, and the network of community researchers LB Haringey helped to create, was experienced by Neighbourly Lab during our participation in London Data Week earlier this summer. LB Haringey were able to draw on relationships developed during their project to quickly connect us with a group of talented community researchers, who supported our research exploring life on Green Lanes high street.
Hounslow Council: Strengthening Communities Through Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
Hounslow Council concentrated its efforts on enhancing the health and wellbeing of its residents by partnering with the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD) to launch a pioneering advice drop-in service for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing residents
The initiative provided a vital resource, offering accessible support and guidance tailored to the unique needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and community, the council ensured that residents had the tools, information, and resources necessary to thrive.
Through this initiative, the council successfully supported 32 different residents within just five months of the project's launch through weekly meetings (with some attending multiple drop-ins). Across the course of the project, they reached their highest level of engagement with residents from this community in Hounslow which reflects the significant impact it has already had.
Hackney, Haringey, and Hounslow have each demonstrated the power of innovative community engagement. By focusing on inclusivity, participatory processes, and resident empowerment, these councils have not only addressed immediate challenges but have also laid the groundwork for long-lasting community resilience. Their work within the Supporting London Boroughs Engagement Project offers valuable lessons for councils across London and beyond.
Through their efforts, Hackney, Haringey, and Hounslow are setting new benchmarks in public service, proving that when communities are genuinely engaged and empowered, the potential for cross-cutting societal impact is enormous.
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