What shapes prosperity for people in Coventry Cross?

“We get no extra support, it’s tough. We applied for benefits but because we bought the flat we don’t get support. It’s too expensive to rent round here outside social housing.”

Winnie, Coventry Cross resident. Interview 2017.

This section shares Prosperity Index data and stories about Coventry Cross Estate. It describes what people living in Coventry Cross say about prosperity and living a good life in east London, and how people are experiencing changes linked to regeneration.

The perspective and stories shared here are based on interviews and group discussions with people living on Coventry Cross Estate. The interviews were carried out by citizen scientists in 2017.

Coventry Cross residents focused on the following themes when talking about prosperity and opportunities to live well: the importance of community resources, jobs and employment, and social and cultural isolation.

Bromley-by-Bow Theatre Day, Image courtesy of Bromley-by-Bow — *Bromley-by-Bow Theatre Day, Image courtesy of* *Bromley-by-Bow*

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Coventry Cross residents spoke positively about the strong feeling of community in the neighbourhood and the help provided by high-quality local services and amenities provide.

Many people talked about the Bromley-by-Bow Centre and the important role it plays in supporting local people. The Centre was talked about ass described as a hub that provides a range of services: language classes, a GP practice, IT classes, job training, volunteering opportunities and mental health services. It was considered to be a place that generates a sense of community by offering people the chance to engage with others, take part in events and volunteer programmes.

The following discussion between a Coventry Cross resident and local citizen scientist, Miriam, illustrates the personal importance of the Bromley-by-Bow Centre to residents:

Miriam: Do you feel part of the local community, of the estate where you live?
Natalie: Yes, all because of the Bromley-by-Bow Centre. I was looking for somewhere to volunteer when I first moved here, and I came across a skill exchange programme that was just starting at that time. And I went to an event, run by a lady [...] and she introduced me to the doctors, referred me to mental health services. I started volunteering, and I became part of the furniture of Bromley-by-Bow".
Interview, 2017.

The fact that people in the Coventry Cross area have access to very rich community resources and activities was discussed on a number of occasions by different residents. This extract from an interview with a resident who also worked at the local primary school is typical of the way other people talked about the community:

"I think Bromley-by-Bow has so many resources compared to any other community actually, because there’s Bromley-by-Bow Centre, they provide a lot of stuff, Fern Street Settlement […], they’re just around the corner […] and they do a lot for local people. […and there is also] Kingsley Hall, so you see in that small area, they’ve got three community centres."
Interview 2017.

Compared to interviews and discussions with residents from the other neighbourhood research sites, it is clear that regeneration is having a less severe impact on people living on the Coventry Cross Estate than in other areas of East London. Strong community resources are helping to minimise the negative impacts of rapid change.

Other people expressed concerns about their own job insecurity. Richard, for example, who worked at one of the local pubs said that his job is both low-paid and insecure.

Miriam: Do you think there are many job opportunities for people in the area?
Richard: …. no.
Miriam: No? Why’s that? I mean, you have a job…
Richard: Sort of.
Miriam: Why do you say that?
Richard: Well it’s minimum wage, zero hours contract, it’s not really the best job in the world.

housing

People talked to citizen scientists about a number of issues including lack of affordable and social housing, poor quality accommodation, housing inequality, and long waiting lists for people to be rehoused. One woman explains her situation:

Wendy: Most of the things you need in life are in here.
Miriam: What else could benefit the area?
Wendy: I don’t know, everyone has different issues. For me, housing. I have a 1 bed flat, 3 kids, a partner, all sharing one room. It’s unacceptable. I am not in work, my partner works. We get no extra support, it’s tough. We applied for benefits but because we bought the flat we don’t get support. It’s too expensive to rent round here outside social housing. The government want you to work, but it’s still tough. We don’t mind paying our rent, but it’s tough. So yeah, housing is my issue. It makes me unhappy. My children are fighting each other because it’s too crowded.

The citizen scientists carried out a focus group discussion with social workers, which examined the severity of local housing shortages and overcrowding, as well as the negative knock on effects on mental health, particularly for children. The focus group participants described the severe knock-on effects for child development and behaviour, as this extract shows:

Social and cultural isolation

A key theme that was raised by stakeholders working in social support was the social and cultural alienation of some newly arrived immigrants, especially Bengali women. These discussions identified this group of women as among the most vulnerable and precarious in Tower Hamlets because of their lack of language skills and social connectivity, and barriers within the family to participate in social activities outside of the home. One person who described himself as Bengali and working in neighbourhood-based social support said:

“If I were to talk about barriers I would talk about this culture …there’s a prominent culture that we have in Bangladeshi communities: man goes to work, woman stays at home. That does still exist, I’m not going to say that it doesn’t. But it is diminishing. There’s less of that basically. There are a few…young mothers, let’s just say. They are...maybe their families won’t let them go and do activities, ESOL, IT […] there is a small minority... they're not allowed to come out much. Yeah so some of them we probably haven’t even met, they’re the proper […] hard to reach.”

Jobs and employment

People’s views about jobs and employment opportunities for Coventry Cross residents were more negative - although people recognised the opportunities for training and obtaining the skills necessary to get a job.

"One of the things I am beginning to notice is that people working part-time, young mum's are actually as poor, if not poorer, than those on benefits. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying people on benefits are better off, but there is that frustration. People going to work living hand to mouth. And although people are working, and they're glad they're working, they've got a purpose they've got a reason, but...it's not making enough change, it's not doing anything different in their lives. It's actually adding to their stress because now they're worrying about how they're going to find their money, there's no support bridging the gaps."
Coventry Cross resident, interview 2017.

*Coventry Cross housing estate, Image by Sarah Nisi, 2020*

““Children have no place to put their toys, clothes or just have their own space to play or do homework. Simultaneously in these cases parents tend to be preoccupied with dealing with financial difficulties, housing problems, living almost on top of each other, incidents of emotional and/or physical spousal abuse, and both mother and father suffering from mental health conditions in particular anxiety and depression, all of which of course children will observe. Furthermore the child in most cases, [has] a younger sibling disrupting their sleep 3 to 4 times during the night leaving them tired and restless during the day. […]”

— Social worker, 2017