Corporate Communications

Quality of Life for Minority and Ethnic People in Hampshire

Executive Summary

Quality of life in Hampshire was generally viewed positively among BME participants.  Many commented that it was a friendly, peaceful and safe environment with lots of open space.  However, some did raise issues of crime/fear of crime, racial incidents, a lack of community cohesion and inadequate provision for young people as key concerns for the area.  There was a general sense that these problems are more acute in town centres and outlying estates such as Popley (Basingstoke) and Boyatt Wood (Eastleigh).

Few were spontaneously aware of the Council’s full remit of services.  As MORI often finds, few could draw a distinction between county and district services – or indeed those of other providers . Typical contact and usage (of public services generally) focused on a range of providers – payment of taxes, obtaining planning permission and parking permits, libraries, refuse collection, health services, public transport, policing, experience of the education system and during election campaigns.  Reactions to each service were mixed.  Both Asian and Black participants were concerned that they are not able to do all their shopping in the local area.  Many spend time and expense travelling significant distances in order to subsist – even to London to buy goods.  For example, some participants felt that outlets for buying foods (e.g. Halal meat), spices, hair products, places of worship and venues for Asian weddings are not accessible in Basingstoke or Eastleigh.  This makes a significant impact on quality of life.  Many want to see the Council playing a more active role in encouraging enterprise to set up businesses in these areas.

Communication/contact from or with the Council is perceived to be quite limited and many would like to see significant improvements in the area of information provision – although there were mixed opinions on delivery mechanisms.  There was low awareness of ‘Hampshire Now’.  Opinions on the most effective forms of communication were divided. Some expected the Council to provide information through letter box drops and leafleting.  Others preferred to receive this information face-to-face on the basis that they might not differentiate between the Council’s communications and junk mail.  The internet was a popular channel for younger participants who have access, but no one had actually visited www.hants.gov.uk.

Some participants’ perceptions of the Council, in common with other public sector organisations, were that it is predominantly white, bureaucratic, faceless and unhelpful.  These participants would like to have more face-to-face contact and more public forums to express and share differing views and opinions. Indeed, most expressed interest in getting Council support to facilitate meetings within and across different community groups.  These could be used as opportunities to discuss diversity and encourage understanding of different cultures.  Appointing diversity workers may help to promote community cohesion.  Interestingly, participants who were members of established Asian community groups were more aware of community development workers and felt more included by the community and the Council than non-members.  Black participants were not aware of workers or groups that operate in their community.

There was a general perception that Black and minority ethnic groups are under-represented within the Council itself and have a low profile within both the private and public sector locally.  Many would like to see more BME ambassadors in teaching, the police force, local business and the judicial system. While some acknowledged that this is not necessarily the Council’s responsibility, it was considered to be of great importance for the Council to lead the way in promoting opportunities and providing guidance and information to help people develop themselves.  Drop-in centres with multi-cultural staff were seen as a popular solution.

Criticisms of local public services in the main centred around education, healthcare, housing and provision of facilities to host groups and community activities, and, above all ensuring that communication is relayed on what is available.

Participants’ key priorities for Hampshire County Council to focus on when addressing BME needs were as follows:

• more consultation on cultural needs and consideration in the decision making process and promotion of ‘diversity’

• more celebration of multi-cultural Hampshire through cultural days, such as the Art Asia Southampton Mela

• improve BME specific services by finding out the specifics of what they need (e.g. in library services for young Asian people, which books/CDs/DVDs do people want?)

• a more visible profile (at present there is little association with people or personalities – not one could name their local councillor)

• provide infrastructure to facilitate more community groups and meetings (this could involve subsidising room hire and providing resources and information to get things up an running)

• work on reducing BME underachievement in schools and ensuring equal access to work and training

• being seen to be addressing fear of crime among BME communities

• more tailored information about what HCC is doing and provides

• provide youth club facilities/youth events and help for the elderly

Finally, participants generally welcomed the opportunity to discuss these issues.  They said they enjoyed the experience.  The test, they thought, would be in the action arising, but they considered that they had participated in something important.