I spent Monday and Tuesday attending the Urban Forum conference in Central Manchester. The conference theme was poverty and was in support of next year's Get Fair Campaign. Monday afternoon included a bus tour of East Manchester. We saw several neighbourhoods that have had or are having their hearts torn out. Terraces are being demolished and residents decanted into new housing. The area is also host to the biggest Asda (Wallmart) in Europe. On the bus we were told how 75% of the staff were recruited locally through a local recruitment agency; they all live 10-15 minutes walking distance. Someone else told us later that local shops had closed down when Asda opened (where have I heard that story before?)
I am reminded of Robert Linthicum's stories of churches in the States combining to resist property developers. I'll post a reference to it sometime soon. It was notable that we did not meet one local resident all afternoon - I suppose if we had we might have heard a different story but somehow I suspect not.
Today an interesting session exploring the links between poverty and empowerment. This was led by Liz Richardson of Manchester University and the results will be published in February or March next year.
Just a few reflections on this theme:
Someone commented that she was very suspicious of the idea of empowerment as it implies it is something external, rather than something people must reach out for themselves. I would add my own suspicions that there is an element of control behind this terminology; if it means that someone thinks they are bringing power into the neighbourhood. I was reminded of Dark Holy Ground. If this is something the government is seeking through its sustainable communities white paper, we might be heading for interesting times. But empowerment seems to me to have a social aspects - those who experience it will tend to be more inclined to collaborate. This is part of Linthicum's experience of course. It goes back to Saul Alinsky, the founder of the Industrial Areas Foundation - today no-one had heard of him or his intention to 'rub raw the sores of discontent'.
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