What I put out there…
I have many things which are open for people to share. I have a rich a varied experience of doing community work and this has given me particular insights into the hidden worlds behind the houses we see walking along a street. People often approached me with personal problems or their difficulties in accessing certain places or services. I have a good knowledge of various community groups and service providers who operate in this part of north east London and so I was often able to signpost people towards other places which could help them or support them better than I could. I was working in a community where people often didn’t have a personal computer. Many of the volunteers I worked with also had cashflow problems and so were unable to use the internet or make phonecalls. I often opened up my office for volunteers to come in and use the facilities. Many brought their children with them and I was able to do a bit of ad-hoc childminding while their Mums were on the phone, sorting things out.
What other people could be putting out there…
One of the biggest things which struck me was the sheer wealth of experience, skills and knowledge which people living on a housing estate had. Often, these people would never admit to being able to do something particularly well, not considering that they had anything special or different. Viewed as a totality, there is so much hidden talent in large housing estates, it would make the experience of living in these places so much more rich and fulfilling if people were able to use their talents and show-off their skills. Many residents of the Broadwater Farm estate where I was working came from all over the world. It would also make the cultural life of the estate much richer, if people had a space or an opportunity to bring their histories and stories into the public realm. A primary problem on many housing estates in London is that people don’t have enough money. This entails that most people spend a good deal of their time trying to chase up extra money or save money. This prevents people thinking wider than their own situation and ultimately limits the community’s ability to get along together. People are struggling. There is also a decreasing amount of communal space which is free and easy to access. The community centre where I worked is currently being privatised and it is hard to bring people together when there aren’t the spaces which are neutral, public and support residents i.e. with childcare provision.
Conclusion
This is the greatest tragedy - that when viewed as a totality, large housing estates often have the people, the capabilities and space to make their community a real success. They are prevented from doing this, primarily as a result of their material conditions - residents are often poor and chasing jobs and money. The people who manage their estate - the Council or an arms-length management organisation - are more concerned with successfully managing rather than developing or improving. Therefore, the social life or cultural life of the housing estate which is a crucial element of infrastructure is limited and neglected to the detriment of residents and the surrounding area.