1. 10 Cross-Community Integration Issues in Tower Hamlets Daniel Nilsson DeHanas University of Kent

2. Population Change Fastest growing local authority in the country: 196,100 in 2001, to 254,100 in 2011 (+24.6%) – Bengalis: consistently 1/3 – White British: declining – ‘Other white’: +18,800 – Diversifying growth (Indians, Chinese, Somalis…)  Churn: 29% are moving each year 1

3. 2 Hard to Reach Groups Somalis and other new arrivals – Can be poorly understood, or only reached via community leaders Bengali women – Lowest labour force participation White East Enders – Concerns must be taken seriously ‘Invisible’ residents

4. School Segregation 3 Most Catholic schools per head of any London borough – White English self-segregation (Dench et al. 2006) 74% of TH pupils have a first language other than English (highest in UK) Yet Bengali girls are the highest performing in schools, and TH GCSEs are above national avg.

5. 4 Parks and Public Spaces Highly built up area with fewer open spaces King Edward Memorial Park under threat Public spaces: – Idea Stores – Bromley by Bow Ctr, St Paul’s Way Ctr… – Mosques, DepARTure…  We need not just ‘social goods’ but ‘public goods’ (Barry Quirk, Lewisham CEO)

6. 5 Social Inequality 1 in 5 households earn less that £15K, yet… Average salary of those working in TH is £58K Inequalities (housing, income, health, etc.) correlate with poor social outcomes Social equality leads to “more self-confidence to belong within a diverse patchwork of communities (cohesion), which then leads to gradual integration” (Sircar & Saraswati 2012)

7. 6 ‘Extremism’ News of Muslim ‘extremism,’ but few arrests The real extremes: – Anjem Choudary – EDL, Christian Patrols Media effects: – Muslims sense ‘secondhand Islamophobia’ – On issues of immigration and race, ‘you are what you read’ (Ipsos MORI 2005)

8. 7 Fear, Crime, and ASB Cross-community integration is built on trust, and undermined by: – ‘Postcode wars’ – Anti-social behaviour, drugs, crime – Fear, lack of safety Responses: police; TH community champions How can local civic pride be built?

9. 8 Social Networks RSA - social networks in New Cross (2010): – Those who value neighbourliness have larger social networks – ‘familiar strangers’ like postman and lollypop lady – Isolated people connect in places like Sainsbury’s Tower Hamlets cross-community links: – Near Neighbours – Community organising (TELCO) – Other ideas?

10. 9 Funding Cuts Cuts to central funds to the local authority and third sector Still a vibrant voluntary sector in TH What models of innovative partnerships with Canary Wharf and the City?

11. 10 Gentrification Big redevelopment: Shoreditch, Whitechapel New affluent ‘wave’ of immigrants can be among the least locally connected