Focus on Stepney
Stepney has become a key area for our outreach team in 2007. We have focused around the Ocean Estate, running media tasters and advice and guidance sessions throughout the year as well as putting on a wide range of events in Stepney as part of our Summer Programme.
At the heart of Stepney lies the Ocean Estate - a microcosm of the problems seen across the Borough. It is one of the most deprived housing estates in Europe and subject to a government funded regeneration scheme. High unemployment, few recreational facilities, high levels of gun and knife crime and drug abuse, and a lack of positive role models leads many young people into a cycle of crime and abuse which is difficult to break out of.
We have worked closely with a number of local community projects and organisations including the Stepney Safer Neighbourhood Team to help build relationships and community cohesion.
As part of the Government’s New Deal for Communities scheme, and in an effort to improve our provision in the area, our team have met with local partners, interviewed over 200 people and carried out a thorough review of the local situation to find out the area’s needs and how they are being met.
There is a strong feeling locally that Stepney is in great need of community focused buildings and projects. Over half of the people interviewed wanted to see more sports facilities, youth programmes and job services locally, with cafes, pre/after school clubs, health services, and business, training and education facilities also popular requests.
We see Stepney as an important target for social and economic regeneration through training and enterprise.
LBTH
