We love Burngreave!

Story: Ian Clifford

A new survey shows big changes in the way Burngreave people see themselves, though little real change around poverty and jobs.

Almost ten years ago, in 2000, consultation meetings preparing for New Deal found many residents expressing concern about the poor reputation of the area including among residents themselves. A recent MORI survey shows big changes in residents’ views.

Between 400 and 500 residents were surveyed every 2 years since 2002. The survey in 2008 showed 82% of residents were ‘very’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ with the area as a place to live, up from 64% in 2002. 58% said they feel part of the community ‘a great deal’ or ‘a fair amount’ compared to 44% in 2002 and 56% said they felt ‘very safe’ or ‘fairly safe’ walking alone in the area after dark, up from 38% in 2002. Several key things have changed, with big falls in those who feel that boarded up houses and burnt out cars are a problem.

More professionals…

But are these changes because poor people have moved away and been replaced with professionals? Overall, the population is less mobile, but 47% of those sampled in 2008 lived in socially rented accommodation, compared with 55% in 2002, while the proportion of owner-occupiers is up from 35% to 40%. The proportion in professional, managerial or senior occupations is up from 12% in 2002 to 23% in 2008.

Another key area of change is around policing and crime. In 2008, 71% said they trusted the police ‘a great deal’ or a fair amount’ compared with 58% in 2002. Fear of crime across a range of issues is also down. Changes around actual experience of crime is less marked, those who said they had been burgled in the last year has fallen from 9% in 2002 to 5% in 2008, but this is much higher than national figures.

…but many still poor

Real change around jobs is less clear. The percentage in paid work rose only slightly and many people are still poor – 41% have an income of less than £10,400 compared with 12% nationally.

On education, 29% of Burngreave residents now have degree qualifications, compared with 19% in 2002, but a quarter of residents have no qualifications. The proportion needing help with basic skills, is unchanged since 2002 and double the national figures.

Findings on ‘community’ are encouraging, with high figures for volunteering, friendliness and people feeling that Burngreave is an area where people from different backgrounds get on well together.

Overall the survey paints a picture of Burngreave as an area which still has real problems, especially around poverty, worklessness and lack of qualifications, but of a positive, friendly community that gets on well together.

MORI survey full analysis

A full analysis of the MORI 2008 household survey for Burngreave New Deal for Communities.