Contextualising the participatory role of BMEs in community regeneration : a requirements and challenge approach

Ijasan, K

Abstract

The importance of engaging members of minority communities in the process of
community regeneration has been the focus of many governments in the UK. The
benefit of doing this has also been well stressed and documented among politicians
and members of the academia. In spite of this, Black and Minority Ethnic BME
group members who make about 12% of the total population of UK usually settled
in deprived inner city locations. They are also still not optimally engaged in
regeneration activities in the communities where they reside in spite of all efforts.
This poses such problems as services not being sensitive to their needs, loss of
sense of belonging and also social exclusion.
These problems form the underlying principles upon which this research is based.
In the light of the current challenge of lack of participation of the BMEs, this
research embarks on a mission to address the situation by proposing a framework
which can serve as achievable guideline for organisations saddled with the
responsibility of community regeneration.
In order to achieve this, this research project reviewed extant literature on what
community and regeneration means, and what participation means for BMEs. It
also reviewed what being a BME means, what the community regeneration needs
of BMEs are and what the barriers preventing BMEs from participation are.
Upon completion of the literature review, key findings were highlighted. These
findings informed the choice of the use of both quantitative and qualitative research
methodologies in gathering data. As a result of the literature review and data
gathering and analysis, this research has
Developed an understanding of the process of community regeneration,
the importance of community engagement, the relevance of partnerships
and the current place of BMEs as participants in this process
Categorised the various reasons and barriers mitigating against BMEs in
the process of participation in community regeneration
Highlighted the housing and community needs of the BMEs
Suggested solutions to this challenge of lack of BME participation and
engagement in the process of community regeneration as it emerged
from interviews and questionnaires Proposed a framework for the enhancement of BME participation based
on the barriers facing BMEs as well as their housing and community
needs
It is expected that the developed framework will assist government agencies and
community groups embarking on community regeneration schemes within a
community with sizeable BME representation to optimally engage with the local
BME residents by adequately analysing the people, understanding their local needs,
timing the consultation and gaining trust, using the list of good practices and
recommendation highlighted.
Some of the main findings of the research are that being a BME in itself is not a
function of skin colour but a combination of some probable social exclusion and
deprivation that might be suffered as a result of this. The research also realised that
although there is no clear cut definition for what constitutes 'participation' in
regeneration. The challenge with BMEs is not lack of participation as widely
believed, on the contrary, BMEs want to participate but they have a preference for
community groups when it comes to participation. The research concluded among
other things that BMEs have some characteristic needs in regeneration and that the
factors preventing BMEs from participating in regeneration can be categorised into
three i.e. personal barrier, joint barriers and institutional barriers.

Citation

Ijasan, K. Contextualising the participatory role of BMEs in community regeneration : a requirements and challenge approach. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2011