Mile Cross: Insights

     Conversations held in          Mile Cross

Disclaimer : The following reports are not thoughts of any one individual but are the amalgamation of conversations from the community.

The number of times accessibility and inclusivity was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Accessibility & inclusivity

Accessibility and inclusivity are clearly important to residents in Mile Cross. Residents and organizations in Mile Cross seem to be aware of accessibility issues even if they don't have any themselves. There are some organisations making concerted efforts to make Mile Cross an inclusive one, such as the mosque and St. Lukes. However, there are some deficits in accessibility and inclusivity in Mile Cross, such as the need for more activities for people with disabilities and more accessible infrastructure. There are opportunities to improve accessibility and inclusivity in Mile Cross, such as supporting organizations to adapt their delivery to make it more inclusive for people with disabilities and providing more support for people with anxiety.

The number of times community was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Community

The community in Mile Cross is a strong one, with people valuing the sense of community, neighbourliness, and the availability of groups, activities, and places. The community is built on a strong foundation of volunteers, and there is a tremendous amount of creative skill and interest in the area. People are passionate about Mile Cross and want to see it continue to grow and thrive. However, there are some challenges facing the community, including a lack of activities for children and young people, the impact of COVID-19, and a lack of volunteers. Despite these challenges, there is a lot of potential for the community to grow and thrive. There is a strong sense of community spirit, a variety of creative skills and interests, and a dedicated group of volunteers.

The number of times cost of living was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Cost of living

The cost of living crisis is having a significant impact on the all RITA communities. Many people are struggling to afford food and other basic necessities. There is a lack of affordable activities for people of all ages. The benefit system is complex and difficult to navigate. There is a need for more support for people who are struggling financially.The data also suggests that there are a number of assets in the community that are working to support those who are struggling. These include foodbanks, financial advice services, and community organizations that offer free or low-cost activities. However, it is clear that there is still a need for more support.The data is limited in that it is based on conversations with people who are already accessing services. This means that the deficits may be underreported. It would be helpful to collect data from a wider range of people, including those who are not accessing services. It would also be helpful to collect data on the impact of the cost of living crisis on health and wellbeing. Overall, the data suggests that the cost of living crisis is having a serious effect on the Mile Cross community. There is a need for more support, and it is important to continue to monitor the situation and collect data to better understand the impact of the crisis.

The number of times Crime & ASB was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Crime & ASB

Crime and antisocial behavior (ASB) are a significant problem in Mile Cross. The most common crimes are theft, vandalism, and antisocial behavior. More serious crimes, such as drug dealing and knife crime, are also a concern. The presence of crime and ASB has a negative impact on the community, including fear and anxiety, a decline in community spirit, and a negative reputation. It is important to note that the data provided is based on perception, not reported crime. This data is still valuable, as it shows the true impact of crime and ASB on individuals. It would be useful to compare this information against crime figures in the area, but it is important to not devalue this dataset, as it is far better at showing the true impact of crime and ASB.

The number of times education, employment and learning was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Education, employment & learning

The data on education and learning in Mile Cross shows that there is a strong interest in workshops and training opportunities, particularly those focused on interests and creativity. There is also evidence that facilitators understand the link between learning and wellbeing. However, the data is skewed by the fact that at least half of the people who raised this as a theme were facilitators of courses themselves. This means that it is difficult to get a clear understanding of how residents perceive education and learning. More conversations with residents are needed to get a better understanding of how they perceive education and learning, and how these opportunities can be linked to employment. In addition, the data set regarding this category continues to be low despite the large quantity of conversations taking place in Mile Cross. This is something that has been flagged and will be reviewed in the way the category is approached in the next update. There is the potential to speak to more students and teachers in education as well as business owners about currently employment levels in the area. Overall, the data suggests that there is a strong interest in education and learning in Mile Cross. However, more needs to be done to understand how residents perceive these opportunities and how they can be linked to employment.

The number of times health and wellbeing was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Health & wellbeing

The data on health and wellbeing in Mile Cross suggests that there are both strengths and deficits. People in Mile Cross like to stay active and use the local groups and infrastructure to do this. There are a number of local organizations that provide support for food, mental health, and wellbeing. Individuals have reported that community activity has helped to improve their mental health and reduce social isolation. However, there are also a number of challenges that people are facing, including social isolation, bereavement, and mental health issues. There are a number of things that can be done to address these challenges, including providing more opportunities for people to connect with each other, supporting those who are struggling with social isolation, and providing mental health support.

The number of times natural & built environment was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Natural & built environment

The natural and built environment in Mile Cross is a valuable asset to the community. Residents appreciate the parks, natural areas, and allotments that are available. They also appreciate the convenience of having nearby shops and good transportation links. However, there are some deficits in the natural and built environment in Mile Cross. These include litter, unmaintained properties, and underutilized spaces.

The number of times older people was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Older people

The data suggests that Mile Cross is a good place to live for older people. There are a number of resources and activities available, such as lunch clubs, intergenerational workshops, and support from Age UK. However, there are a few areas where improvements could be made, such as providing more affordable options for activities and transportation. One resident suggested establishing a community dog walking service, which would provide social contact for both dogs and owners. The data suggests that we would do well to focus on themes such as accessibility, cost of living, and social isolation, which are applicable to older people and other age groups.

The number of times Parents & Children was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Parents & children

A number of organizations in Mile Cross provide strong support and activities for parents and children. These organizations offer a variety of activities that are enjoyed by parents and children, including bounce and rhyme, messy play, soft play, and library visits. There are plans to start new activities, such as a reading group for mothers and tots, free Easter activities for kids, and a Lego club at the library. Many people travel to Mile Cross from outside the area to attend these activities, which suggests that they are of good quality. However, there are also some deficits in the support available for parents and children in Mile Cross. There is a lack of support for parents and children with special educational needs or mental health problems. The cost of activities can be a barrier for some families. The lack of transport can also be a barrier for some families. The data is heavily influenced by conversations that happen at places where activities happen. It would be helpful to have more conversations in places where there are no activities. It would also be helpful to analyze the data alongside the asset mapping of the area.

The number of times young people was mentioned as a theme (dark blue) as a proportion of the total number of conversations held (light grey)

Young people

The data shows that there is a strong interest in supporting young people in Mile Cross. There are a number of activities for young people already happening in the area, and there are a number of people with professional skills and expertise who are willing to help young people. However, there is a lack of safe spaces for young people to gather, and there is a lack of activities that are appealing to most young people in Mile Cross. This lack of activities for young people is perceived as a cause of ASB and crime in the area. There are a number of opportunities to improve the situation for young people in Mile Cross. These include establishing youth clubs and more groups to support young people, adapting existing activities to make them more appealing to young people, and using the assets in Mile Cross (material and human) to help these suggestions develop into actions. It is also important to remember that young people are individuals with their own interests and needs, and it is important to offer a variety of activities and programs that appeal to a wide range of young people. It is also important to involve young people in the planning and development of activities and programs. This will help to ensure that the activities are relevant and appealing to young people. The biggest gap in the data is that we have only spoken to 5 under 18s. This means that we may not have a complete picture of what is working (and what is not working) for young people. We should seek to rectify this in the coming months by speaking to more young people. Consent is a problem as we only record details of conversations for which they have given consent. This means that we can only have conversations where a parent or guardian is (or has been) present. We should look into whether there are ways to be more flexible with this as without hearing the voice of under 18s we cannot get an accurate understanding of what is and isn't working for young people.