- The Guardian, Wednesday December 12 2001
Jargon used by professionals working in regeneration is preventing black and minority ethnic communities from having a say in how their neighbourhoods should be improved, according to a project to be launched officially today by housing minister Lord Falconer.
The Getting Engaged project has been set up to identify the barriers to black and minority ethnic (BME) involvement and to overcome them by working with communities to address their own needs. Funded by a housing corporation innovation and good practice grant, the project is headed by the black-led Presentation housing association.
The three-year project, which started earlier this year, is being run in the Vassall ward in Lambeth, south London, where extensive regeneration is under way and 39% of residents are from African-Caribbean communities.
Presentation has been finding out what regeneration means to local people and it has brought in representatives from Lambeth council, the local health action zone and Vassall Area Regeneration Group to speak to residents about how they could get more involved.
Esther Sullivan, Getting Engaged project officer, says: "Attendees suggested that jargon, little recognition of BME needs and lack of knowledge about what funding is available, and how to apply for it, were the main barriers to their involvement. As a group, we tried to break down what regeneration words meant in plain English which showed residents that it's a lot more than buildings. It covers issues like health, crime and education.
"Getting Engaged aims to enable people from BME communities to get involved with the design and delivery of regeneration. The work done so far indicates that bureaucratic structures prevent BME organisations accessing funding."
