Urban Evaluation - outcomes and outputs

4.1 The Hillfields URBAN Programme had three major aims as represented by the three measures

Each of these measures had their own particular strategic aims. A combined set of outputs would obscure the targeted aims of the project and the outputs were recorded on a measure by measure basis.

4.2 The measure purpose was to tackle the problems of long-term unemployment and the promotion of personal development. It had two main objectives:

· To help disadvantage groups to gain skills and the confidence needed to take up opportunities for training

This was done primarily through training and helping local people to access jobs located in the nearby City Centre and elsewhere in the City. Measure One contained 11 projects with a total project cost of £1,814,191 which was part funded by £784,244 ESF funding.

4.3 For reasons noted in paragraph 3:21 one unresolved project has unclear results and has been excluded from this analysis. Of the ten reporting projects benefited 429 people - 147 men and 282 women. Women have faced a tougher time in the labour market and the fact that more women benefited indicates that the projects were successful in prioritising women.

4.4 Two thirds (66.7%) of the men and 63.7% of the women had been unemployed for more than 12 months. The projects were successful in meeting their target audience.

4.5 Over half the men and just under half the women benefiting from measure one projects were from the ethnic minority. The URBAN programme aimed to tackle the problems faced by discrimination and unfortunately racial discrimination is a factor.

4.6 However discrimination is not only on the basis of ethnicity but also on the basis of sex and address and these factors, also, affect white residents, as well as, those from the ethnic minority. There is no data available to identify from where the white beneficiaries of the projects originated within Hillfields. (Data Protection Act: the Fair Obtaining clause did not allow such personalised analysis.)

4.7 The aim of Measure One was to tackle the problems faced by people in Hillfields in getting employment. In an era of major technological change, skills are a key ingredient in finding work. As section one noted, the level of basic skills in St Michaels Ward is relatively poor when compared to the rest of the city and it is felt that poor basic skills are a contributing factor to poor employment records and unemployment.

4.8 The participants under Measure One had poor basic skills. It is significant hat a large number of men and women failed to respond to this question suggesting that they were afraid of negative reactions towards their abilities. People with poor basic skills are often reluctant to discuss their skill levels and have developed means by which their skills are not tested. Of those who did permit their skill level to be analysed, 43% of men and 71% of women had no qualifications.

4.9 A total of 121 men (82%) and 239 women (85%) completed their training and project working. Altogether some 95,243 hours of participation was undertaken by the 429 participants giving an average of around 220 hours.

4.10 The destination of the participants at the end of their period within the projects were as follows:

OUTCOME	Not in employment at start		In employment at start
OUTCOME	Men	Women	Men	Women
Employment	25	33	15	12
Self employment	0	0	1	1
Further Education or Training	55	86	0	0
Unemployment	26	198	0	0
Not Known	25	42	0	0
TOTAL	131	269	16	13

80 men (54% of all male participants) and 119 women (42% of all female participants) finished their participation with a positive destination in relation to work or preparation for work.

4.11 In terms of gaining qualifications, the picture is more complex as many of the projects aimed at boosting the self-esteem of residents and tried to empower them to tackle their social exclusion. Much of this has to be done on a one to one basis or by discreet means. In effect, this means that for many training courses, no formal qualification can be awarded. Unfortunately discrimination against women within families and at work means, often, that they do not get the benefits of training and skilling and have a harder time qualifying. Much of the work under Measure One aimed at supporting women with no qualifications and without much employment history. Many did not have the confidence to face up to going out to work or helping acquiring skills that they need to improve their chances in the labour market.

OUTCOME	Not in employment at start		In employment at start
OUTCOME	Men	Women	Men	Women
Basic	64	83	4	5
Middle	34	49	10	8
High	0	0	0	0
Other	0	92	0	0
None	33	45	2	0
TOTAL	131	269	16	13

The skill levels of both the men and women taking part increased considerably. Nearly 30% of the men achieve Middle grade qualifications compared to only 4% of the men with declared skill levels (and 2% of all men) before the projects started. For women the picture is more complex. 92 women or 32% gained experience that did not lead to formal qualifications. 57 women (20%) achieved middle grade qualifications compared to only 2% of women with declared skill levels (or 1.4% of all women) at the start of the projects.

4.12 The projects under Measure One made a clearly measurable change in the life of most of the participants. For 47% their chances in the labour market have been significantly strengthened as is shown by the fact that 19% of unemployed men and 12% of the unemployed women finished their participation in work rather than being unemployed. Another 141 participants (33% of the total) had remained in some form of formal education or training. For many women, the projects provided help which may yet serve in helping them move on into work.

4.13 Measure One with its 10 reporting projects was a success. The10 reported projects directly helped 4.6% of the Programme area’s population. If the METO project is included the proportion rises to 5.9%. The participants in the projects were, in the main, longer term unemployed people who in most cases had faced the demoralisation of unemployment and deprivation. URBAN Programme has helped the people participating but unfortunately the work has stopped with the end of the Programme and whether their continuing needs have been picked up is a matter of chance.

4.14 Measure Two focused on the improvement in the physical environment of the Hillfields area and aimed at improving the image of the area and thereby it sought to raise business confidence. There were three objectives:

§ The improvement of the quality of the environment and the physical appearance of the area

These objectives were undertaken in nine projects which included a range of activities from capital works to involvement of local people in activities. The total spend was £1,531,735 which attracted an ERDF grant of £736,495 and SRB grants of £277,718.

4.15 Unlike the Measure One, Measure Two was aimed at physical and environmental aspects and not directed at people so the out measures cannot be calibrated and evaluated in the same way as for measure one. The table lists the main achievements under Measure Two.

4.16 Under Measure Two most people living in the area benefited from the work undertaken by the projects. The improvements had a general impact by improving the ambience of Hillfields. In purely unscientific terms, Hillfields feels today a better place to be than in the 1990’s. More importantly, around 1,000 people, or 11% of the population living in Hillfields, benefited directly as a result of all the projects work.

4.17 The Hillfields Patchwork Project got local people involved in looking and improving their area. This involvement of local people in making decisions about their own areas had very positive effects. It made them feel included. This was an intended feature of this project and it successfully attracted local people into thinking about their area.

4.18 The Arts Exchange led project had the similar impact of including people into thinking about their area. Many participated in producing temporary artwork as well as helping identify more permanent public art works. This thrush of Measure Two of engaging local people in their area has had the side effect of increasing local pride in Hillfields.

4.19 The improvement of the Shopping area in Hillfields Victoria Street under the Single Regeneration Budget promised to leave surrounding the shopping area in an unimproved condition. The Hillfields Concierge and the Patchwork Projects has avoided this contrast between business and residential areas and again has made the community feel included. Developments with hard edges to them have in the past tended to aggravate feelings of social division and exclusion.

4.20 Environmental improvements have an impact if well done and supported by local people to reduce vandalism and crime. A main strand of the Measure Two was the reduction in crime and accidents in the Programme Area. The installation of gates on alleyways behind terraced houses and fences has worked well and people living over 300 dwellings now feel less vulnerable.

4.21 The 1998 Annual Business Enquiry showed that there were some 238 businesses operating in the Hillfields area (CV1:5 postal code area). The Business support projects contacted the equivalent to of 86% of the businesses in the area. The projects actually included businesses outside the area that employed people from Hillfields or served Hillfields.

4.22 The projects led to the creation of 80 jobs for local people. This was a result of direct business advice leading to new business opportunities creating 36 jobs and a further 43 jobs through better recruitment channels. WATCH played and still is playing a significant role in encouraging employers from across the city to recruit workers in Hillfields. Towards the end of the URBAN Programme, this work included asylum seekers with leave to stay in the United Kingdom. WATCH approaches potential employers and gives the necessary reassurances and helps with the recruitment process. Often training needs are identified and these have been sorted by WATCH. This means that job seekers, who in the past, have been often put off by the difficulties of the job search, have actively been encouraged to find and get a job.

4.23 Overall Measure Two has had a significant positive impact on local people and for this reason, the URBAN Programme projects have to be considered a success. Collectively the nine projects meshed into each other to form a coherent approach.

4.24 Measure Three aimed at developing a self sustaining community by strengthening community facilities and helping people to develop the skills needed for them to tackle the problems that they and their area face. There were three objectives in achieving this aim:

§ the development of the local community through projects that tackle social exclusion

§ The equipping of voluntary and community groups to contribute to the regeneration of Hillfields.

These objectives were undertaken in fourteen projects which included both capital works and the involvement of local people. The total spend was £2,084,128 with ERDF grant funding of £1,017,128.

4.25 Target was to build up the capacity of the local community so that individuals could take part in regeneration. The EKOS (2000) study recommended that capacity building should be a major part of the work undertaken. The role of non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) in local regeneration activities has well widely recognised by both the EU and UK governments. However, the value of the NGO’s does depend on the ability of the officers to undertake the tasks. Measure three aimed at strengthening this capacity in order build a continuing impetus for regeneration in the area.

4.26 Hillfields has little infrastructure for groups and resident to gather for meetings. St Peters Church situated just by the main shopping centre and widely used by Community Groups for meetings was a logical location for a Community Centre. This centre has provided the infrastructure for meetings and events in a multi- cultural environment in a building free from heavy Christian symbolism.

4.27 The new Community Centre has been heavily used by the community, organisations serving the community and the City Council. In addition, the centre has become a focus for community events. The Centre has been used by the Police, Health, employment community liaison group meetings, the launch of a number of projects including URBAN Sports Project, a base point for the Hillfields Carnival and Council consultation meetings.

4.28 The key outputs were the training of the URBAN Partnership Group and project organisers. This enabled the URBAN Programme to be effectively managed with a significant input from the community representatives. It helped other groups to understand the approach taken by URBAN and how to bid for funding. It also helped created an independent management structure for URBAN away from the more centrally controlled SRB.

4.29 The success of the URBAN Programme in Hillfields can only be measured by the impact it has had on the community as a whole. In the ex ante evaluation of the Programme in July 1998, several key measures were set down as baseline indicators.

4.30 The Action Plan anticipated that more local people would enter employment and this has been the case as Job Seekers Allowance benefit claimants has fallen by 51% from 1,092 in 1996 to 537 in 2002. The fall would have been larger had it nit been for the rise in the number of asylum seekers given leave to stay and able to sign on as unemployed (though not on unemployment benefit.)

4.31 If the reduction in unemployment has been achieved, unfortunately the number of jobs in the Hillfields area has not gone up. A number of companies in the engineering – car components sector have failed or moved out and these jobs losses have more than offset the number of new jobs created in the area. Follow on investment has taken place in eth area and Adult Education Services of the City Council has relocated their administrative office into Hillfields. Coventry University has built a Student residence centre on the site of the empty Hills Precision factory – the business moved to Humber Road. The University has moved some departments into some empty factory premises. A large multi story factory building has been refurbished and occupied by a storage company.

4.32 These new investments combined with the new Foyer Housing and the refurbished shopping centre has removed the ’depressed’ image that the area had. The environmental improvements have also improved the image of the area. It takes time for investment to follow.

4.33 The baseline line indicators included wage levels. Weekly earning sin St Michaels was £275 or 90% compared to the Coventry average of £306. In 2002, the position deteriorated with earnings being £337 or 81% of the Coventry average of £417. This relative fall is a result of the closure of the factories in the area. These earnings figures are not necessarily the incomes of people living in St. Michaels. New statistics available show that household incomes in St. Michaels Ward are well below the city average and this remains a challenge for the future. In 2002, average household incomes in Hillfields were £16,630 or 72% of the city’s average of £22,972.

4.34 The URBAN Programme in Hillfields aimed at improving the area’s training and learning record. The Basic Skills Agency statistic show that St Michaels Ward has a significant literacy and numeracy skills problem:

Score	Literacy		Numeracy
Score	Coventry	St Michaels	Coventry	St Michaels

Low	15.9	15.3	15.8	14.4
Lower	5.7	7.1	8.2	9.5
Very Low	5.6	8.1	7.2	9.4

The scores show that St Michaels ward has a considerable pool of people at the lower end of the scores. These results have been confirmed by the Coventry & Warwickshire Learning & Skills Council in their basic skills programme. It is for this reason that the Hillfields URBAN Programme targeted training and capacity building.

4.35 The outputs show that the skills and qualification gained by participants showed a marked improvement and since the end of the URBAN Programme, the demand for training has continued at a higher level. There still remains a core of group of people with low skills and they remain to be targeted. However, a significant proportion of the Hillfields adult population have taken action to break out of the basic skills barrier.

4.36 The Programme in Hillfields focussed on supporting local enterprises and helping people to start up in business. During the programme only two businesses were formed but starting up a business is a long-winded business, especially for people living in deprived neighbourhoods. All the suspicion and prejudice of the financial world against people from areas associated with uncertainty takes time to overcome. Since the URBAN Programme ended a further 17 businesses have been formed.

4.37 Support of local businesses has continued following the end of the URBAN Programme with 120 more local people going into employment, many of whom have received training. The URBAN Programme outcome means that some 200 people gained work – 20% of the number of people signing on as unemployed in June 1997. Many of the people going back into work were, however, economically inactive and this suggest a deepening of employment in Hillfields economy.

4.38 In the Hillfields area, there has been considerable investment which has created jobs. The large mill building on Ford Street has been refurbished and opened as a longer-term storage centre. Previously this building was empty and still sported its Second World War II camouflage paint. The Adult Education Administration has moved into Southfields old school building which was previously empty. The large 6,000m² factory unit, empty since the closure of Fosse Engineering, has been partitioned, refurbished and part let. Coventry University has built Singer Hall on the 4 hectare site of the empty Hills Precision factory on Vine Street.

4.39 The demolition of the empty derelict shops in the main shopping area and the refurbishment of the remainder has made a major difference to the area and shops. The improved security and the environmental improvements in and around the shopping centre have increased business confidence in the area.

4.40 The URBAN Programme concentrated on anti crime measures. In 1993, 20% of burglaries in Coventry occurred in Hillfields – St Michaels ward ranked first in burglaries in the city. By 2002 this had fallen to 9% or one in ten of burglaries and the ranking has fallen to fourth place. The high rate of domestic house break-ins was the raison d’être of the anti crime projects.

4.41 The rate of burglaries in Hillfields has fallen below the Coventry City average. This is a result of the reduction in the opportunity for break is at domestic properties as a result of the security and safety projects undertaken. As a result St Michaels. In the neighbouring Charterhouse area the burglary rate is more than twice as high at 14.2 – around the Hillfields rate of the mid 1990’s. As a result of the improvement in Hillfields, St Michaels Wards has dropped from the worst ward (18^th) to the 14^th worst.

4.42 Crime remains, however, a major issue in St Michaels. Although burglaries have been reduced car theft and violent crimes including mugging and wounding remain a serious problem. The area has gained a reputation for drug users and this has brought further crime into the area.

4.43 An underlying concern in Hillfields has been the relatively poor health of the local residents. The Hillfields Nutrition project aimed at improving health generally and 119 people attended sessions aimed at improving diets. This is a problem in low-income households where people generally have poor nutrition in their diets leading into poorer levels of health. The Coventry Health Authority’s Health Improvement Programme re-enforced this approach as well as tackling other illnesses in the area including heart disease, accidents, mental health and Thalassemia and Sickle Cell amongst the ethnic community

4.44 Health improvement takes many years to achieve and it is unlikely that the URBAN Programme has had much more than a marginal impact. However, the strengthening of the local economy and the improvement in the environment will also have health benefits. However Hillfields does suffer disproportionately poorer health than most of Coventry. This is reflected in the fact that the average age of death remains significantly early than the city average.

4.45 The URBAN Programme only just touched the question of health which it is now realised is a complex social issue. The Health Improvement Programme aims to concentrate resources and information campaigns at areas with specific needs.

4.46 The baseline data recognised that Hillfields has had a poor image. The ex ante evaluation said:

There is a poor perception of the area by local people and from those outside the area, much prejudice exists against Hillfields. The image of the area is that of an extremely unattractive and hostile area where crime, in particular, drug dealing and prostitution are rife

4.47 The task facing URBAN has been the enhancement of Hillfields amongst the local population as well as from outside. The Widespread participation of resident population in the improvement and future of their area has had a significant impact. The Utopias project made people look at issues in a different way and this has contributed to a greater sense of cohesion and a feeling that Hillfields is improving.

4.48 The internet project which lives on in the Hillfields website. This website has received considerable plaudits and provides a detailed reportage on the area. This enables people to find out what is happening in the area. This has done much to reduce the misconceptions and helped local people to access data on their area. The development of online facilities in Hillfields has made Internet access easier.

4.49 In the wider community, Hillfields retains some image problems but with the University moving into the Ward and investment taking place combined with an improved environment has considerably softened the hard image. One national newspaper suggested that Hillfields was a place to buy houses as an up and coming area. :

Hillfields was named 39th in the 50 hottest property spots to buy last April – and a number of city estate agents confirm house prices are going up.

Plans have been announced in 2003 to build higher-priced properties in the Hillfields to meet the demand for premises near to the city centre wanted by young professional people. This does not meet the needs of the present residents but it does speak clearly about the improving image of the area.

We object to the bad comments about Hillfields…. It may have a bad reputation, but hey, we are getting there…..

4.50 The URBAN Programme combined with the Single Regeneration Budget has helped Hillfields turn a corner. There is still much to do before the area can be seen as a prosperous community. The area has, however, clear and visible signs of regeneration. This evaluation demonstrated that the outputs and outcomes from the investments have had a positive result. The comment about Hillfields on the knowhere site expresses the conclusion of this evaluation.

4.51 URBAN has been a very helpful and positive influence on the people of Hillfields and its impact will last for many years. Encouragingly it appears that the projects within SRB and URBAN have help to kick start a cycle of investment in the area. Private and public investment projects are being discussed in place of the benign approaches that took place in the 1980’s.

4.52 The great experience derived by being in a European Union Programme and national URBAN networks has helped lift the area’s eyes to what has been done elsewhere, what works and what can be done. This broadening of the horizons of Hillfields has been a powerful undercurrent which has helped place Hillfields as an active part of the UK working with and alongside and contributing to regeneration work across Europe. It is no wonder that one of the pieces of public art work undertaken is a multicultural expression of welcome and friendship.

4. Outputs & Outcomes