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�We have to ensure that regeneration benefits all
stakeholders�residents, businesses, schools and school children, faith
organisations and the voluntary sector�because we have to eradicate the
poverty that stalks the capital and this country.� In Tower Hamlets, inner-city regeneration is make or break. Unfortunately,
during the '80s and '90s�there was too much emphasis on physical
regeneration and not enough on communities, and even when physical
regeneration did take place it often went over the heads of local people,
who remained untouched by the money that was ploughed in. In fact, the
'80s and '90s were the greatest period of degeneration that this country's
housing estates have ever known. No single programme has made a bigger difference to the life of people
on one of the poorest estates in the country than the NDC programme. It
was introduced on the Ocean estate in Tower Hamlets to improve the life
of more than 6,000 residents there. We had one of the highest rates of
infant mortality in Britain, and the Sure Start programme�which is
integrated with a range of other programmes to challenge and reverse
those appalling statistics�is making inroads. I have been honoured to
work with many people who used to be in permanent confrontational
mode with every form of authority, and I have found it incredibly inspiring to
see their energy transformed into constructive engagement in the
decision-making process. Tackling the Problem of
Housing How do we enable local people to benefit
from regeneration projects? I also want to mention some of the innovation that has been taking place.
There has been a great willingness to test out new approaches and take
risks. For instance, networks of community-based access and vocational
training providers offer courses that reflect the specialist finance, banking
and knowledge economies of Canary Wharf and the City fringe. Specialist
enterprise support agencies have emerged and they range from the
cultural industries development agency to the ethnic minority enterprise
project. Such agencies have helped more than 250 businesses to start
up and grow. I also pay tribute to the work of the Prince's Trust in east
London. It has helped many young people who have often been in
long-term unemployment into jobs, which is a wonderful achievement. Involving the local community Unemployment |