New analysis has shown that over one million individuals in England are residing in areas of concealed financial struggle. This suggests that they may not receive necessary assistance due to the fact that their poverty is overshadowed by wealthier neighbors.
Minority groups are disproportionately affected by concentrated pockets of extreme poverty, which are not accounted for in current methods used by local and national authorities to allocate resources for addressing deprivation.
According to a research program funded by the government and conducted by geographers at Queen’s University in Belfast, it is estimated that 1.3 million individuals are affected by a hidden hardship. The Guardian’s analysis reveals that this issue is particularly prevalent in certain areas such as Aylesbury, London, Oxford, and Manchester.
In light of the results, a representative from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated: “Our goal is to revamp our data strategy to ensure we have accurate information for improved decision making and effective allocation of funds to areas in greatest need.”
Approximately 220,000 individuals from Pakistan and nearly 200,000 from Bangladesh make up the most disadvantaged 10% of the population, but they do not reside in regions currently classified as such.
The influx of gentrification has led to this phenomenon in numerous locations, where the wealth of newcomers has overshadowed the harsh truth of overcrowded living conditions, poor health, limited education, and high joblessness for others.
The EGDI was developed by the researchers through analyzing millions of responses from the 2021 census, revealing significant disparities in living conditions among ethnic groups residing in the same areas.
Prof Christopher Lloyd from Queen’s, who was part of a £1m project with a team of international academics, stated that without this proof, certain communities may not receive the necessary support to better their future opportunities. He mentioned that local authorities have reached out for this data and they aim to assist them in creating effective strategies that focus on the individuals and areas that require the most attention.
In the Tower Hamlets area, specifically on the Leamouth peninsula, there is a community of Chinese individuals who are considered to be among the most deprived 10%, despite the overall low level of deprivation in the neighborhood.
In a specific section of the Finham neighborhood in Coventry, which is considered one of the least deprived areas in England, there are households with African backgrounds that experience high levels of deprivation compared to the rest of the country.
Government employees have been utilizing the index of multiple deprivation (IMD) for many years to determine how to allocate resources towards addressing poverty. The IMD divides the country into numerous neighborhoods and assigns them into 10 categories based on their level of deprivation, from highest to lowest. This tool has been employed by the national government to direct school funding and allocate funds for the troubled families program, as well as by local municipalities to request funding.
Lloyd and his coworker Professor Gemma Catney stated that members of these ethnic groups have a higher likelihood of not benefiting from neighborhood interventions due to residing in areas that are not significantly deprived as a whole.
“These locations conceal instances of deprivation within certain groups. Utilizing a measure that applies to the entire population would result in these groups not receiving targeted interventions for the most deprived 10%.”
The index is expected to assist local and national governments, as well as charities, in addressing persistent ethnic disparities in British society. The 2021 census revealed that nearly half of Bangladeshi individuals were either unemployed or not participating in the economy, while only slightly over a quarter of white English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, or British individuals fell into this category. Additionally, 42% of black Caribbean individuals reported having very good health, compared to 64% among African individuals.
John Pritchard, an intelligence analyst for Oldham council, expressed appreciation for the index, stating that it offered a unique and valuable perspective on the data regarding ethnicity and poverty.
He stated that new viewpoints can lead to fresh inquiries and discussions, as well as potential innovative resolutions. He also mentioned that it is still in the early stages and that more collaboration with the researchers is needed to fully grasp the insights provided by the index.
The index is being investigated by Tower Hamlets, a borough in east London known for its stark contrast between the wealth of Canary Wharf and the poverty of its residents. In one particular neighborhood, Cambridge Heath, the Bangladeshi community ranks 19th out of 69,000 in terms of deprivation, while those who identify as “other white” rank at 58,254th.
Dr. Shabna Begum, interim co-chief executive of the race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, stated that this detailed analysis can provide insight into the damaging effects of inequality in communities. She explained that although different communities may appear to coexist, they are actually vastly different in terms of their housing, health, education, and employment opportunities. Neglecting these complexities could lead to ineffective policies that fail to address the root issues.
The Queen’s researchers stated that the current IMD is an essential tool that displays various types of deprivation but does not reflect the unequal experiences of different ethnic groups. Therefore, they have delved deeper into examining the deprivation levels for each ethnic group within a specific area.
The EGDI provides information on deprivation at both the neighborhood and ethnic group levels. This includes overall deprivation as well as four specific domains: employment, housing, education, and health.
Source: theguardian.com
