my journey begins on a bus in East London
London
London I was growing up UUM Hackney and Chow
I was growing up UUM Hackney and Chow
I was growing up UUM Hackney and Chow Hamlet’s made up one of the largest
Hamlet’s made up one of the largest
Hamlet’s made up one of the largest blocks of urban deprivation in Western
blocks of urban deprivation in Western
blocks of urban deprivation in Western Europe some of us who were at school at
Europe some of us who were at school at
Europe some of us who were at school at the time raised some money 360 pounds to
the time raised some money 360 pounds to
the time raised some money 360 pounds to be exact and we bought a double-decker
be exact and we bought a double-decker
be exact and we bought a double-decker bus we took out the seats and sold them
bus we took out the seats and sold them
bus we took out the seats and sold them and we bought some gold posts and some
and we bought some gold posts and some
and we bought some gold posts and some footballs and some art materials and
footballs and some art materials and
footballs and some art materials and some other games and toys and we
some other games and toys and we
some other games and toys and we arranged a rotor of bus drivers from
arranged a rotor of bus drivers from
arranged a rotor of bus drivers from plasto bus carriage because of course we
plasto bus carriage because of course we
plasto bus carriage because of course we were too young to drive this thing and
were too young to drive this thing and
were too young to drive this thing and they would take it down to different
they would take it down to different
they would take it down to different sites at evenings and weekends we would
sites at evenings and weekends we would
sites at evenings and weekends we would run children’s and youth activities on
run children’s and youth activities on
run children’s and youth activities on and around the bus it was fabulously
and around the bus it was fabulously
and around the bus it was fabulously popular sometimes we get one hundred and
popular sometimes we get one hundred and
popular sometimes we get one hundred and twenty hundred and forty kids at those
twenty hundred and forty kids at those
twenty hundred and forty kids at those sessions and so began Community Links
sessions and so began Community Links
sessions and so began Community Links the Community Action organization which
the Community Action organization which
the Community Action organization which I’ve been associated with ever since
I’ve been associated with ever since
I’ve been associated with ever since sometimes I would arrive very early for
sometimes I would arrive very early for
sometimes I would arrive very early for those sessions or I would stay behind
those sessions or I would stay behind
those sessions or I would stay behind afterwards and I would walk around the
afterwards and I would walk around the
afterwards and I would walk around the estates with the children and we would
estates with the children and we would
estates with the children and we would talk about their lives there were
talk about their lives there were
talk about their lives there were conversations which were to shape to my
conversations which were to shape to my
conversations which were to shape to my life I learnt about their overcrowded
life I learnt about their overcrowded
life I learnt about their overcrowded homes often cold and damp about broken
homes often cold and damp about broken
homes often cold and damp about broken heating broken windows about thin
heating broken windows about thin
heating broken windows about thin hand-me-down clothes and embarrassment
hand-me-down clothes and embarrassment
hand-me-down clothes and embarrassment at school about irregular meals
at school about irregular meals
at school about irregular meals sometimes adequate sometimes not and
sometimes adequate sometimes not and
sometimes adequate sometimes not and about an entire existence lived on these
about an entire existence lived on these
about an entire existence lived on these few foogoo streets no outings no trips
few foogoo streets no outings no trips
few foogoo streets no outings no trips no treats
no treats
no treats I learnt of course that poverty is about
I learnt of course that poverty is about
I learnt of course that poverty is about money not enough of it but it was also
money not enough of it but it was also
money not enough of it but it was also about something else my friends and I
about something else my friends and I
about something else my friends and I were often the only adults outside the
were often the only adults outside the
were often the only adults outside the family with whom those children had any
family with whom those children had any
family with whom those children had any conversations had any real relationship
conversations had any real relationship
conversations had any real relationship sometimes even including the family we
sometimes even including the family we
sometimes even including the family we were the only people with whom they had
were the only people with whom they had
were the only people with whom they had a real relationship even though we were
a real relationship even though we were
a real relationship even though we were ourselves only a couple of years older
ourselves only a couple of years older
ourselves only a couple of years older than they were
than they were
than they were and I saw how this relational poverty
and I saw how this relational poverty
and I saw how this relational poverty was linked to three effects there was an
was linked to three effects there was an
was linked to three effects there was an absence of what we now call cultural
absence of what we now call cultural
absence of what we now call cultural capital the knowledge we acquire from
capital the knowledge we acquire from
capital the knowledge we acquire from mixing with others the knowledge about
mixing with others the knowledge about
mixing with others the knowledge about how to dress how to behave how to speak
how to dress how to behave how to speak
how to dress how to behave how to speak in certain situations there was an
in certain situations there was an
in certain situations there was an absence of networks the people we know
absence of networks the people we know
absence of networks the people we know who can be accessible role models who
who can be accessible role models who
who can be accessible role models who can introduce us to work experience
can introduce us to work experience
can introduce us to work experience opportunities to jobs perhaps can tell
opportunities to jobs perhaps can tell
opportunities to jobs perhaps can tell us about college on the wider world I no
us about college on the wider world I no
us about college on the wider world I no doubt in part as a consequence of those
doubt in part as a consequence of those
doubt in part as a consequence of those first two effects there was an absence
first two effects there was an absence
first two effects there was an absence of belief not aspiration that’s a quite
of belief not aspiration that’s a quite
of belief not aspiration that’s a quite separate thing but an absence of belief
separate thing but an absence of belief
separate thing but an absence of belief and absence of confidence an absence of
and absence of confidence an absence of
and absence of confidence an absence of self-esteem I began to realize that two
self-esteem I began to realize that two
self-esteem I began to realize that two things really
things really
things really first that relational poverty was at
first that relational poverty was at
first that relational poverty was at least as aggressive and as destructive
least as aggressive and as destructive
least as aggressive and as destructive as material deprivation and second that
as material deprivation and second that
as material deprivation and second that the two were inextricably entwined of
the two were inextricably entwined of
the two were inextricably entwined of course it’s possible to be isolated but
course it’s possible to be isolated but
course it’s possible to be isolated but not poor poor but not isolated but there
not poor poor but not isolated but there
not poor poor but not isolated but there is a particular probability that the two
is a particular probability that the two
is a particular probability that the two will coincide and when they do a trap is
will coincide and when they do a trap is
will coincide and when they do a trap is sprung relational want compounds
sprung relational want compounds
sprung relational want compounds material hardship material hardship
material hardship material hardship
material hardship material hardship compounds relational what so my
compounds relational what so my
compounds relational what so my subsequent life as a community worker
subsequent life as a community worker
subsequent life as a community worker has been built around two missions
has been built around two missions
has been built around two missions really one around tackling the material
really one around tackling the material
really one around tackling the material is the inequalities around those
is the inequalities around those
is the inequalities around those material essentials and secondly around
material essentials and secondly around
material essentials and secondly around building and sustaining relationships
building and sustaining relationships
building and sustaining relationships the human essentials fast-forward 40 odd
the human essentials fast-forward 40 odd
the human essentials fast-forward 40 odd years hour now as a society are we doing
years hour now as a society are we doing
years hour now as a society are we doing well be in a better place than we were
well be in a better place than we were
well be in a better place than we were four decades ago well I’d like to say
four decades ago well I’d like to say
four decades ago well I’d like to say that we are
that we are
that we are but I can’t say that honestly one in
but I can’t say that honestly one in
but I can’t say that honestly one in four people in you now some 60,000 have
four people in you now some 60,000 have
four people in you now some 60,000 have debts they cannot manage now I look
debts they cannot manage now I look
debts they cannot manage now I look around the world and of course I
around the world and of course I
around the world and of course I recognized that all things are relative
recognized that all things are relative
recognized that all things are relative but I also think about a mother I spoke
but I also think about a mother I spoke
but I also think about a mother I spoke to at Community Links a few weeks ago at
to at Community Links a few weeks ago at
to at Community Links a few weeks ago at the start of the new school term our 11
the start of the new school term our 11
the start of the new school term our 11 year old son at a new secondary school
year old son at a new secondary school
year old son at a new secondary school at kam home and said that he was being
at kam home and said that he was being
at kam home and said that he was being bullied and indeed being threatened
bullied and indeed being threatened
bullied and indeed being threatened because of his quotes poor boy trainers
because of his quotes poor boy trainers
because of his quotes poor boy trainers now none of us are a separate from the
now none of us are a separate from the
now none of us are a separate from the society in which we live and if you’re a
society in which we live and if you’re a
society in which we live and if you’re a lone parent on a low income perhaps also
lone parent on a low income perhaps also
lone parent on a low income perhaps also any regular income you want to do the
any regular income you want to do the
any regular income you want to do the very very best you can for your child
very very best you can for your child
very very best you can for your child what is the right thing to do in those
what is the right thing to do in those
what is the right thing to do in those circumstances we in East London live in
circumstances we in East London live in
circumstances we in East London live in the shadow of Canary Wharf the
the shadow of Canary Wharf the
the shadow of Canary Wharf the difference between their community and
difference between their community and
difference between their community and ours has got bigger the gap between the
ours has got bigger the gap between the
ours has got bigger the gap between the top 10% of income earners in the UK and
top 10% of income earners in the UK and
top 10% of income earners in the UK and the bottom 10% of income earners has got
the bottom 10% of income earners has got
the bottom 10% of income earners has got about 10% bigger over the lifetime of
about 10% bigger over the lifetime of
about 10% bigger over the lifetime of Community Links and of course the
Community Links and of course the
Community Links and of course the extremes at both ends have become more
extremes at both ends have become more
extremes at both ends have become more and more extreme the Trussell trust the
and more extreme the Trussell trust the
and more extreme the Trussell trust the UK’s leading food bank charity gave away
UK’s leading food bank charity gave away
UK’s leading food bank charity gave away some 42,000 food parcels 7 years ago
some 42,000 food parcels 7 years ago
some 42,000 food parcels 7 years ago last year it was 1.2 million so
last year it was 1.2 million so
last year it was 1.2 million so sadly I would say that material
sadly I would say that material
sadly I would say that material deprivation is alive and well in the UK
deprivation is alive and well in the UK
deprivation is alive and well in the UK what about the relational poverty well
what about the relational poverty well
what about the relational poverty well most of us network more than ever but
most of us network more than ever but
most of us network more than ever but study after study suggests that
study after study suggests that
study after study suggests that meaningful time together is being
meaningful time together is being
meaningful time together is being systematically displaced by fast and
systematically displaced by fast and
systematically displaced by fast and shallow connections we’re becoming more
shallow connections we’re becoming more
shallow connections we’re becoming more atomized and automated simultaneously
atomized and automated simultaneously
atomized and automated simultaneously our institutions have got bigger and
our institutions have got bigger and
our institutions have got bigger and bigger and more and more remote and I
bigger and more and more remote and I
bigger and more and more remote and I suggest also that our attitudes have
suggest also that our attitudes have
suggest also that our attitudes have changed aggressive self interest has
changed aggressive self interest has
changed aggressive self interest has become both a political and economic
become both a political and economic
become both a political and economic orthodoxy and also a kind of new popular
orthodoxy and also a kind of new popular
orthodoxy and also a kind of new popular common sense so it is that one in five
common sense so it is that one in five
common sense so it is that one in five of us are lonely one in ten are severely
of us are lonely one in ten are severely
of us are lonely one in ten are severely isolated with clinical implications
isolated with clinical implications
isolated with clinical implications I might not these wicked numbers also
I might not these wicked numbers also
I might not these wicked numbers also account for many others the number of
account for many others the number of
account for many others the number of hospital admissions for self abuse for
hospital admissions for self abuse for
hospital admissions for self abuse for instance self-harming
instance self-harming
instance self-harming have increased by some 68 percent over
have increased by some 68 percent over
have increased by some 68 percent over the last ten years more troubles me
the last ten years more troubles me
the last ten years more troubles me about all this is not those absolute
about all this is not those absolute
about all this is not those absolute numbers but it is the direction of the
numbers but it is the direction of the
numbers but it is the direction of the tides we’re drifting apart and we are
tides we’re drifting apart and we are
tides we’re drifting apart and we are doing this for ourselves that’s the
doing this for ourselves that’s the
doing this for ourselves that’s the really important part here this is some
really important part here this is some
really important part here this is some kind of act of God we have made these
kind of act of God we have made these
kind of act of God we have made these tides and consequently we can change
tides and consequently we can change
tides and consequently we can change them I go back to my teenage self and my
them I go back to my teenage self and my
them I go back to my teenage self and my friends buying a bus because we had an
friends buying a bus because we had an
friends buying a bus because we had an idea about doing things differently and
idea about doing things differently and
idea about doing things differently and because it was something we could do we
because it was something we could do we
because it was something we could do we are the most educated potentially
are the most educated potentially
are the most educated potentially capable generation that there has ever
capable generation that there has ever
capable generation that there has ever been if we can’t beat the causes of
been if we can’t beat the causes of
been if we can’t beat the causes of poverty and social exclusion it won’t be
poverty and social exclusion it won’t be
poverty and social exclusion it won’t be for want of capacity or capability it
for want of capacity or capability it
for want of capacity or capability it will be for want of curiosity and want
will be for want of curiosity and want
will be for want of curiosity and want of ambition so first on material poverty
of ambition so first on material poverty
of ambition so first on material poverty why have food banks become our response
why have food banks become our response
why have food banks become our response to the slashing of the welfare safety
to the slashing of the welfare safety
to the slashing of the welfare safety net why not a poor people’s March on
net why not a poor people’s March on
net why not a poor people’s March on Parliament why such mute acceptance
Parliament why such mute acceptance
Parliament why such mute acceptance returning to a position where we don’t
returning to a position where we don’t
returning to a position where we don’t have the levels of penury that
have the levels of penury that
have the levels of penury that necessitate the charity of food parcels
necessitate the charity of food parcels
necessitate the charity of food parcels isn’t about right and left it is surely
isn’t about right and left it is surely
isn’t about right and left it is surely about right and wrong our politicians
about right and wrong our politicians
about right and wrong our politicians need to know that we care about these
need to know that we care about these
need to know that we care about these things and of course there will be
things and of course there will be
things and of course there will be implications for our tax rates we need
implications for our tax rates we need
implications for our tax rates we need to embrace them they are the
to embrace them they are the
to embrace them they are the subscription that we pay for membership
subscription that we pay for membership
subscription that we pay for membership of a civilized society a second on
of a civilized society a second on
of a civilized society a second on relationships
relationships
relationships this one isn’t just about politicians in
this one isn’t just about politicians in
this one isn’t just about politicians in fact it isn’t at all about politicians
fact it isn’t at all about politicians
fact it isn’t at all about politicians my relationship with you is about you
my relationship with you is about you
my relationship with you is about you and me there is stuff here that we and
and me there is stuff here that we and
and me there is stuff here that we and we alone can do start young pairing and
we alone can do start young pairing and
we alone can do start young pairing and budding schemes work well in some
budding schemes work well in some
budding schemes work well in some schools from nursery to sixth floor
schools from nursery to sixth floor
schools from nursery to sixth floor mentoring a mutual support should be
mentoring a mutual support should be
mentoring a mutual support should be built into school life and as much a
built into school life and as much a
built into school life and as much a universal part of growing up as school
universal part of growing up as school
universal part of growing up as school dinners and playground games maybe
dinners and playground games maybe
dinners and playground games maybe schools aren’t your thing think of your
schools aren’t your thing think of your
schools aren’t your thing think of your workplace the intern scheme the Saturday
workplace the intern scheme the Saturday
workplace the intern scheme the Saturday job offer the work experience program
job offer the work experience program
job offer the work experience program make it a promise that you won’t draw
make it a promise that you won’t draw
make it a promise that you won’t draw from the usual staff gene pool next time
from the usual staff gene pool next time
from the usual staff gene pool next time look beyond it adds to it then consider
look beyond it adds to it then consider
look beyond it adds to it then consider our communities maybe you’re a shop
our communities maybe you’re a shop
our communities maybe you’re a shop owner or you work for the council
owner or you work for the council
owner or you work for the council certainly you vote for one invest in bed
certainly you vote for one invest in bed
certainly you vote for one invest in bed cheese market street art jokes in the
cheese market street art jokes in the
cheese market street art jokes in the bus shelter stuff that feeds social
bus shelter stuff that feeds social
bus shelter stuff that feeds social connection and call for a common ground
connection and call for a common ground
connection and call for a common ground test the test applied in all our local
test the test applied in all our local
test the test applied in all our local planning regulation requiring developers
planning regulation requiring developers
planning regulation requiring developers to design social connection into every
to design social connection into every
to design social connection into every new development every nudist new estate
new development every nudist new estate
new development every nudist new estate not as so often happens today to design
not as so often happens today to design
not as so often happens today to design it out above all look around we can only
it out above all look around we can only
it out above all look around we can only tackle the causes of social isolation by
tackle the causes of social isolation by
tackle the causes of social isolation by fundamentally rethinking how Britain
fundamentally rethinking how Britain
fundamentally rethinking how Britain works our cities our communities
works our cities our communities
works our cities our communities everything everywhere imagine a place
everything everywhere imagine a place
everything everywhere imagine a place where meaningful relationships run
where meaningful relationships run
where meaningful relationships run through everything we do
through everything we do
through everything we do they are the central operating principle
they are the central operating principle
they are the central operating principle now think of your place
now think of your place
now think of your place your city your school your business what
your city your school your business what
your city your school your business what would need to change think big
would need to change think big
would need to change think big let’s give this the thought the the
let’s give this the thought the the
let’s give this the thought the the depth the reach that it needs there are
depth the reach that it needs there are
depth the reach that it needs there are quick wins but this is also a long-term
quick wins but this is also a long-term
quick wins but this is also a long-term mission make it a generational shift
mission make it a generational shift
mission make it a generational shift imagining and planning for the land of
imagining and planning for the land of
imagining and planning for the land of our children and fundamentally
our children and fundamentally
our children and fundamentally rethinking the way we live our lives if
rethinking the way we live our lives if
rethinking the way we live our lives if there was one thing one thing that I
there was one thing one thing that I
there was one thing one thing that I would like you to take away from my
would like you to take away from my
would like you to take away from my contribution this evening it would be
contribution this evening it would be
contribution this evening it would be this make a plan nurture and in bed
this make a plan nurture and in bed
this make a plan nurture and in bed meaningful relationships in everything
meaningful relationships in everything
meaningful relationships in everything you do it might now be 40 years a long
you do it might now be 40 years a long
you do it might now be 40 years a long time ago but I still remember those
time ago but I still remember those
time ago but I still remember those children who would say that we were the
children who would say that we were the
children who would say that we were the best friends we had not because it was a
best friends we had not because it was a
best friends we had not because it was a ridiculous thing to say after so short
ridiculous thing to say after so short
ridiculous thing to say after so short an acquaintance but because I thought
an acquaintance but because I thought
an acquaintance but because I thought that sadly it was probably true and that
that sadly it was probably true and that
that sadly it was probably true and that is the nature of poverty of inequality
is the nature of poverty of inequality
is the nature of poverty of inequality of social exclusion the nature of life
of social exclusion the nature of life
of social exclusion the nature of life for some people in the UK today and we
for some people in the UK today and we
for some people in the UK today and we can all do better than that
can all do better than that
can all do better than that so please fight the tide make your plan
so please fight the tide make your plan
so please fight the tide make your plan find your bus
”
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