IMPACT REPORT 2014 – 2015
The Community Representative Scheme has now been operational for seven years. The scheme operates in three highly student populated areas of Liverpool; Kensington, Marybone and Smithdown. With an increasing requirement for universities to play a leading role in discharging their civic and social responsibilities, LiverpoolSU has assisted LJMU in their strategic aim of being a socially responsible institution through the provision of Community Reps in areas that are highly populated with LJMU students. The Community Reps also work closely with Liverpool Guild of Students in keeping up to date with news and information as they frequently speak with students attending the University of Liverpool. As the demographics of students have changed within the last number of years to include more home students than ever before, LiverpoolSU is aware of this and a KPI for the 15/16 academic year is to start to research the home/commuter journey. Plans are also outlined in this report for revising our Community Rep scheme to cater for demand in other geographic areas.
STAFFING LEVELS This year we recruited and trained 15 Community Reps throughout the year, who are all students of Liverpool John Moores University at levels five, six or seven of their studies. Training lasted a full day and covered a wide range of themes such as background to the scheme and why LiverpoolSU operates it, solving problems and finding solutions for students and non-student residents, identifying key stakeholders in the community, how they relate to our work and how to communicate with students and non-student residents.
COMMUNITY REP CONVERSATIONS Throughout the course of the academic year (from September 2014 to February 2015) the Community Reps in all three areas had 2098 conversations with members of the community in Smithdown, Kensington and Marybone. From these conversations, 837 of these were with students from Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University.
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PERMANENT RESIDENTS VS. STUDENT RESIDENT CONVERSATIONS STUDENT RESIDENTS
PERMANENT RESIDENTS
KENSINGTON In total, Community Reps had 1234 conversations in the Kensington Fields area of which 247 were with LJMU students and 273 conversations with students from University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University. The main theme was rubbish and bins in the area so this quickly became the main focus of their campaign work. They have worked closely with Liverpool City Council Councillors by liaising with them bi-monthly to discuss the situation on bins in the area. Within some of the streets on the Fields there are alleyways to the rear of the houses that are too narrow for houses to have normal rubbish bins. This has led to a rodent problem in these streets due to houses having to leave refuse bags outside for a number of days making the alleyways dirty and littered, a key target for rodents. Through meeting and working closely with the Councillors of the local area, they were able to secure 100 new small bins
ISSUES WITHIN THE KENSINGTON AREA
for these streets – an amazing success for all involved through the Community Rep’s GOATing in the area. These bins were for houses that required them, including students, with the Community Reps designing and distributing leaflets to alert residents to the win. Following their original meeting with the local Councillors, the Reps met with them again in early April. This meeting was to update the Councillors that all 100 bins had been given out and were gratefully received by residents in this area. This was met with great enthusiasm and the Councillors have since agreed to provide 50 more bins for the area, with lids too, and to provide 5 skips in conjunction with the annual Leave Liverpool Tidy campaign with Liverpool Guild of Students and LiverpoolSU. The Kensington Community Reps also had an immensely successful ‘welcome to the area’ event in Kensington Fields Community Centre. This was designed to allow residents to meet their new Community Reps and was attended by
over 75 residents, both permanent and student. This event was covered by the Liverpool Echo newspaper and is attached (appendix one). A resident from Albany Road stated that, Community Reps are amazing in breaking down the ‘us & them’ culture that happens every year. My next door neighbours were causing issues at the start of the year but the work the student reps did, they are now settling in well and have re-signed to live there next year which I’m really pleased they have done. I’ve even invited them to my family’s BBQ in the summer! Within the area, the Kensington Fields Community Association has been a great help and support to Tim, Chris, Charlotte and Kieran in their work and we’re enthusiastic about building on the work and relationships that the Community Reps have built in the next academic year.
OTHER NOISE
PARKING
TRANSPORT BINS BURGLARY/SAFETY
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SMITHDOWN In total, Community Reps have had a total of 727 conversations over the year in Smithdown, with 411 of these coming from permanent residents, 140 of these conversations with LJMU students and 176 coming from students of Liverpool Hope University and the University of Liverpool. Common themes that have arisen over the academic year included bins/rubbish and noise, especially in the Dales area. Following on from Merseyside Police’s ‘Have Your Say’ meeting in the Unitarian Church on Ullet Road in February, both residents and representatives from LiverpoolSU agreed that although the noise complaints and anti-social behaviour in the area has fallen dramatically, tackling these issues should remain the key priority for local Police in the area. The Smithdown team has developed in terms of cross-agency working this year. They have worked closely with the Noise Abatement Team at Liverpool City Council to help dissolve the noise issues between a set of student homes
and a residential home for the elderly. They have also attended over 10 residents’ group meetings in the area and responded to many noise complaints from both Liverpool City Council and the Greenbank dedicated team at Merseyside Police. Sue Parsons, dedicated Police Constable described the Reps as, a key component in a new ‘multi agency approach’ when we are dealing and managing student related noise and Anti-Social Behaviour complaints. Follow up visits are conducted with various key messages relating to waste management, parking etc. passed. A resident from Lidderdale Road also described the Community Reps as being fantastic in terms of getting involved and being pro-active. They have definitely contributed to the area being a lot quieter this year. More can be done though as this could be a one-off. Relationships within this area have also strengthened this year with the Reps developing better relationships with
ISSUES WITHIN THE SMITHDOWN AREA
stakeholders in the Picton ward and working closely with Councillors there. When the Community Co-ordinator asked for feedback on staff working there this year, Councillors were more than happy to oblige and congratulated the team on their work. From the records that the Community Reps in Smithdown have kept they decided to also campaign on rubbish in the area, primarily on ensuring that everyone put their bins out and bring them in in on time so that the streets look less cluttered and rubbish doesn’t build up on the streets. They have designed stickers for bins so that all residents are informed of their correct bin day and when to leave them out. This is in anticipation that students and permanent residents will take notice and use them correctly. There is also a GOATing (Go Out and Talking) exercise planned for houses that don’t leave their bins out correctly.
OTHER PARKING
TRANSPORT
NOISE
BURGLARY/SAFETY
BINS
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MARYBONE In total, Community Reps had 137 conversations with residents over the year, with all of these being with permanent residents. Again the key theme in this area is rubbish and safety, primarily residents being concerned about the safety of students walking through their area late at night as a shortcut to other accommodation such as the Reach or Liberty Atlantic Point. This was also raised by one of the Councillors for the area, stating that there were originally plans to gate this but they
were shelved as it could mean that there is restricted access to this area if there was an emergency. At the beginning of the year the Reps noticed that there is a lack of public bins in the area, with the one bin being inconveniently located away from the children’s play park. Through liaising with local residents and the local Councillor they were able to get approval for the sole bin in the area to be moved closer to the park during resurfacing works which are ongoing.
ISSUES WITHIN THE MARYBONE AREA BURGLARY/SAFETY BINS
NOISE
The Community Reps have also held their own introductory event in the Community Centre in conjunction with one of the councillors, who works there. They were on hand to meet and greet older residents and find out issues that they faced which included litter, anti-social behaviour and lack of resources for the area. They also spoke about the ongoing issue of more student accommodation being built on their doorsteps.
One resident at the event stated that, It’s great to see young people get involved with the local area. I’ve lived here in the area for almost 30 years and the number of friendly faces that you see is going, with no-one bothering to say hello to each other as the young students live on the edge of our area. I’d like to see more young people get involved in the area as it’s becoming more and more built-up and not a friendly place to live anymore.
The Community Reps also met with the Student Accommodation Manager at LJMU to look at the Community Association within the area. This will be a key focus of the 15/16 academic year as the Reps become more focussed on the city centre overall and other associations that may be in existence.
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THE YEAR AHEAD As we move into the 2015-2016 academic year the geographical boundaries of where the Community Reps work will be changed to the following: • The Smithdown team will continue as normal, however concentrate more on the Picton ward and developing strong relationships in this area. • The Marybone team have been renamed as the City Centre team and will cater for all LJMU students living within the city centre. • The Kensington team will remain unchanged, however will also look at what issues residents living outside of the Kensington Fields area face.
There is also going to be a new team, named the Outreach team, who will focus on LJMU students who live in key neighbouring wards and boroughs; many potentially remaining in their existing homes and travelling into University. This team is being established due to the volume of students who do this on a daily basis and may not interact with their Students’ Union as much as they could. The first area that the team will focus on for the 2015-2016 academic year is the Kirkdale area. This has been decided through the ward data that LiverpoolSU received from LJMU and shown in appendix 2.
permanent residents in areas with a more dispersed student population, through project and campaign work. This is most likely to be piloted in Sefton, with an overall LJMU student population of 1585, or Wirral, with an overall LJMU student population of 1854. Community Reps will be from these areas or have a sound knowledge in order for us to create great relationships and ensure that LiverpoolSU can deliver effective services for our home students as well as those who have relocated to study at LJMU.
They will also explore ways to develop relationships between students and
Now that the 2015 General Election has taken place, Community Reps will also be engaging with local and national government representatives in local areas with high numbers of LJMU students. This is in anticipation that these officials will develop relationships with the Community Reps and further collaborative work take place that benefits all members of these communities.
Further information regarding any of this report can be obtained from Craig Clarke, Community Co-Ordinator at LiverpoolSU by emailing c.clarke1@ljmu.ac.uk or calling 0151 231 4900.
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A YEAR IN REVIEW Community reps are a key component in a new ‘multi agency approach’ when we are dealing and managing student related noise and Anti-Social Behaviour complaints. Follow up visits are conducted with various key messages relating to waste management, parking etc. passed. PC Sue Parsons, Neighbour Dedicated Officer for Greenbank (Merseyside Police).
The student reps reinforce messages about personal safety and security and responsible living. They provide reassurance and advice to those affected by crime.
Welcome to the area events were attended by over 160 residents, both permanent and student. This was also reported in the Liverpool Echo newspaper.
Community Support Officer (with powers) for Greenbank (Merseyside Police).
Community Reps are fantastic in terms of getting involved and being pro-active. They have definitely contributed to the area being a lot quieter this year. More can be done though as this could be a one-off. Resident of Lidderdale Road.
Community Reps mediated between 31 disputes over noise between neighbours – many of which are now resolved as both sides have a better understanding of each other.
Reps attended 15 community meetings over the three areas, listening to resident concerns and representing students living in those areas.
Community Reps have liaised with various stakeholders this year including local Councillors, Police and Community groups.
LiverpoolSU Community Reps have helped to achieve the organisation’s key strategic KPIs of two improvements in the local area. This has included: • The reinstallation of a bin in Marybone in a better placed location to the children’s park. • 100 new bins distributed in the Kensington Fields area in conjunction with Liverpool City councillors. 7
MY YEAR IN REVIEW
– CHARLOTTE GLOVER (KENSINGTON COMMUNITY REP) Working as a Community Rep in Kensington this year has been a rewarding experience. Welcoming students who had just moved in and seeing them settle in their homes and knowing I had a role in that is very gratifying. I have enjoyed making students feel at home in their accommodation by offering them advice, such as the nearest and cheapest supermarkets to the best possible ways to reduce waste.
to demonstrate how students can be beneficial to Kensington and show how students are developing and improving the community. Our ‘Reduce Waste’ campaign this year was founded through the Community Reps strong links with the residents of Kensington, through meeting and talking with permanent residents and students and making that bond, we were able to find out what changes they wanted to see in the area.
Also I have enjoyed meeting permanent residents of Kensington this year as they have helped me to discover past and long-term issues in the community and as a whole have been very welcoming to the Community Rep team and all students in the area. Our first event in Kensington, a fun day held at the community centre, cemented our relationship with the community as it was a success.
I have organised meetings with Councillors in order to gain their support and help with the campaign. Through organising these meetings the Councillors have agreed to be part of a waste reduction pilot that we will be creating in the summer for when they move in. Not only does this allow students to understand and take care of their community it allows for them to be familiar with their councillors and with the work Community Reps have done the previous academic year. This will promote community cohesion from the start of the
Representing Kensington students was valuable on this day as we were able
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student’s time in Kensington as they will be receiving a helpful guide which will make them feel more at ease in their new homes. It is essential that Kensington remains an area where Community Reps are based as it’s a fast-developing student area and with that comes a few sceptical permanent residents whose issues with students can be resolved simply through the work that Community Reps do, as a number of them have been this year. And also as more and more students move to Kensington for the first time it is important to be there from the start to ensure that they feel comfortable and to get them involved within the community and keep good relations with permanent residents to make Kensington feel like a second home.
APPENDIX ONE
– “CITY STUDENTS BUILD LINKS IN COMMUNITIES” Liverpool Students’ Union is breaking down the barriers between student residents and their community with local cohesion events in some of the main student areas. The Community Representatives in the areas are holding ‘mini-festivals’ within the local community in order to encourage new friendships and the ‘Kensington Fields Fun Day’ was held at the Kensington Fields Community Centre, Hall Lane, on Tuesday, October 28. Student representatives were put into place within the local Liverpool communities to help ensure that longstanding residents were not disturbed by the newcomers, who are often in their second and third years at university. Loud parties and messy properties were often to blame for the conflict in the Kensington and Wavertree areas of Liverpool. Chris Walters, Kensington LiverpoolSU Community Rep for two years, said: Events such as the fun day are a
good thing for the community as there are lots of students in the Kensington area, so residents can see students doing good deeds. It’s also good for the younger children, who will hopefully be looking at university places in the future, to be involved now and learn what the SU is about, he added. Various local stakeholders attended the event and activities included a Halloween quiz, pumpkin bowling and pass-the-parcel. Dan Cole, Vice President (Community Engagement) at LiverpoolSU, said: It’s a brilliant turnout - with events like this, people can take a proactive step rather than a reactive step. Recently the LJMU students have been going out and talking to residents in the hope of engaging students with community life to create a lasting effect.
Sue Robinson, centre co-ordinator at the Community Centre, said: Kids in the community love the LJMU students who are here to help them; they came in over the summer and had a lot of fun. They’re fantastic and give a lot to the community. We’re hoping for a stronger partnership in the future. Student Jack Cowie said: We’re aiming to create an inter-generational project that will celebrate the work done by the centre and show how valuable it is to the community. The volunteers raise awareness for the centre, so something like this is amazing for the kids and can help to convince the council about the importance of centres like this, he added. Article used with kind permission from Liverpool Echo.
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APPENDIX TWO
– LIVERPOOL WARD DATA OF LJMU STUDENTS Students registered in ward data from LJMU (dated Summer 2014) 1.
Kirkdale – 2254 LJMU students
16.
Greenbank – 816 LJMU students
2.
Central – 4332 LJMU students
17.
Wavertree – 291 LJMU students
3.
Everton – 229 LJMU students
18.
Childwall – 154 LJMU students
4.
Riverside – 1060 LJMU students
19.
Old Swan – 214 LJMU students
5.
St Michaels – 404 LJMU students
20.
Knotty Ash – 148 LJMU students
6.
Princes Park – 575 LJMU students
21.
Tuebrook & Stoneycroft – 260 LJMU students
7.
Kensington Fairfield – 431 LJMU students
22.
Anfield – 154 LJMU students
8.
Picton – 1119 LJMU students
23.
County – 136 LJMU students
9.
Mossely Hill – 216 LJMU students
24.
Warbeck – 166 LJMU students
10.
Cressington – 176 LJMU students
25.
Fazakerley – 140 LJMU students
11.
Speke-Garston – 157 LJMU students
26.
Club Moor – 122 LJMU students
12.
Allerton & Hunts Cross – 146 LJMU students
27.
Norris Green – 131 LJMU students
13.
Woolton – 129 LJMU students
28.
Croxteth – 135 LJMU students
14.
Belle Vale – 116 LJMU students
29.
West Derby – 176 LJMU students
15.
Church – 270 LJMU students
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25. 24.
28.
27.
23.
26.
29.
22. 1.
30.
21.
3.
20.
19.
7. 2. 8. 4.
18.
17.
6.
14.
16. 5.
15.
13.
10.
12.
9.
11.
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