Measuring Impact - Nicva

34 Measuring Impact – Case-studies of impact assessment
In some cases local residents become enthused by a particular issue or activity, and are keen
to be involved in the future, making it more likely that the project will be sustainable. The
Lansbury Festival for example, resulted in many residents forming a group to organise a
smaller scale event in future years.
“People are feeling a lot more comfortable about the Lansbury area and they want to
do more about developing Lansbury.”
– Member of staff, Poplar HARCA (housing association)
“We’ve got a very proactive community who want to do the festival [again], but
instead of being co-ordinated by us it will be co-ordinated locally by the residents.”
– Member of staff, Leaside Regeneration Ltd
Similarly, involvement in the festival resulted in one resident going on to take up a position of
responsibility on a local steering group. Also, some groups who took part in the festival have
been encouraged to apply for SRB funding themselves. One very positive long-term impact is
employment and skills development by people who were involved as volunteers. Lea Rivers
Trust for example, trains volunteers with a view to eventually offering them paid employment.
5.3.8 Negative impact
Respondents were often unable or unwilling to offer ideas about the possible negative impact
of the various projects. Some talked about the negative impacts of other activities in the area,
or the ways in which particular projects did not work as well as they might have hoped.
Interviewees thought the injection of regeneration funding could have a negative impact on
surrounding areas. People feel left out if they see money being spent on other areas but not in
their immediate neighbourhood. Sometimes this may be the case even if there is money being
spent in a particular area, but it is not visible or known to local people. Big business developments
in the area tend to have a similar adverse impact on local people, creating a feeling of
bitterness. People see big developments happening around them and feel that there is no
financial or social benefit to local residents.
It was suggested that one negative impact of regeneration funding in general is that it can
result in people becoming more affluent and then leaving the area.
“People up and leave once you’ve helped them to become more affluent.”
– Member of staff, London Development Agency
However, it was also suggested that as long as there is a continual, rolling programme of
improvement there will be a constant stream of people benefiting. There is also a danger that
SRB funding might create a dependency culture among recipient organisations.
It was thought that one specific negative impact of the Lea Rivers Trust biodiversity project
was that, as with much environmental regeneration work, it attracts a very specific volunteer
group. Their volunteers are almost exclusively white, meaning that the project could be said
to be contributing to an undiverse volunteer culture.