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