The
Chancellor’s package of funding for youth training and jobs is welcome. Concerns are being expressed across the country about the mistakes of the youth employment programmes of
the 1970s and 1980s, in the hope that they will not be repeated. It is important that in Croydon (and elsewhere) a re-look at the
detail of what happened in the past is undertaken and a creative approach is adopted.
The Creativity of Lady Margaret Hall Settlement in Lambeth
One
of the most creative organisations in the field of job creation in the 1970s and early 1980s was Lady
Margaret Hall Settlement in North Lambeth. From the early 70s its work had three
themes, responding to local concerns: employment, housing and democratic
participation.
Many
new initiatives were started – Kennington Cleaners, Lambeth
Tiles, House of Lambeth, Lambeth Industries in Norwood, the Co-op Centre, Roots
& Shoots and All Sewn Up - see details below. It also supported setting up housing
co-operatives particularly for immigrant communities.
The 1980s Onwards
Jeffe
Jeffers, the Director at the time,
reflected on this period in 2008. ‘The watershed to the high wave of activity
was the steady weakening of the UK economy resulting in the arrival of
Thatcherism - a philosophy which saw a diminution of interest in community
activity and steady reductions in the role of
local authorities as instruments of social change.
Lambeth
Council set out to oppose this rigorously.
Organisations such as LMHS were caught in the crossfire. Much work
already underway, particularly employment projects for those with learning
disabilities found their funding withdrawn. LMHS struggled to keep these going
and severely depleted its resources in the process.’
Key
projects such as Roots & Shoots went independent. ‘The Settlement was again
close to bankruptcy with large debts.
The
Settlement's near demise coincided with the continued retreat of the local
authority as a provider of local services and as a possible partner in
activity. Instead the local Council retreated from the estates, even trying to
cease to be landlords. Government equally lost confidence in its ability to
intervene constructively. Often dressed
up as the need to let markets operate, this was no more than a loss of will
and the ending of the wartime consensus in favour of equality.’
Roots
& Shoots still operates. All Sewn Up did close, but was re-started and still operates as a Settlement Project.
Perhaps
the most significant project the Settlement was involved in was South Bank Techno, a partnership with Prudential
and South Bank University, developing 225,000 sq ft new build to house new start
technology businesses. Jeffe and the Polytechnic Director John Beishon recognised
the importance of developing a city base for new technology businesses. One of
these businesses developed a computer design programme for architects, which
was so successful, that as it expanded it had to move to Guildford.
Alongside his career with Settlements and in
science park development projects, Jeffe was a Councillor in Wandsworth from 1978-86. In 1981 he initiated a discussion on the need to strengthen the
local economy and restructure the Council to be better able to meet local needs
and challenges.
Economic
Development
Suggesting that the chief problem facing local Councils trying to
generate jobs was money - access to it and lack of control over it, Jeffe
proposed:
·
The creation of an alternative base
for capital attraction in the Borough
·
the use Council resources in a more dynamic way.
·
The creation of a powerful worker
controlled, Council led, employment sector in the Borough which can be an
expanding sector in both services and manufacturing.
·
The
establishment of a local bank, backed by the value of Council assets and in
which residents
can invest locally.
Croydon & Social Enterprise
Croydon has used the co-operative/social
enterprise solution for some aspects of its services: GLL managing the Leisure
Centres, BHLive Fairfield Halls, and Octavo running educational support until
taken back in-house. Although it economic
strategy is supportive of the role of social enterprise, it does not seem to
have had much success in supporting any significant ones. The idea of a Croydon
Bank has been recommended by the Croydon TUC since its analysis of the Council’s
Growth Plan in 2014. It does not appear that the Council has examined this
idea, which would be much stronger if the NHS organisations, Croydon College, local businesses, and community and voluntary
organisations would agree to support and use the Bank.
Council Structural
Reform
Jeffe also proposed the creation of an open
democratic accountable and accessible Council system which would encourage participation, provide a platform for socialist ideals and
practice, and be efficient without a loss of humanity, but without attendant
bureaucracy.
This restructuring would be
based on Area Based Services pushing decision making and accountability down
the ladder. ‘It would be vital to
improve local involvement in the creation and implementation of programmes’
through area advisory panels led by Councillors.
Croydon Council and Devolution
Croydon Council has made some
tentative steps in the direction of such devolution, and a working group of
Councillors is working on the next steps. See my three part discussion starting
at:
The Settlement Influence
Through its extensive networks
of people involved in charities and businesses, some of the ideas developed by
the Settlement were taken up in other part of the UK, including in science park
development and the Ulster Community Investment Trust. In Scotland there is the
North Lanarkshire Municipal Bank.
From the early 2000s the
Settlement developed a project proposal for turning the Beaufoy Institute building
on Black Prince Rd into a vocational artisans skills training school supported
by businesses to provide job placements. Instead of supporting Lambeth Council
chose to sell the building off to a Buddhist organisation. The Settlement was
also involved in the 2000s in exploring creating a cultural quarter in
Kennington. The plans for Damien Hirst to create his gallery in the area was
seen as a key part of such a development.
Settlement Projects in the early 1980s
Lambeth Tiles. Factory reproducing tiles from the 18th century Delft period of the Lambeth Pottery. Employed people with leaning difficulties.
House
of Lambeth. Reproduced the Dolls Houses from the Bethnal Green Museum
for the American Market. Made furniture for Habitat.
Lambeth
Industries. Former Marconi factory complex in West Norwood converted using
trainees into new start businesses workspace using trainees. 40 businesses were
housed. As a condition of its funding support Lambeth Council required the
freehold to be transferred from the Settlement it. The Council has since sold
the estate.
Roots and Shoots. Training Project for those with learning difficulties, literacy, numeracy and horticulture. It became an independent organisation which still operates.
Gypsy Hill Garden Centre. Distribution point for produce from sheltered
workspace.
The Mushroom Factory. Organic mushroom production for Harrods etc.
The Bean Sprout. Specialist unit providing fresh bean sprouts for China Town.
Insul flow. Collecting waste paper, shredding it, coating it with fine retardant and using it to insulate pensioners’ roofs in partnership with S.W. Paper Ltd.
All Sewn Up. Training Programme City & Guilds in high quality sewing skills. This project was closed later due to the frequent problems of the Settlement over funding. It was re-established by the Settlement in the early 2000s and operates at the Lambeth Co-op Centre.
Lambeth Co-operative Development Agency. This developed the Co-op Centre in Mowll Street to house new start workers co-operatives – 26 co-ops. The Centre was then incorporated as its own organisation, which continues to provide office space for community and voluntary organisations and small businesses.
Kennington
Office Cleaners. At its height it employed 150 women. As
with other projects this did not survive. The Settlement attempted to revive it
in the early 2000s.
Lambeth
Toys. It made small wooden toys for Habitat, kitchen utensils,
and large play toys for nurseries.
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