People and Place Review
‘People and Place – A Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal’ was launched in June 2003. It was aimed at targeting those urban communities in Northern Ireland suffering the highest levels of deprivation by bringing together the work of all Government Departments in partnership with local people to tackle disadvantage.
The review
As a result of this, the Neighbourhood Renewal, Areas at Risk and Small Pockets of Deprivation programmes have been in place since. There have been subsequent evaluations of these programmes but this has resulted in limited change.
In February 2020, Minister Hargey publically committed to a comprehensive and strategic review of the current People and Place Strategy to improve how the Department addresses the objective need of a place-based approach to tackling deprivation.
Drivers for change
There is recognition that the strategic context within which Neighbourhood Renewal operates has changed since its inception in 2003. Many other Departments now operate place-based approaches to tackling issues; the changing economic and societal landscape not least, because of the COVID pandemic; and the development of the Executive’s emerging Anti-poverty Strategy are now key factors in the operating environment.
It is therefore an opportune time to strategically review the approach to place-based deprivation within this new operating context.
People and Place Review
This work aims to produce a sound, evidence-based approach that could be used to identify areas experiencing deprivation and on which a future funding programme to tackle deprivation could be based. It was conducted via an inclusive co-design approach bringing together a range of different stakeholders from both our urban and rural communities in all 11 Council areas across Northern Ireland.
This inclusive approach is a way of putting local people and their experiences right at the centre of the planning process alongside Government Departments, Councils, statutory organisations and the Community & Voluntary Sector, including Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships.
We are actively engaging and bringing together people from a wide range of sectors, to draw together their collective experiences, to add their voice and input based on the experience of your community and the issues faced by those for whom the Strategy will deliver.
We will seek to:
- build on the success of the People & Place Strategy 2003;
- develop a new Strategic Framework which recommends a more effective, efficient and more integrated place based approach;
- target objective need which will align with the emerging Anti-Poverty Strategy
The Department retains the policy responsibility, whilst Minister retains the policy decisions making responsibility. The Department will bring forward the outputs i.e. a Strategic Framework for Departmental/Executive approval and any subsequent wider consultation.
Engagement structures
The Department for Communities initiated the People & Place Review to be conducted using an inclusive approach. This has brought together a wide range of stakeholders including Government Departments, Councils, statutory organisations, the Community and Voluntary Sector that includes Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships and Interest Groups that includes Section 75 groups and regional bodies.
The engagement structures include the following elements to input and shape the Strategic Framework:
- Locality Co-Design Groups
- Regional Advisory Group
- Strategy Development Planning Group
- Interest Groups that inc Sec 75
- Joint Departmental Group
We recognise the need for the engagement structures to interlink and this will be integral to the process. Therefore mechanisms have been developed to support ongoing discussion and information sharing amongst the structures, including interested parties within the wider stakeholder circle.
It is critical that this review and strategy development process is robust, evidence based, challenges current and introduces new thinking and ways of doing things.
Locality Groups
The co-design process began with the establishment of Locality Groups x 11, co-terminus with local Council areas. The purpose of the Locality Groups is to support and inform the development of a Strategic Framework and associated implementation plan. The Group has a key role contributing relevant expertise both professional and lived experience.
The Locality Groups, involve a range of stakeholders including representatives drawn from the:
- Neighbourhood Renewal structures
- Wider Voluntary & Community Sector membership
- Statutory membership – Education Authority, Health Trusts, NIHE for example
- Council officials
3 Sessions have taken place across the 11 council areas throughout 2022/23;
- session 1 focused on the existing Strategy (2003)
- session 2 focused on Community Wealth Building and how this approach could be used as part of an overall solution
- session 3 focused on the process of structuring the Strategic Framework around emerging themes. These emerging themes are as a result of an extensive period of pre-engagement with a wide range of stakeholders
In direct response to one of these emerging themes and given the complex nature of deprivation, providing the right support for those communities and the individuals who are living in poverty requires a collaborative and integrated cross-Departmental approach by the Executive, with close collaborative working with local Government. Therefore, work commenced in the form of NICS Collaboration Test and Learn Initiative to explore better ways of working, to achieving better outcomes.
Learning from this informs the People and Place Strategic Framework.
Consolidated outputs for each Locality Group sessions have been published for your information.
Regional Advisory Group
The purpose of the Regional Advisory Group is to offer a strategic view throughout the review and strategy development process and bring forward ideas that might not necessarily be identified by on ground practitioners.
The RAG comprises of approximately 10 core advisors. Advisors includes those who have knowledge of communities facing deprivation including those with the requisite expert, academic and experiential skill sets.
We will also take this opportunity with RAG members to explore wider thinking on place-based planning with a focus on addressing poverty and disadvantage in both urban and rural areas and across interest groups. This includes seeking advice on what works well within some wider place based and community renewal solutions adopted by other jurisdictions.
Strategy Development Planning Group
The Planning Group has a key role in working alongside the DfC People and Place Review Team. The knowledge and experience of representatives from within the Neighbourhood Renewal structures, wider Community and Voluntary Sector and Rural organisations will be harnessed by undertaking planning activities that ensures that the necessary outputs from each of the engagement structures are achieved.
These outputs are critical in informing the development of the Strategic Framework.
Indicative timelines
The indicative timeline consists of 2 stages as below:
Stage 1 Strategic Focus: The development of new People & Place Strategic Framework
Complete: The development of the Strategic Framework is now complete and is to be submitted for Ministerial approval.
Stage 2 Delivery Focus: The development of implementation and transition plans
Ongoing: Activities relating to an extended transition phase are ongoing.
The following timeline shows the current planning assumptions:
- Subject to Ministerial approval, by Summer 2025 to submit the Strategic Framework to the Executive to proceed to public consultation.
- Subject to approval by end 2025 to begin transitioning to and implementation of the new Strategic Framework.
- It is not anticipated that there will be any changes to the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme funding in the 25/26 financial year
Newsletters
The People and Place newsletters are still available to view and can be accessed through the link below.