Understanding the impact of the Evolve programme: perspectives on safety, wellbeing and opportunity in Beechwood and Ballantyne, Noctorum, and Woodchurch.
This research explores residents’ awareness, experiences and perceptions of the Evolve programme across Beechwood and Ballantyne, Noctorum, and Woodchurch. The Evolve programme is a Home Office funded initiative to tackle serious, organised crime in these three areas. It has funded a range of projects to create safer and more resilient communities. Insights were gathered through doorknocking and through engagement at community venues. In total, 181 residents shared their views on the impact of the programme, the outstanding issues within their communities and future opportunities. The findings highlight the positive impact of Evolve-funded activities on wellbeing, social connection and community resilience.
Insights gathered: September 2024 - November 2024
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Regeneration
- Community activities or events
- Crime and/or serious violence
- Experience of service provision
- Social inclusion/exclusion
Insights gathered by
The Qualitative Insight Team on behalf of Wirral Council’s Neighbourhood Community Safety Team.
Aim
To gather insights on residents’ understanding and experiences of the Evolve programme across the three priority neighbourhoods, including:
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Levels of awareness of the Evolve programme and its activities.
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The perceived impact of the Evolve programme and its activities.
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How safe residents feel in each of the target areas.
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Where there are outstanding issues (for example, crime, violence and antisocial behaviour) that need to be resolved.
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Ideas for addressing the outstanding issues identified.
People engaged with
The project engaged 181 people across the three target neighbourhoods:
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Beechwood and Ballantyne – (34 participants)
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Noctorum – (59 participants)
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Woodchurch – (88 participants)
Engagement took place with people who live in the Evolve areas (152 participants) and those who live outside of the Evolve areas but travel into them for community activities (31 participants).
Methods
The insight gathering was carried out by researchers in the Qualitative Insight Team with support from the Public Health Delivery Team and Community Connectors at Involve Northwest.
A range of methods were used across the Evolve areas, including:
1. Door knock engagements in targeted residential areas, selected using crime mapping data.
2. Community setting engagements at venues such as churches, community hubs, schools and activity groups. This included 1-1 conversations and small focus groups.
Research grids (a set of prompts designed beforehand) were used to structure the conversations. The insights were analysed thematically to identify patterns within and across the three neighbourhood areas. Maps were produced to document locations that residents felt were unsafe.
Key insights
1. Awareness of the Evolve Programme
Most of the respondents across the three areas had not heard about the Evolve programme (117 respondents). Across the Evolve areas, 48 respondents had heard of the programme and its activities. Some residents recognised the Evolve name or knew about certain projects, while many others had taken part in Evolve funded activities without realising they were connected to the programme. For those that had heard about Evolve, they thought it was related to the work of the police, the community fireworks displays and young people’s activities.
2. Impact of Evolve programme
Across the three areas, residents described strong positive impacts of Evolve funded activities. Themes included reduced social isolation, increased wellbeing, stronger community spirit and resilience, social cohesion, and helping people to save money through social supermarkets, discounted food and free activities. There were mixed views on the impact of police activities; following police intervention, some respondents had noticed a calmness in their area, while others thought it was a short-term fix.
3. Outstanding issues
In each Evolve area, most respondents felt safe in their local area. However, most respondents felt unsafe at night. The main reasons were poor lighting and the fear of intimidation and antisocial behaviour from ‘gangs’ of young people on bikes.
In the day and night, respondents talked about how safety concerns deter them from socialising, exercising, walking and shopping in the area. Each community identified specific locations where they felt uneasy, usually due to low lighting, antisocial behaviour or past incidents they had witnessed or heard about. These concerns were similar across the three areas and often centred on shared spaces like footpaths, local shops and cut throughs. These concerns led some residents to change their routines, for example, avoiding certain shops, paths or parks, or choosing not to leave their homes in the evening.
Participants felt that there are limited opportunities in the three areas, including things to do and enjoy, due to funding shortages and closure of community venues. The lack of opportunities was perceived to be linked to outstanding safety issues, such as young people being led to crime and antisocial behaviour because they have little to occupy or inspire them.
4. Future opportunities
Participants suggested a range of community projects, activities, and opportunities they would like to see in their area. The most prominent themes across the Evolve areas were as follows:
More opportunities for children and young people.
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Long-term funding for activities that cater for a range of ages.
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Encourage young people to feel valued and motivated and praise good behaviour.
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Activities for special education needs children at varied times of day and local disability swim sessions.
Improve variety and advertising of activities and amenities for adults.
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With the aim to reduce social isolation and improve mental and physical wellbeing.
Better street lighting to improve safety at night and deter groups from congregating.
More police presence and community engagement from police.
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Increased interaction between police and residents.
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A desire for self-policing in community e.g. a neighbourhood watch scheme.
Education and economic empowerment for families.
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Support for low-income families e.g. financial, employment, skills and food.
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Education for parents on grooming, drugs and ASB prevention.
Quotes
“You can arrive in tears, and someone is around [in the community shop] to help”.
“I don’t go to the middle shops on the estate […] because I don’t want to bump into gangs.”
How have the insights been used/shared?
The outstanding issues identified by residents were used to inform future work of the problem-solving implementation (PSI) groups in each Evolve area. These groups feed into Wirral’s Health and Wellbeing Board. The findings have also supported the Community Safety Team to strengthen how future funding opportunities are promoted, helping ensure residents and local groups are better informed and able to benefit.