These slides were used to illustrate a lecture at Sheffield University, 'Regeneration with a human face: responsible urban recovery'. They look at the problem of knowing 'what works' in regeneration and propose six people-centred approaches that can help us move forward. You can read the full text of the lecture here: http://urbanpollinators.co.uk/?page_id=1820

1. Regeneration with a human face
can people-centred approaches help us develop policies that
work?

2. A long and winding road
How we got here and the challenge of knowing what works
The persistence of palatable paradigms
Questions that are embarrassing to ask in public
Stepping stones to reciprocal regeneration
Six pillars of people-centred policy
Rediscovering reciprocity
From ‘something for nothing’ to sustainable livelihoods
1
2
3
4

3. Home sweet home: a way of thinking?
‘Objects and places are centres of value. They attract or repel in
finely shaded degrees.’ (Yi-Fu Tuan, Space and Place)

4. A long and winding road
How we got here and the challenge of knowing what works
The persistence of palatable paradigms
Questions that are embarrassing to ask in public
Stepping stones to reciprocal regeneration
Six pillars of people-centred policy
Rediscovering reciprocity
From ‘something for nothing’ to sustainable livelihoods
1
2
3
4

5. ‘Not knowing what works’
‘The closer you get to the ground, the more intertwined the
social issues are.’ (Chanan and Miller, Rethinking Community
Practice)

6. ‘Not knowing what works’
‘Within ten to 20 years, nobody should be seriously
disadvantaged by where they live.’ (Tony Blair, Bringing Britain
Together, 2001)

7. ‘Not knowing what works’
‘Raising the growth rate in all regions and reducing the gap in
growth rates between regions remains extremely
challenging.’ (HM Treasury, Sub-national review of economic
development and regeneration, 2007)

8. Definitions and destinations
‘Regeneration is the action of citizens and those who work with
them to recreate home for new times, especially where there is
poverty and disadvantage.’ (New Start magazine, 2010)

9. The retreat from complexity
‘It is only through economic growth that as a country we will
have the resources and opportunities to tackle unemployment,
poverty, poor health and inequality...’ (DCLG, 2012)

10. The ‘get a job’ regeneration creed
‘For too long, we’ve had a system where people who did the
right thing - who get up in the morning and work hard - felt
penalised for it, while people who did the wrong thing got
rewarded for it.’ (George Osborne, 2 April 2013)

11. ‘Get a job’ regeneration in action
In March, DFS in Wolverhampton advertised 22 jobs. There
were 2,497 applicants.
In February, Costa Coffee in Nottingham advertised 8 jobs.
There were 1,700 applicants.
Every month another 10,000 working families require housing
benefit to help pay the rent.

12. A long and winding road
How we got here and the challenge of knowing what works
The persistence of palatable paradigms
Questions that are embarrassing to ask in public
Stepping stones to reciprocal regeneration
Six pillars of people-centred policy
Rediscovering reciprocity
From ‘something for nothing’ to sustainable livelihoods
1
2
3
4

13. What if ‘growth’ is part of the problem?
‘Prosperity for the few founded on ecological destruction and
persistent social injustice is no foundation for a civilised
society.’ (Tim Jackson, Prosperity Without Growth)
Graphs: Tax Research UK, August 2012 (left); Earth Policy Institute, 2013 (right)

14. Is a blame culture making things worse?
63% say the benefits system is not working; 72% say politicians
should do more to cut benefits; 84% say there should be stricter
testing for incapacity benefits (Ipsos MORI poll, October 2011)

15. C20 paradigms: nasty, brutish and rich?
‘The realities of poverty, anxiety, environmental degradation,
and unhappiness in the midst of great plenty should not be
regarded as mere curiosities. They require our urgent
attention...” (Jeffrey Sachs, World Happiness Report)

16. A long and winding road
How we got here and the challenge of knowing what works
The persistence of palatable paradigms
Questions that are embarrassing to ask in public
Stepping stones to reciprocal regeneration
Six pillars of people-centred policy
Rediscovering reciprocity
From ‘something for nothing’ to sustainable livelihoods
1
2
3
4

17. All in it together: WECH, London
‘If more places were like WECH there would be more
happiness.’ (Local resident, 2010)

18. All in it together: Giroscope, Hull
‘Being based in the community, you get to know the intricacies
of streets right down to quite a local level.’ (Martin Newman,
Giroscope)

19. All in it together: If you eat, you’re in
‘This isn’t a veg scheme, it’s a behaviour shift scheme.’ (Pam
Warhurst, Incredible Edible Todmorden)

20. Reframing reciprocity: the Big Society?
‘If the big society is anything better than a slogan... discussion
has to take on board what it is to be a citizen and where it is that
we most deeply and helpfully acquire the resources of civic
identity and dignity.’ Rowan Williams, July 2012

21. Reframing reciprocity: relational welfare
‘Taking the “relational practice” concept seriously would involve
the largest departure from the traditional focus of welfare
policy... the central concern would be whether welfare treats
people as human beings.’ (Graeme Cooke, Contributory Welfare)

22. Reframing reciprocity: building trust
‘Reputation is a personal reward that is intimately bound up
with respecting and considering the needs of others.’ (Rachel
Botsman and Roo Rogers, What’s Mine is Yours)

23. Towards sustainable livelihoods
‘The starting point is not deprivation but assets: the strengths
and capabilities of people living in poverty, and the strategies
they use, through drawing on these different assets, to “get
by”.’ (IPPR, Community Assets First)

24. A long and winding road
How we got here and the challenge of knowing what works
The persistence of palatable paradigms
Questions that are embarrassing to ask in public
Stepping stones to reciprocal regeneration
Six pillars of people-centred policy
Rediscovering reciprocity
From ‘something for nothing’ to sustainable livelihoods
1
2
3
4

25. Stepping stone 1: build networks
‘“Familiar strangers” like postmen and dustmen appear to be
under-utilised community resources... more people recognise
and find value in their postman than in their local
councillor.’ (Connected Communities, RSA)

26. Stepping stone 2: build resilience
‘...translational leaders play a critical role, frequently behind the
scenes, connecting constituencies, and weaving various networks,
perspectives, knowledge systems and agendas into a coherent
whole.’ (Andrew Zolli and Ann Marie Healy, Resilience)

27. Stepping stone 3: build participation
A study of participatory budgeting in Govanhill, Glasgow, found
that ‘the process has enabled purposeful and reciprocal dialogue
between community members and the public and third sectors’.
(Harkins and Egan, 2012)

28. Stepping stone 4: ownership & access
In 35 years, Coin Street Community Builders has turned 13
acres of derelict land on London’s South Bank into a thriving
neighbourhood, with co-operative housing, businesses, gardens
and a riverside walkway.

29. Stepping stone 5: maximise rewards
Organisations such as WiganPlus and Rewardyourworld.com
are developing reward schemes where people can earn points for
volunteering or supporting local businesses, and spend them on
local services or donate them to charities.

30. Stepping stone 6: build the job market
‘Services that are provided within a locality should be done as
far as possible by the people who live there, and public service
contracts specified in ways that facilitate this.’ (ResPublica,
Responsible Recovery)

31. Three redistributions: income, work, value
‘The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade
you do not expect to sit.’ (Nelson Henderson)