Archive

By Katherine Mumford and Anne Power.
Policy Press
ISBN 186134497X
£19.99   

The authors delve into the lives of people living in Hackney and Newham to find out what has happened to the bonds of cohesion that have been the hallmark of London's East End communities.

Anyone familiar with the work of these authors will know that their research is always methodologically careful and extremely powerful in uncovering what is happening in disadvantaged areas of our cities. Here they have focused on how family life is shaped or troubled by neighbourhood conditions.

Chapters address attitudes about community spirit and ethnic division, mothers struggling with paid work, and families' experiences of crime and antisocial behaviour. One conclusion that surprised the authors was how much community does matter. Overall, 85 per cent of families connected directly to their neighbourhood through work, joining in local activities and voluntary involvement.

The authors bring their own expertise in analysing and drawing conclusions. The result throws a brilliant light on the dynamics of disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods in Britain.

John Pierson is senior lecturer, institute of social work and applied social studies, Staffordshire University and is author of Tackling Social Exclusion (Routledge/Community Care, 2002)