The Bangladeshi Community of Queens Park
In 2001, New Life for Paddington funded a unique piece of research, "Bangladeshi Community Involvement and Action Project" . This research was carried out by the Imperial College and the Queen's Park Bangladeshi Association and reported in early 2002. It covered the three wards of Queen's Park, Harrow Road and Westbourne Park. The study used stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and a survey of 283 individuals.
The report gives detailed information on the Bangladeshi community, its needs and desires.
It painted a picture of mutually reinforcing disadvantage and exclusion across sectors - poor, overcrowded, inappropriate housing. In addition, it reported on the community insecurity and racism; poverty and lack of capital; low levels of employment and economic activity; health problems; language barriers and literacy and low educational achievement. Another area reported on was in relation to blocks on women's education; poor orientation to UK society and services and inappropriate and insensitive service provision (cultural constraints).
The report then proposed nine projects, which were identified as, needed:
- Outreach, Development and Co-ordination Project
- Advice and Information Project
- English and Skills Project
- Pre-employment Training, Personal Development and Mentoring Project
- Bangladeshi Impact Assessment Requirement (aimed at service providers)
- Women's Health and Network Project
- Community Space Project
- Health Education Project