‘Local women must be given a voice in Temple Quarter development’

The major Temple Quarter regeneration project is being hailed as an opportunity to breathe fresh life into a long-neglected area of Bristol.

Plans include a brand new £300m university campus, housing, a hotel, conference centre, office blocks and more, and the whole development is expected to bring a wealth of job opportunities to the city.

Read more: Latest plans for £300m Bristol University Campus to go on display

While much attention is being channeled into this patch by Temple Meads, just up the road in Lawrence Hill, the level of child poverty is 51.8 per cent – almost double the average for the South West – unemployment is high and barriers to work are as extensive as they are complex.

Women in particular within this diverse neighbourhood risk getting left behind by the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone – but a determined collective is working to ensure this is not the case.

The Women of Lawrence Hill film was produced by Raynor Taylor for Bristol Women’s Voice.

Bristol Women’s Voice (BWV) secured funding from charitable organisation Rosa to lead a research project to engage women in the communities around Lawrence Hill.

Project manager Debra Newrick told Bristol24/7: “The importance of the work is to ensure the local women are given a voice in local plans and developments, because geographically they are closest to them.

“It’s looking at what women of Bristol, and in that area especially, need in order to get skills and work.”

Tara Miran (main photo), worked as one of the project researchers.

“At the end of the project, I felt relieved that I could reach out to so many women and a diverse group, but I still carry with me a burden of all their needs, all their problems and is this project going to be taken seriously enough to help these women?” she said.

“For these women and the researchers, this is about their kids and their future; when you are young, you look up to your mum and you want to be like her. If the mums are listened to and given opportunity and supported, every generation will improve and increase their dreams.”

Presenting the findings before a packed room at Barton Hill Settlement on Friday, she outlined some of the many barriers faced by women in the area, many of which will be shared by others across the city.

Child care issue is highlighted as a huge issue – often women said the cost of child care and lack of flexibility put them off even applying for work or training opportunities.

Accessibility is another; with Lawrence Hill station posing huge problems for people with limited mobility, wheelchairs or pushchairs because of is steep flights of stairs.

As infrastructure stands, many women don’t feel safe walking on the streets towards the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and an important recommendation is to improve lighting and safety in the area.

A CGI of what the new Bristol University campus near Temple Meads might look like

Tara found that many face language barriers and most, if not all, women who wear headscarves or hijabs – including those born and raised in Bristol – felt employers would make a judgement against them.

“Many women feel it’s a barrier before they even try to apply for a job because they are so different,” she told the group.

The research also highlights the importance of good quality, flexible employment opportunities.

According to BWV statistics,  20 per cent of the Lawrence Hill population face financial hardship, and English is a second language for 20 per cent, while 54 per cent are single parents.

Some of the concerns about the regeneration project is that it will impact on rents and availability of housing, potential problems with “studentification” of the area and a perceived danger that the university development will exacerbate existing inequalities.

Professor Tom Sperlinger is working on engagement between the university and wider city. Addressing some of the concerns on Friday, he said:

“It’s really important that the university hears the things you are saying.

“For me, part of what’s so exciting about the Temple Quarter project is that it’s an opportunity to reset our role in the city. It’s a real challenge for us to address the perception that sometimes arises, that the university is in Bristol, but separate from it.

“We are exploring a range of options – for example, creating new flexible learning opportunities aimed at local people. Not all of this has to happen on campus, we hope to have spaces elsewhere and to work with partners like the Barton Hill Settlement.

“If we get the Temple Quarter development right, it will be much easier for the community to come and say we have important questions that we want you to work on with you.”

Mayor Marvin Rees has also issued assurances about the way the area is to be developed.

“There is systematic exclusion of women from opportunity and, when those opportunities come along, from equality in them,” he told BWV.

“In everything we do, we are requiring the leaders to define how they are delivering inclusion in every aspects – race, class, gender, all protected characteristics.”

Debra says its vital that the voices of women in all communities are heard

The university hopes to partner with organisations like Barton Hill Settlement to make its offer more inclusive

Debra added that the next steps are to keep the research live, continue conversations with women of Lawrence Hill and also widen this out across the community. She also intends to focus on harder so reach groups, including disabled and single parents to ensure they are not left behind.

Ultimately, it’s about a future Bristol that works for all women.

Read more: New plans for homes, student accommodation and 1,600-place school by Temple Meads revealed