This is a community research project exploring local residents’ vision for the future of Thames Ward in Barking, in order to evaluate social impact of new development in the area.

The project has been commissioned by Barking Riverside Ltd (BRL), a partnership between The Mayor of London and L&Q who are leading on the new housing development in the ward. In order to ensure the development has a positive social impact on all residents in Thames Ward, BRL are committed to measuring the indicators determined by residents as part of this project. The aim is that this work will help residents to hold BRL and partners to account for changes in the area.

Through qualitative community research, The Young Foundation is working with local residents to deliver a community vision for the future of the area, an evaluation framework and theory of change detailing how these outcomes will be measured (incorporating existing secondary data), alongside a baseline report on the area today.

The research has been carried out by our local community researchers in Thames Ward, trained and supported by the Young Foundation. These include resident researchers and members of staff at BRL. The team have been using creative research methods to speak to people in their communities about what matters most to them for the future of the area, and analyse the results collaboratively.

The baseline research is due to be completed by early Autumn 2019.