Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into the findings from the Highfields Centre’s Project HOPE Survey. This survey provides invaluable insights into the community’s views on education, employment, and the arts. As we explore these findings, we gain a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and aspirations, helping us tailor our programs and services at the Highfields Centre to better support and engage with our members.

Survey Findings:

• 29.5% view the Highfields Centre as super awesome.


• 27.4% think it’s pretty good, while 35.8% consider it OK.


• 68%-70% of respondents expressed a desire to be part of a team that decides on the activities and projects at the Highfields Centre.


• 26% have tried and loved arts activities in the past year, with a significant interest in digital and creative arts if they lead to job opportunities.


• 37.9% find it very hard to find work or training gigs, with a lack of awareness about available opportunities.


• 37% are interested in specific skills like video editing, graphic design, and DJing.


• 50% are interested in sessions to boost confidence and social skills.


• Major community challenges include mental health issues, drug use, bullying, and depression/isolation, with a strong call for support and resources.

Conclusion: The survey from the Highfields Centre’s Project HOPE paints a picture of a community eager to engage, learn, and overcome challenges. Much like a mosaic, each piece of data represents a part of the community’s collective experience, revealing a complex but hopeful landscape. With a significant number of individuals looking to play an active role in shaping the center’s future, it’s clear there is a vibrant energy ready to be harnessed. By addressing the expressed needs for job-related training, mental health support, and more inclusive decision-making, we can pave the way for a more empowered and connected community. Together, we are building a brighter, more resilient future, one initiative at a time.

Please see survey results below more detailed information. 

List 3 things or ideas you would like to see here at the Highfields Centre. 

None

Basketball

more basketball sessions

more activities for children, more sports & easy access

more basketball, less kids & refreshments

basketball sessions, different age groups & more sessions

basketball, football & gym activities

indoor football, swimming & summer camp

sauna, Steam room & swimming

more basketball

more free sessions

more sessions

more basketball sessions, football & table tennis

youth basketball, futsal sessions & video editing classes

Job opportunities

Job opportunties More Sport sessions Help in getting jobs Services for struggling families

Music Festival Football More outdoor trips

Gym open on the weekends

Sports Job opportunities for younger years(13+)

More football More sport opportunities More Youth Clubs

Football Gaming

Sport activities Music festivals Food stores

More sport sessions More volunteer opportunities Developing relationships with other organisations to help with running services and to increase popularity

Leicester satelite training Trips: Go karting Water world Dubai

Basketball Football Gym activities

More activities for kids More sports Easy access

More basketball Less kids Refreshments

Basketball sessions Different age groups More sessions

Football Swimming Summer camps

Suana Swimming Steam room

More sessions

Town center More free sessions

Basketball for youth Futsol Video editing club

More football Employment fairs/events Badminton sessions

Basketball 

More basketball Session Football Table tennis 

LGBTQ+ Representation Dance shows Art projects/adventures

Help to get jobs Improve to help others More cool stuff

Hair and Beauty Engineering Nails

Different jobs Activities

Exercise/Nutrition Info Music Male support

Badminton Arts&Craft

Big tech cameras Gaming PCs Anything to do with content creating like youtube

Gym Swimming Archery

Farming Dawan table

Beauty Sports

Digital tech skill Strongly on Admin and codimg

Self defense lessons English lesson

Short,easy projects

Volunteers

POST CODES OF PARTICPANTS

None

LE1 2GX

LE2 1DE

LE4 0BN

LE4 5HU

LE5 4OE

LE1 2FU

LE4 2FX

LE3 1NS

LE5 2AZ

LE2 0FU

LE2

LE5

LE3 9SE

Not provided

LE2 6ID

LE5 0ET

LE4 5LE

LE2 1BP

LE2 0FF

LE5 6GE

LE2 0EA

LE1 2GJ

LE2 0FN

LE3 4SE

LE1 2QX

LE2 6LD

LE2 0FA

LE4 5DE

LE5 0EL

LE3 1EW

LE3 6AN

LE4 0SJ

LE3 9HE

LE3 5GR

LE5 1SF

LE2 9RD

LE3 2UT

LE4 0QW

LE2 6LP

LE2 8PA

LE3 1RR

LE3 1DS

LE2 6LH

LE2 6QJ

LE4

LE4 2IX

LE3 8BG

LE2

LE1

LE3 2XB

LE3 1RF

LE2 1GG

LE18 1AJ

LE5

LE3

LE4 7ZS

LE9 6BF

LE5 0PB

LE2 1PH

LE4 9EB

LE4 6ET

LE2 1GD

LE5 3SA

LE5 0EZ

LE1

LE5 3DN

LE3 9PN

The post Project HOPE Survey – Voices of the Youth 2024 first appeared on Highfields Centre.

Introduction

In the bustling heart of the UK, Leicester’s garment industry, once a beacon of thriving commerce, faces a pivotal moment. Recent challenges have brought to light a need for change and revitalisation.

The Shifting Landscape

The exodus of major fashion brands from Leicester has marked a turning point. Driven by concerns over working conditions and negative media focus, this shift has left a void, resulting in diminished work opportunities and economic strain.

The Impact

1. Job Losses: The departure of brands has led to a sharp decline in work, causing widespread job losses and economic challenges for many local families.
2. Economic Ripple Effects: The downturn in the garment industry impacts not just the workers but also the local businesses and suppliers, contributing to a broader economic challenge.

A Call for Revitalisation

This situation presents an urgent need for action:

1. Attracting New Business: Proactive efforts are needed to attract new brands and businesses, highlighting Leicester’s potential for high-quality, ethical garment production.
2. Investing in Skills: Upskilling the workforce is crucial to position Leicester as a hub for ethical and skilled manufacturing.

FAB-L’s Advocacy

FAB-L stands as a critical advocate in this revitalisation effort. Key initiatives include:

1. Improving Working Conditions: Championing Leicester as a model for ethical practices to attract conscientious brands.
2. Community Engagement: Garnering local support to create a unified appeal for bringing businesses back to Leicester.
3. Policy Influence: Collaborating with policymakers to create incentives for brands to operate in Leicester.

Conclusion

The need to rebuild Leicester’s garment industry is clear. It’s an opportunity to foster a more ethical, sustainable future. FAB-L is dedicated to leading this transformation, ensuring that Leicester reclaims its place as a proud and ethical centre of UK manufacturing.

The post Revitalising Leicester’s Garment Industry: A Path Forward first appeared on Highfields Centre.

As part of my university studies, I learned that Leicester, located in England’s Midland regions, stands at the forefront as a fashion manufacturing hub for the UK. While this has contributed to Leicester and the UK’s economic growth, a report led by ETI and the University of Leicester back in 2015 stated that many of Leicester’s garment factories have a history of long-standing labor rights violations. In 2020 during Covid-19 Lockdown expose by Labour Behind The Label showed factories breaking Covid-19 protocols and still operating during the lockdown behind closed doors.

Amidst the chaos, Fashion-workers Advice Bureau Leicester (FAB-L) was created in partnership with 3 trade unions and brands with the intention to genuinely help the industry, its people and to bring about a change. I interviewed FAB-L’s senior community engagement and outreach worker Tarek Islam sho quotes “Garment workers know that they should be paid more, but they’re still willing to work for less than the minimum wage, because most workers have no other choice and are vulnerable, they would rather have some income rather than no income.”

He also reinforces on the issues of language proficiency and inadequate skills building amongst the community which in turn act as barriers towards growth and raising their voices. He said, “Most workers belong to ethnic minorities and have come to the UK to make a living, in many cases English is not their first language and hence find it difficult to communicate their needs to both their employer and the government, there is not as single state-funded support or welfare rights service available to help workers, and  there are some official services available to help them but they are online, workers find it challenging to be a part of them simply because of language difficulties.”

From our conversation it’s clear to see that FAB-L in the past few months has been doing a great job in tackling these issues, from legal services to support groups and encouragement of trade unions, the people’s organization has supported up to 80 garment workers with issues ranging from welfare rights to recovering wages and improving working conditions in factories.

Tarek states   “We have also been working with various universities & NGOs. We have worked with the likes of the University of Leicester, the University of Sussex, and other trade unions in carrying out programs to advocate for better working conditions for garment workers.

Tarek believes that “while it may take time to change the industry results in the last few month show and prove things can change, the garment industry in Leicester can get better but slowly but surely, there is a lot of work to be done and we all need to work together”

He went on to say that everyone in the supply chain should be able to do their part as ethically as possible, from the consumers, the brand, the manufacturer, and even the government, to make sure no such scandalous practices in the past happen again

Written by: Jumana Amthaniwala (+447570681216)

London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London

The post University of the Arts London student speaks with the Fashion-workers Advice Bureau Leicester (FAB-L) first appeared on Highfields Centre.

Fashion Revolution is a unique organisation that is revolutionising the textiles and garment industry worldwide by encouraging the transparency of major brands across the globe. Fashion Revolution scores and rates Big Brands all over the world according to how transparent they are in all aspects of their business, especially when it comes to their supply chains and their responsibility towards their carbon footprint, climate change and pollution.

These ratings can then be used as leverage for other NGOs and media to demand change or take action. FAB-L got to learn the difference between transparency and sustainability, and now understands the importance of transparency.

It was a very good, informative and engaging event. The findings and statistics in the report show how much work, effort and research Fashion Revolution has put into it. Having read reports by the ETI and Nottingham University Rights Lab, it’s interesting to see that even though reports are produced by unrelated organisations but the findings and solutions in the reports are similar.

For example, the Fashion Transparency Index 2022 highlights that worldwide “Only 13% of brands disclose how many of their suppliers’ facilities have trade unions”.  The report then advocates that “Organising and bargaining are vital tools for workers. In fact, they are the primary and often the only means for workers to gain improved conditions and wages.”

Similarly, the reports from ETI and Nottingham University both identify that there is no union presence in the textiles industry in Leicester and one of the long-term solutions to tackle exploitation is through an unionised workforce.

The event was also attended by various high-profile media agencies like British Vogue, WWD, Vogue Business and Drapers among many others. FAB-L was referenced in this Just-Style article.

The report also covers the importance and the need, for all civil rights, workers’ rights and NGO’s to come together as one, if we want to revolutionise the fashion industry. It has inspired us to plan a future FAB-L “friends of garment workers” event where we aim to bring together NGOs, agencies and charities from all over the country to join up and learn how everyone can work together.

Since the launch of FAB-L and with the support of brands and unions (GMB, UNITE & TUC Midlands), we have helped 80 garment workers with various issues ranging from welfare rights to recovering their missing pay and facilitated fashion workers to express their views directly to both regulatory bodies and brands.

The post FAB-L is invited to speak as a panellist by an international NGO “Fashion Revolution” first appeared on Highfields Centre.

FAB-L (Fashion workers Advice Bureau-Leicester) welcomes the Low Pay Commission’s report on the Leicester textiles sector which was published today.

We applaud their starting point question of ‘why have concerted efforts by enforcement bodies found relatively modest non-compliance in Leicester, when other bodies and individuals we spoke to believe it to be widespread and flagrant?’ and their recognition of the ‘reluctance of workers to make a complaint or provide intelligence to enforcement officers is a problem for enforcement activity.’

We support their finding that ‘Bodies that workers trust – such as trade unions and charities – have an important part to play in identifying and reporting abuses.’

We are particularly delighted by their confirmation that ‘the most tangible outcome of this work to date has been investment in a team of dedicated community workers offering advice and support to textiles workers, the Fashion Workers Advice Bureau Leicester (FAB-L).’

In view of their concluding statement that ‘It is clear that the reporting process as currently constituted does not work for low-paid workers such as those we met in Leicester. There is a fundamental lack of confidence in the process’, it is imperative to ensure the positive developments effected in Leicester (including the setting up of FAB-L) are not just maintained but built upon, so more fashion workers can access this highly valued service.

The full report can be found on this link: National Minimum Wage (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Below are other articles that comment on the Low Pay Commission’s report.

UK garment workers accept underpayment due to ‘fear, insecurity’ (just-style.com)

Fast-fashion factories in Leicester use secret clocking-in machines to cover up illegally low wages (inews.co.uk)

The post FAB-L’s response to the Low Pay Commission’s report on the Leicester textiles sector first appeared on Highfields Centre.

Possibly for the first time in 20 years, garment workers (with the support of FAB-L) felt empowered enough to protest and demand their wages.

For far too long, garment workers’ voices have been suppressed. Over the last two decades, thousands of garment workers have been subject to labour abuse, unpaid wages, unsafe work environments, and more!

Due to the lack of services and support available for the garment workers, they had no choice but to accept their predicament.

Garment workers feared even talking openly about these everyday labour abuses.

Hopefully not for too long anymore, as the seed of change and empowerment has been planted!

Prior to FAB-L’s launch, many government and independent agencies reported that garment workers were not willing to speak or report problems, with some helplines receiving just 1 anonymous call in the whole year.

Previously, garment workers hadn’t reported issues because they have been let down too many times with the lack of response and remedies. In some cases, garment workers even lost their jobs because of raising issues.

The garment workers had lost all hope and trust in government-linked agencies.

FAB-L has been changing this! With its service going public on 24^th January 2022 and in a very short time, and with the help and support of Trade unions, NGO’s and some Fashion brands, FAB-L has been able to make a tidal difference!

Through engaging two workers from within the community, FAB-L has been able to connect and build trust with the garment workers. FAB-L uniquely assists with welfare rights, legal advice & advocacy services covering immigration, housing, and education, in addition to workplace rights.

FAB-L has already helped garment workers recover over £40,000 of missing wages, and it has helped over 50 workers resolve various housing and welfare issues.

Consequently, the garment workers are willing to walk side by side with FAB-L.

After the rally, the garment workers said “We didn’t know we could do something like this and now we feel enlightened and empowered, and we’re looking forward to the next rally and will attend in bigger numbers!”

They also stated even if they are not able to recover their wages, they now know they can fight!

So, please stay tuned for more developments.

And with special thanks to Labour Behind the Label for organising the rally and to the trade unions (The TUC Midlands, GMB and UNITE) for their advice and guidance.

The post The Seed of Change first appeared on Highfields Centre.