Action not education is the focus of London Community Foundation’s 2021 Vital Signs Report – London
The London Neighborhood Basis’s (LCF) annual Vital Signs Report is highlighting the issues furthered by the COVID pandemic whereas calling for motion as a substitute of simply schooling.
The annual report appears on the state of the neighborhood, this yr specializing in six key points: housing safety, racial equality, gender equality, well-being, meals safety and schooling.
The 2021 Vital Signs Report Be the Change, exhibits that many issues like housing insecurity have solely elevated throughout COVID, with the variety of households and people searching for inexpensive housing rising by 1,000 in 2021.
The report additionally touches on different information from ANOVA and London Meals Financial institution which each noticed a surge in demand for providers through the pandemic. ANOVA reported a doubling in folks accessing their assist attributable to a rise in home violence, whereas the meals financial institution reported a 20 per cent enhance in folks needing meals hampers during the last six months.
“This report paints an image of significant issues we’re going through. However it’s not nearly numbers, it calls upon us all to take motion and gives folks with the instruments to begin making social change,” stated LCF’s Important Indicators Chair, Dr. Jerry White.
As an alternative of simply taking a look at and analyzing the problems, White stated their focus is shifting to how they actively work to vary the issues in London.
“One of many individuals who wrote for us within the weblog stated it’s time to cease being a non-racist and grow to be an anti-racist.”

Included within the report are hyperlinks to organizations and sources folks can use to take motion, whereas the LCF can be working to be taught from numerous neighborhood teams and leaders to search out options.
Part of taking motion for the inspiration can be reaching out to completely different teams to indicate them learn how to apply to entry LCF’s funding and sources.
A key to this yr’s report is continuous to take a look at all points and the way sure communities like Indigenous folks or newcomers are extra affect by poverty than others.
The report exhibits that marginalized communities had been 5 instances extra prone to are available contact or contract COVID-19 than the neighborhood as a complete.
The Hate and Bias Motivated Crime Report from London police which got here out in June confirmed reported hate crimes in London elevated 46 per cent in 2020, in comparison with the yr prior.

White says that actions like Black Lives Matter and the residential college discoveries, in addition to the London terrorism assault, have impacted how they take a look at points in the neighborhood.
“Whether or not or not it’s COVID-19 perpetuating points like inexpensive housing or unemployment, growing hate crimes or the traumatic legacy of residential faculties, we’re seeing a heightened consciousness and the will for folks to grow to be extra engaged,” White stated.
The group may even be working to advocate for the problems outlined within the report back to native politicians and push for change.
To additional motion, the inspiration is launching the London Important Indicators Knowledge Hub, a neighborhood information hub that may act as a useful resource for residents, non-profit businesses and native authorities to assist help advocacy efforts in addition to evidence-based packages and coverage choice making.
Native businesses that acquire community-based information are inspired to contribute to this venture.
“The London Important Indicators Knowledge Hub is a long-term venture that may require partnerships and collaboration of native organizations and authorities. The aim is to trace social traits over time and use that data to make constructive modifications that profit our neighborhood,” White stated.
A full breakdown of the report and sources to take motion is offered on the foundation’s website.
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