Highgate is…

Simon Walker, one of the artists working with Laundry on the project, reports on some recent Dialogues in Highgate, Birmingham.

This project began as an exploration of an area at the heart of Birmingham with a very diverse mix of people within the community. Highgate, I feel is an area which reflects multicultural Birmingham on a miniature scale. Using open questioning and being out doors enabled me to engage in conversation with a wide range of people from all walks of life & transcribe these voices on the spot. I teamed up with a local youth worker who knew loads of people in the area and spoke to the local police sergeant for the area about getting involved. Within weeks we had organized 20 x 1hr sessions including schools, colleges, youth clubs, shopping areas, community residents groups and areas known for criminal activity. With a flip chart, several markers & local young volunteers we went out to see what people had to say. As people shared their thoughts with us other people began to join in and new conversations began, young people listened to older people talking about the past. Older people got to know some of the younger people in the area, new relationships evolved and discoveries were made.

Below are a few examples of what was said:

Highgate is:

Highgate is too many youths, lots of different people.

Highgate is family, there used to be a youth club round here.

I’ve lived around the area for 16 years. It’s a lot easier with police around, but when the criminals come out of jail they come back to the area. The older ones bully the younger ones, making them afraid, it’s hard, older people are afraid. They should get together and tell the youths off when they see them doing wrong, but no one feels safe or is willing to express themselves out loud. When we pass through it looks nice. It needs cleaning up, more security cameras.

The mosque helps because we meet different people & it’s all good in the hood.

Highgate is reasonably a good community, I think there’s always gonna be issues around here.

Highgate needs more community leaders doing the job they’re supposed to be doing.

Highgate is s**t.

Highgate is the mosque.

Highgate is my childhood, my future, good times, bad times, silliness, potential, friends & family.

Highgate has always been a mixed up community, most times always seen as a poor area. Before they made urban villages. It’s always had a strong faith base to it, always had the mosques & churches in the area. As a youth I always felt we mixed well, our dividing lines were based on money, not race or religion. The area was always full of characters, people who you felt had been here before.

Highgate is a great mix.

Highgate is all right, people live nice with the people.

Highgate has plenty of room for improvement when the flats are gone. I think the image of Highgate is quite deprived.

People show kindness.

We were held up at gunpoint again last week. (Big John’s)

Highgate needs more parks, more equipment in the parks & it needs a “New Look” shop. It should have more dance groups/classes.

Highgate is not safe because scary men start talking to us. The shop over there doesn’t like kids coming in. The place is scary to walk around. The people cover their faces with bandanas & scarves, you see the park over there, there’s only 1 swing! I don’t feel safe there. Men in cars wait for us to come out of school & call us over.

Highgate is a rubbish area to live, too much violence.

Highgate is okay.

Highgate is good, everyone gets on, everyone looks out for each other, watch each others backs. Been here all my life, not known any trouble, it’s all good.

It’s the youngsters that need to stop the trouble. As an older person, we used to mix well and nowadays the younger ones don’t understand.

Highgate is a drug haven, prostitute haven, it’s indoors now. Young kids have nothing to do.

As an elder living in the area, some of the streets have a strong sense of community. We all need to talk more & check on each other. The people aged between 18 & 30 need help from the older generation, those that ain’t educated, they need help to make the community stronger. People need to get together & sacrifice for each other. On my road we leave our door open & my neighbour can borrow anything, they just leave a note. If parcels arrive my neighbour will collect them. Just talk to people, say “Hi”. People on my road are from different backgrounds, my friend shows me how to make roti & samosas and I show her how to cook West Indian food. Kids don’t know their phonics, I have my neighbours kids & help them learn by sharing stories.

Highgate is my kingdom, all of us together, my home.

Highgate is rough.

Highgate is divided, people keep themselves to themselves.

Being close to the growing city, Highgate is on the edge of new development & city regeneration plans so I thought it was also important to ask a question which allowed people to say what they thought could be done in the area. This will allow me to send the findings to relevant local councillors and they will hopefully take notice of what is being said. The local police sergeant is also planning a launch meal/event where councillors & community leaders will be invited to discuss the text with local people.

Highgate could be…

Highgate could be a sports community, a bigger leisure centre like Small Heath.

Highgate could have more youth clubs then more people would come out.

Nobody gets out because the area is lonely, full of empty streets.

I would build new buildings & take down all the old factories.

Highgate could have more flowers around the place.

I would build a big roller coaster!…. What? It’s faster than going by car.

Highgate could be so good. Stop the crime by taking more action & putting up more cameras.

More people talking to each other. I would stop people dropping litter & put in more traffic lights. There needs to be less crack heads & perverts in the area. More stuff to do at Stanhope, there should be a park where young people can do graffiti.

Highgate could have more events for people to meet & talk & have fun.

Highgate could have less knife crime but people won’t listen.

Highgate can have more sessions in youth clubs where people can talk about issues like these. We need to communicate more and talk to each other.

Highgate could be cleaner, more bins & more play areas for the little kids.

Highgate could be bigger with more schools.

Highgate should have less criminals & more studios.

Highgate could have a more frequent bus service.

Highgate could have more police because after school lots of bad stuff happens.

It’s a good place to live but it could be cleaner.

Highgate could have more youth clubs.

Highgate could be refurbished, some of the old homes & flats could be knocked down.

Highgate could be better.

I live up there but I don’t come down here because I’ve got beef with people from by St Martins. I go out in Sparkbrook now…