FINDINGS | East Cluster
Low Income Families
State Beneficiaries
Shades of Grey
Lifestyle Using Mosaic to profile VeloCity’s east cluster, the picture reveals the households from three main groups: Low Income Families, State Beneficiaries and Shades of Grey.23 The high concentration of these groups reflects the historical legacy of decline of heavy industries and poor housing which gave rise to low incomes, economic inactivity, chronic ill-health, poorer levels of education and diet, persistent elements of anti-social behaviour, fear of crime and feelings of isolation. Welfare dependency here is pervasive and state benefits are often the sole source of income. Many people find it difficult to qualify for mainstream credit. They are generally marginalised by their lack of education and rarely turn up to public meetings or to vote. While better off tenants and some owners have (mainly) second hand cars, these households are very reliant on local convenience shops or on public transport to get around, reach shopping centres and other local amenities. Football is followed passionately and religious differences often continue to underpin social divides.
tenants and families. High rise blocks specifically, contain large numbers of households often with two, three or more children alongside single pensioners whose values, beliefs and attitudes were shaped by a very different generation. The physical layout of the blocks means that children have very little to occupy them. Despite heavy investment in building fabric the area has lost many of the feelings of neighbourliness and community that helps to change and develop an area’s reputation longer term. Summary The east cluster is characterised by significant deprivation which affects specifically the youngest and oldest. Fewer people own their home or live in private accommodation and there is a high concentration of hard pressed people living in social housing and council rented accommodation either on their own, in lone parent or large families. This creates pockets of people who either by their living conditions or lifestyle are some of the hardest to reach and hardly reached in Glasgow.
The high rise blocks and four storey apartments which dominate the area are interspersed with areas of low rise social housing and quality city schemes which attract a broader range of younger 53