Call for proposals: Migration and housing in Bradford

Call for proposals:

Migration and housing in Bradford

Deadline:	2pm on 26 September 2007
JRF Committee:	Bradford Research & Development
Timescale:	24 months
Budget:	£70,000
Key contacts:	Bradford Programme Manager: Bana Gora Administrative Support: Wendy Myers

Supporting documents:

Background

The issue of how new migrants – whether asylum seekers, refugees, relatives arriving to join family members or people who come here to work – secure access to housing and services is currently high up the political and policy agenda at both the national and local levels. Research by Robinson (2007, forthcoming) identifies the effects that different immigration pathways have on housing experiences and decisions for different new migrants in Sheffield. Research by Perry (2005) suggests that safe and secure housing can be the crucial link in helping people establish themselves in communities where they want to live and where other people accept them. This is partly because good housing provides a key mechanism for delivering appropriate and effective services to new migrants, but also because issues around housing may underpin (directly or indirectly) the concerns that existing residents may have about the impacts of migration on the community. Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (2005) suggests that the housing is particularly significant in understanding the actual and perceived impacts of migration for cities such as Bradford, and for the relationship between settled and migrant communities.

Aims

The JRF Bradford Programme seeks proposals for projects based in Bradford that address one of the following two aims:

Either:

1) To deepen understanding of the housing aspirations and strategies of different groups of new migrants to Bradford alongside those of Bradford’s settled communities; the tensions and barriers experienced in realising these aspirations; and the implications for individuals, families and wider neighbourhoods as well as for local policy and practice

Or:

2) To build a shared understanding of the housing needs and aspirations of the ‘community’ as a whole, based in one or more neighbourhoods in Bradford which experience new immigration; exploring and trying out possibilities for new social contact and co-operation on housing and related issues.

We recognise:

the differences between different groups of new migrants (e.g. those joining family members/spouses, refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants); we expect proposals to reflect a range of different groups;
the importance of exploring these issues from the viewpoints of both new migrants and existing communities (incl. white British);
the housing needs and problems experienced by many existing communities in some areas;
the tensions and hostilities that can arise from real and/or perceived inequalities in access to decent housing, issues of poor quality of accommodation, poor management of accommodation, overcrowding, exploitative rents, houses of multiple occupancy, etc.; and
the potential for local groups and communities to come together on issues related to housing, where there are common concerns and shared aspirations for the neighbourhood as a whole.

Key questions and issues

Please note: the following list is not exhaustive. Also, we do not expect any single proposal to address all the questions relating to a particular aim. We do ask that proposals state clearly the key questions or issues they plan to address, why, and how.

Aim 1: Housing experiences and strategies, tensions and barriers:

What are the housing aspirations and strategies of different groups of new migrants and within existing settled communities (including white British)?
Where are there tensions and barriers in realising these housing aspirations?
What impact do different groups of new migrants have on local housing markets (social housing, private rented sector, HMOs, owner occupier) and neighbourhoods?
Is there real or perceived competition over housing (social housing, but also other sectors)? How far is competition ‘real’ – perhaps because there is not enough good quality accommodation available? How far is competition ‘perceived’ – local myths and misperceptions?
Where there are tensions, barriers, and misperceptions: what steps have been taken, by whom, with what results? What else could be done?

Aim 2: Building shared understandings; possibilities for new social action:

What community-driven approaches might be effective in building shared understandings of housing needs and aspirations for a community as a whole, and in bringing people together to communicate, interact and act on those shared understandings?
How might the project identify good practice in this area in terms of exploring and testing out the use of shared concerns about housing in bringing new and established communities together for more positive social interactions and action?
What factors have an impact on the kinds of initiatives that are likely to be successful?
How can different areas of a city like Bradford, where there are different issues and concerns but where access to affordable accommodation is a key objective, be brought together to share learning and experiences?
Is there any potential in Bradford for innovative projects related to housing needs and aspirations that bring together different communities in areas of high immigration and poor housing, with benefit to the whole neighbourhood?

Methodological approach

We are open to the use of any methodological approach provided that it is appropriate to the project being proposed, its central aim and key questions.

Geographical focus

We anticipate that the successful bidder/s will focus the work on a limited number of areas in Bradford. Bidders should identify the areas where they will work in their proposals, including the rationale for this selection.

Budget

We have earmarked up to £70k for the successful project (excluding dissemination costs).

Timetable

We expect projects to begin early in 2008 and complete within 24 months. The deadline for proposals is the 26th September 2007.

Further information

If you are interested in submitting a proposal and would like clarification on this brief and/or the process of applying to JRF, please contact:

Bradford Programme Manager: Bana.Gora@jrf.org.uk
Administrative Support: Wendy.Myers@jrf.org.uk

Submitting a full proposal

It is essential that you read the How to apply for funding section of our website before submitting your proposal, together with the Application guidelines containing the necessary forms for completing your application. There are also details available on what makes a good proposal and projects the Foundation does not support, which proposers should read, as well as some other useful information.

Three unbound, hard copies of all documents are required. Please also e-mail a Word version of the complete proposal, summary and budget forms to Wendy Myers (wendy.myers@jrf.org.uk) by the deadline below.

Proposals should be submitted to:

Wendy Myers
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Carlisle Business Centre, Carlisle Road, Bradford BD8 8BD
Timetable

The deadline for receipt of email and hard copies of full proposals will be 2.00 pm on Wednesday 26th September 2007. Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be accepted.

How we make funding decisions (full proposals)

The following criteria will be used in coming to a decision on full proposals:

How far the work will offer new insights or developments.
The soundness and appropriateness of how the work will be done (i.e. design, methods and analysis).
Whether partnerships with relevant other organisations are in place, where these are important.
The ability of the proposers to carry out the work and complete on time.
An understanding of the policy and practice dimensions.
A thorough approach to dissemination.

Other issues that will be considered include: whether the proposal pays attention to diversity where appropriate (i.e. attending to gender, ethnicity, class, disability etc.) and whether it is written in accessible, lay language. A full yet accessible explanation of the proposed methods to be used is essential, as is full consideration of the ethical implications of the project and the implications for policy and practice across different nations of the UK.

Key contacts

For queries about the research, including the methods, please contact:

Bana Gora
Bradford Programme Manager
(01274 493006; bana.gora@jrf.org.uk)