Partnerships for East Coast Communities - PECCs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Norwich Business School
Abstract
The coastline of the East of England has significant challenges. The East Coast has some of the most deprived communities in the entire UK. The coastal areas of East Anglia are characterised by seasonal and low skill/low pay work in care, tourism, agriculture/fisheries and leisure as well as high pre-Brexit levels of migration from Eastern Europe to service those sectors. The East Anglian coastline is also precarious. The East Anglian coast is subject to adverse effects from climate change, erosion and consequent loss of housing in some areas. Further, cutting across economic and geographical challenges, there are significant health inequalities in some areas.
The long-term vision of the Partnerships for East Coast Communities programme (PECCs) is to generate sustained action in coastal communities that builds good work in the coastal economies and builds strong coastal identities. The geographical focus is on the coastal areas of East Anglia in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, and the predominantly rural hinterlands close to the coast.
The programme will have four interconnecting themes. These are:
1) Improving work inclusively by considering high skill sectors and low wage sectors along the East's coastline. This theme relates to jobs in sectors such as renewables, agriculture, tourism, creatives, and heritage.
2) Developing a sustainable green economy along the East's coastline, focusing on using the Eastern coast's assets for green energy production and the physical and cultural heritage of the Eastern coast.
3) Protecting and renewing the coast - to realise those benefits for jobs, the economy and for the wellbeing of residents of coastal communities.
4) Improving health outcomes along the Eastern coast through better jobs, a better coastal economy and strong coastal communities.
The first phase of the research will be to determine those courses of action that are best suited to coastal communities and the needs and aspirations of their residents across the first three themes, and so address the fourth theme of the research - improving health outcomes. To make those decisions, the research will involve extensive dialogue with communities along the coast, business groups, charities and community groups and local government. This dialogue will be in the form of surveys of residents, visits to community events in coastal communities, conversations with key stakeholders and workshops with residents of coastal communities.
The long-term vision of the Partnerships for East Coast Communities programme (PECCs) is to generate sustained action in coastal communities that builds good work in the coastal economies and builds strong coastal identities. The geographical focus is on the coastal areas of East Anglia in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, and the predominantly rural hinterlands close to the coast.
The programme will have four interconnecting themes. These are:
1) Improving work inclusively by considering high skill sectors and low wage sectors along the East's coastline. This theme relates to jobs in sectors such as renewables, agriculture, tourism, creatives, and heritage.
2) Developing a sustainable green economy along the East's coastline, focusing on using the Eastern coast's assets for green energy production and the physical and cultural heritage of the Eastern coast.
3) Protecting and renewing the coast - to realise those benefits for jobs, the economy and for the wellbeing of residents of coastal communities.
4) Improving health outcomes along the Eastern coast through better jobs, a better coastal economy and strong coastal communities.
The first phase of the research will be to determine those courses of action that are best suited to coastal communities and the needs and aspirations of their residents across the first three themes, and so address the fourth theme of the research - improving health outcomes. To make those decisions, the research will involve extensive dialogue with communities along the coast, business groups, charities and community groups and local government. This dialogue will be in the form of surveys of residents, visits to community events in coastal communities, conversations with key stakeholders and workshops with residents of coastal communities.
Publications
Partnerships For East Coast Communities
(2023)
A Roadmap for East Coast Communities
Partnerships For East Coast Communities
(2023)
What Are Good Coastal Communities?
| Description | Our findings are based on: Interviews with 24 people working for district councils, business groups, charities and community arts and heritage groups; "Open Space" public events in Clacton, Felixstowe and Kings Lynn; Responses from an on-line public consultation; interactions with participants at nine cultural and business events in coastal districts across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk; a review of 59 scientific papers and policy reports relevant to East Anglia's coastal economy, heritage and environment; three workshops with university-based researchers, district councils, businesses, charities and community groups. We identified a number of areas for combined action between higher education institutions, local government and civil society groups for East Coast communities. These are: 1) Identifying how the environment, heritage and economies are connected and what actions could be taken for community benefit through in-depth investigation of specific localities. 2) Building a flourishing heritage and arts sector across East Coast communities, with Great Yarmouth's maritime history and the Gloucester Shipwreck as a potential exemplar. 3) Exploring how to reconcile conflict between different users of the blue environment, through bringing together fishers, water sports groups and energy companies. 4) Developing a set of resources to help smaller coastal businesses address their sometimes conflicting goals of moving to net zero, developing soft and digital skills and providing engaging work. 5) Developing capability in communities and district councils to evaluate initiatives and take community-led, evidence-informed actions. |
| Exploitation Route | Addressing the priority actions identified in the research, primarily through facilitating community action in partnership with higher education institutions, local government and civil society groups. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Retail |
| URL | https://evolveworkplacewellbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FINAL-PECCS-ROADMAP.pdf |
| Description | Although there has yet to be movement on the priorities identified in the research, the network has led to further co-operation in other areas including strengthening the civic profile of the collaborating universities, help in developing local authority public health initiatives and collaborations between collaborating partners on grant applications. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |