Cumbria Community Foundation - Furness: Opportunities and Challenges 2021

F U R N E S S – O P P O R T U N I T I E S & C H A L L E N G E S 20 The responses to living in the area were very positive, focusing on nature, the sea, walks, family and friends, community and history. When asked to describe the place they live in five words, the overwhelming majority chose positive terms, including ‘beautiful’, ‘fun’, ‘peaceful’, ‘friendly’, and ‘safe’. Negative responses usually related to litter, rubbish and dog fouling. There was a range of ideas for improvements, including upgrading parks and playgrounds and more cycle paths and safe spaces. Sport was important, with ideas for trampoline parks, bike trails, and swimming pools. There were also ideas for more entertainment for children aged 10 to 16, including skate parks, arcades and bowling alleys. There was some mention of crime and policing and a few wrote about housing, care for wildlife and greater tolerance of others. Others wanted more fast food restaurants and cafes, with one child mentioning the need for halal food. The question about staying or moving away when older produced an almost 50/50 divide, with 128 children saying they would stay and 116 saying they would leave, with 23 unsure. Reasons for staying were family, friends, safety and a beautiful environment. Those who would leave gave their reasons as jobs, travel, higher education and wider experiences. Cambridge Primary School’s headteacher Jenny Lavery said: “If children had moved house, I asked them to share where they preferred and why. They understood that, in Barrow, moving a very short distance could mean a completely different experience. “They were ‘protective’ of where they lived as some saw this as a reflection of their parents’ choices. “They were concerned about drugs, alcohol, crime and recent stabbings. “They could appreciate the history of Barrow. “Some of them (mainly with parental connections) were aware of the potential ‘good jobs’ at BAE.” Furness Voices The younger generation have spoken The opinions of children in Furness are an important part of this report. We surveyed nine primary schools in the Furness area with responses from 263 children aged 9 to 11 in years 5 and 6. The Barrow schools were Victoria Academy, Cambridge Primary, South Walney Juniors, Yarlside Academy, Barrow Island and Parkside Academy. There were two schools from Dalton, Dalton St Mary’s and George Romney, and Croftlands School in Ulverston. The five questions asked were: What do you think is brilliant about living here? How would you describe the place you live in five words? What do you think needs to be here for you to be happier? When you get older, do you think you will choose to live here or move to another place? Why?