Hackney Methodist Circuit

Dear Phil and Sofie

In October 2006, Channel 4 broadcast 'The Best and Worst Places to Live in the UK'. It said that Hackney is the worst place in the UK. Here are two responses to the programme. The first is from Barbara, a young person at Hackney church. This is her contribution to the morning service on the Sunday following the broadcast of the programme. The second is the letter Shaun e-mailed to Channel 4 and Channel 4's reply.

Barbara's Response

Growing up In Hackney has benefited me in many ways but having two additional cultures, Gambian and Nigerian, which I can relate to has given me a better sense of identity and a great deal of morals.

Hackney is portrayed as a place where people should keep their guard up, be weary at all times and most recently it has been deemed as ‘the worst place to live in the UK’. Despite this Hackney has been my home all my life and has been one of the factors which has shaped me to the person I am today.

Although there is room for improvement as with everything else, Hackney has provided me with a good standard of education In both primary and secondary school I have enjoyed my schooling and was well taught, which has been the basis for my success at GCSE level (achieving 2A* & 9A’s) and hopefully more success at further education.

Living in London has also made me aware of all the opportunities I should be grateful for. These are the right to a free education to worship freely and a place to express my views and attitudes freely. My African values have taught me respect teachers and those in authority and to appreciate the value of education as I am aware of the vast amount of children longing to be educated but cannot due to the expenses, or war or looking after their family.

Along with education, freedom and lots of opportunities, Hackney has provided me with Hackney Methodist Church, a place where I feel at home, where I can talk to others, a place where I can worship the Almighty Lord. I have been part of this church from when it was situated in the old central hall, around 1994 and it has given me a sense of peace within myself. I am extremely grateful for this church as it has become like a second home to me and with the ongoing development of the youth group with the help of respectful and understanding leaders, I have increasingly enjoyed coming to this church and worshipping the Lord in different forms with young people who share similar views as me.

My African origin has provided me with morals and values which will stay with me for life. These include respect for elders, achieving high in education standards, self worth, decency, self respect and good manners. We have challenging times ahead and we need our Christian and cultural values to see us through.

Shaun's Response

So you like Winchester but not Hackney. Personally, I enjoyed your programme, 'The Best and Worst Places to Live in the UK 2006' on Channel 4. I'd much rather relax with a Fifty Greatest Whatever type programme than a shock investigation based on some dodgy undercover reporting and a couple of half truths. Neither do I watch something in order to be offended. In the very unlikely event that something is going to shock my sensibilities, I simply switch off. So I wasn't shocked or offended at your programme but I have to say the impression you gave of Hackney is simply not true.

No-one here doubts the very serious challenges faced by this community. Many of the people I meet can testify to real tragedy and pain. I cannot belittle their experience by saying that everything is fine. However, neither can I let you ignore the vibrancy and strength which the people bring to this area. East London is the most diverse place in the world but you ignore diversity as a measure. It is because of the resiliance, hope and all the qualities of people in this community which means it is changing for the better.

As a Methodist minister, I am fortunate to get a small insight into the numerous community groups in which people support themselves and others. I see people of all ages, cultures, races, backgrounds, faiths working in various ways, often unnoticed, to improve life here. It doesn't take much to ask local people what they think of living here. They'll respond. There is a thriving social and cultural life including a theatre, galleries, museums, markets plus plenty of green space to enjoy. There are many pubs and clubs, often tucked away but at the cutting edge of entertainment and music. There is a reason that 'urban music' is so called and it's not because it comes from Tunbridge Wells.

As for saying the Lower Clapton Road is nicknamed 'Murder Mile', you could try asking the local people. You quote the media name for it. People here call it - er.... well, the Lower Clapton Road actually.

Phil and Sofie, I don't know whether you are religious people so I'm not sure whether you would appreciate the strength and diversity of the various churches, mosques, synagogues and other faith communities in this area. A recent church survey showed that more than half of the young Christians in this country live in London. Many Methodists in other parts of Britain simply do not believe that there are churches, such as there are here, which are flourishing, lively, have a depth of spirituality and are increasingly looking outwards to the wider community. That's not to say everything is perfect because it's not. However in Hackney, as in much of the rest of inner London, we have a church life which others have given up hoping for.

I don't know whether you will find the same diversity, vibrancy, resilience and hope in Winchester or Horsham. Maybe you don't want to. Maybe you just want to live in a bubble but you can't live like that here. You have to learn to get on with different people. The most important thing I've learnt here is that there are people who are different to me. Perhaps that's stating the obvious. However, it's only in somewhere like Hackney that you are really challenged by, and can enjoy, living in a diverse world.

I'm sure Winchester is a very nice place but I don't see hordes of people moving there from Hackney.

With best wishes

Rev Shaun Sanders

Minister of Clapton Park and Hackney Methodist Churches

Reply from Channel 4

Thanks for your email Shaun. We're sorry to read that you were unhappy with Hackney being labelled the worst place to live in the UK.

In order to compile the results, all 434 UK local authorities were judged on exactly the same criteria - crime, education, employment, environment and lifestyle. We used the most up to date official statistics available across all 434 authorities at the time of research and production (April/May 2006). With the majority of criteria used there is the potential for change. Indeed many of the places included in the 10 Worst - as we have seen since last year - have the potential to improve in future years.

Nevertheless I have passed your comments on for the attention of THE BEST AND WORST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE UK'S programme makers.