At the weekend, Jack joined local residents at Charborough Road Primary School to celebrate Filton no longer being a priority neighbourhood.
In 2008, Filton was one of 6 areas in South Gloucestershire identified in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation as an area which appeared in the top 20%. People in Filton generally had poorer health, there were higher crime rates, less academic attainment, poorer access to good quality housing and more people living on benefits in the priority neighbourhoods. There is now progress being made in all these areas to such an extent that on the latest survey Filton is not viewed as a priority.
The event was a testament to the hard work of Southern Brooks Community Partnerships and other local groups who have been involved in engaging with residents and development closer community links. Whilst sustaining the change will be the challenge, the community plan which partners are working on will identify priorities for residents and key agencies and organisations that will lead different areas of work to ensure Filton remains a great place to live.