experienced places

• a way to look at levels of engagement of a place is through participation in local and national elections

  National Elections - in 2015, 7.5 million who were eligible to vote did not and were mainly poor, black and young people in urban areas = 66% not casting a vote

  in Scotland's 2014 vote for independence 84.5% casted a vote

  Local Elections - in 2014, Birmingham election turnout was only 36% and only 15% during police and crime commissioner in 2012 - has triggered compulsory voting at local and national level
• people can also show levels of engagement via local community groups

  • charities set up for change as their ignored by local authorities
  • community groups against inequality and social injustice
• lived experience and attachment to a place varies by these factors:

  • length of residence - studentification frustrates locals as they may not care for areas future as they wont live there for very long
  • age - young adults struggling to enter labour market will see a place very differently from older people e.g. rural quiet place as boring for young person and tranquil for old person
  • level of deprivation - powerlessness to change levels of deprivation = negative lived experience
  • ethnicity - asylum seekers may feel connected with a place as first time they've lived freely and safely
• conflicting ideas for regeneration?

  • age - young people may be concerned with future economy of area as it affects job prospects so will want regeneration. whereas old people will less concerned and want to preserve the look and feel of a place they've spent many years
  • inequality - wealthy people often socially connected and can use this to influence decisions on regeneration projects = wealthier people's interests being better served = London Riots 2011