The information provided below will be relevant to site visitors who wish to compare and contrast the extent of resources allocated to deprived communities in Northern Ireland with the provision made for deprived communities in England allied to relatively realistic timescales.
It is worthy of note that NICVA, in its response to the ‘Building a Better Future - Draft Budget and Programme for Government 2008-2011’ and ‘Draft Investment Strategy 2008-2018’ (available for viewing/downloading on our Documents page) observed that “While there is some analysis in the budget document, this devotes only two pages to social context, under the headings Demography, Health, Arts and Culture, and Crime, whereas the economic context has 13 pages of analysis.  Thus the only social analysis in the whole government plan for the next three years amounts to eight paragraphs in the budget and short, introductory sections to each of the priorities in the Programme for Government, which contain no statistics or detail. Without this kind of analysis and rationale for decisions which have social, cultural and environmental as well as economic consequences, it is hard to know why some things are prioritised above others.”
Read the various “Building a Better Future” documents, examine the statistical information and follow the links below. Draw your own conclusions.

Location of the 39 New Deal for Communities (NDC) and 10 year funding allocation.
Interactive Map - click on an area for details.¹

NDC Grant Approved Areas¹

Map Area Round 1 Partnerships Grant Approved (£) Population 5 Birmingham (Kings Norton) 50,000,000.00 9,685 3 Bradford (Little Horton, Marshfield & West Bowling) 49,975,000.00 10,985 7 Brighton (East Brighton) 47,200,000.00 16,809 8 Bristol (Barton Hill) 49,994,876.00 5,299 9 Hackney (Shoreditch) 59,400,000.00 20,306 3 Hull (Preston Road) 54,969,000.00 5,581 4 Leicester (Braunstone) 49,500,000.00 12,405 2 Liverpool (Kensington) 61,912,300.00 10,589 2 Manchester (Beswick & Openshaw) 51,725,000.00 8,262 1 Middlesbrough (West) 52,126,000.00 7,330 1 Newcastle (West Gate) 54,900,000.00 9,336 9 Newham (West Ham & Plaistow) 54,565,000.00 10,126 6 Norwich (North Earlham & Marlpit) 35,200,000.00 8,110 4 Nottingham (Radford & Hyson Green) 55,112,000.00 8,976 5 Sandwell (Greets Green) 56,000,000.00 12,145 9 Southwark (Aylesbury Estate) 56,200,000.00 7,557 9 Tower Hamlets (Ocean Estate) 56,600,000.00 7,401 Totals: £895,379,176.00 170,902

Map Area Round 2 Partnerships Grant Approved (£) Population 5 Birmingham (Aston) 54,000,000.00 17,861 9 Brent (South Kilburn) 50,060,000.00 6,962 5 Coventry (Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm) 54,000,000.00 7,3152 4 Derby (Derwent) 42,000,000.00 8,770 3 Doncaster (Doncaster Central) 52,000,000.00 10,293 9 Hammersmith & Fulham (North Fulham) 44,268,000.00 9,212 9 Haringey (Seven Sisters) 50,121,000.00 10,737 1 Hartlepool (West Central Hartlepool) 53,794,000.00 9,092 9 Islington (Finsbury) 52,900,000.00 8,946 2 Knowsley (North Huyton) 55,800,000.00 9,318 9 Lambeth (Clapham Park) 56,000,000.00 7,262 9 Lewisham (New Cross Gate) 45,000,000.00 8,047 6 Luton (Marsh Farm) 48,835,000.00 7,976 2 Oldham (Hathershaw and Fitton Hill) 53,530,000.00 9,367 8 Plymouth (Devonport) 48,725,000.00 4,972 2 Rochdale (Old Heywood) 52,003,000.00 7,259 2 Salford (Charlestown and Lower Kersal) 53,000,000.00 9,136 3 Sheffield (Burngreave) 52,000,000.00 9,432 7 Southampton (Thornhill) 48,700,000.00 9,743 1 Sunderland (East End and Hendon) 53,895,000.00 8,784 5 Walsall (Bloxwich East and Leamore) 52,000,000.00 11,9652 5 Wolverhampton (All Saints and Blakenhall) 53,500,000.00 10,877 Totals: £1,126,131,000.00 203,326

Total Grant (Round 1 + Round 2): £2,021,510,176.00
Total Population (Round 1 + Round 2): 374,228

NDC Partnership Grant Average (Round 1 + Round 2): £51,833,594.26
NDC Partnership Population Average (Round 1 + Round 2): 9,596

Grant per Head of Population Average: £5,401.81 (10 Years); £540.18 Annually

South Belfast’s Shaftesbury Ward has a population of 5,640 (2001 Census).  The nearest equivalent population, from the above tables, is the NDC Round 1 Partnership of Hull (Preston Road) - with an NDC ‘best fit’ population of 5,581 (and a grant of £54,969,000.00).  On a ‘pro rata’ basis, therefore,

(a) Shaftesbury Ward, under New Deal for Communities would attract a grant of £55,550,109.30 over 10 years, or £5,555,010.93 per annum (£9,849.31 per head of population over 10 years, or £984.93 per head of population annually).

(b) Based on the NDC grant per head of population average, on a pro rata basis, Shaftesbury Ward, under New Deal for Communities would attract a grant of £30,466,151.45 over 10 years.

(c) Splitting the difference between (a) and (b) above, yields, for Shaftesbury Ward, £43,008,130.38 over 10 years (£7,625.56 per head of population over 10 years, or £762.56 per head of population annually).

The above monies exclude any grants from, e.g., Neighbourhood Renewal or the European Union.

New Deal for Communities (NDC) and 10 year funding allocation – by Region

Map Area North East Grant Approved (£) Population 1 Hartlepool (West Central Hartlepool) 53,794,000.00 9,092 1 Middlesbrough (West) 52,126,000.00 7,330 1 Newcastle (West Gate) 54,900,000.00 9,336 1 Sunderland (East End and Hendon) 53,895,000.00 8,784 Totals: £214,715,000.00 34,542 Averages: £53,678,750.00 8,636

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £6,216.06; Per Annum = £621.61

Map Area North West Grant Approved (£) Population 2 Knowsley (North Huyton) 55,800,000.00 9,318 2 Liverpool (Kensington) 61,912,300.00 10,589 2 Manchester (Beswick & Openshaw) 51,725,000.00 8,262 2 Oldham (Hathershaw and Fitton Hill) 53,530,000.00 9,367 2 Rochdale (Old Heywood) 52,003,000.00 7,259 2 Salford (Charlestown and Lower Kersal) 53,000,000.00 9,136 Totals: £327,970,300.00 53,931 Averages: £54,661,716.67 8,989

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £6,081.29; Per Annum = £608.13

Map Area Yorkshire and the Humber Grant Approved (£) Population 3 Bradford (Little Horton, Marshfield & West Bowling) 49,975,000.00 10,985 3 Doncaster (Doncaster Central) 52,000,000.00 10,293 3 Hull (Preston Road) 54,969,000.00 5,581 3 Sheffield (Burngreave) 52,000,000.00 9,432 Totals: £208,944,000.00 36,291 Averages: £52,236,000.00 9,073

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £5,757.46; Per Annum = £575.75

Map Area East Midlands Grant Approved (£) Population 4 Derby (Derwent) 42,000,000.00 8,770 4 Leicester (Braunstone) 49,500,000.00 12,405 4 Nottingham (Radford & Hyson Green) 55,112,000.00 8,976 Totals: £146,612,000.00 30,151 Averages: £48,870,666.67 10,050

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £4,862.59; Per Annum = £486.26

Map Area West Midlands Grant Approved (£) Population 5 Birmingham (Aston) 54,000,000.00 17,861 5 Birmingham (Kings Norton) 50,000,000.00 9,685 5 Coventry (Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm) 54,000,000.00 7,3152 5 Sandwell (Greets Green) 56,000,000.00 12,145 5 Walsall (Bloxwich East and Leamore) 52,000,000.00 11,9652 5 Wolverhampton (All Saints and Blakenhall) 53,500,000.00 10,877 Totals: £319,500,000.00 69,848 Averages: £53,250,000.00 11,642

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £4,574.22; Per Annum = £457.42

Map Area East of England Grant Approved (£) Population 6 Luton (Marsh Farm) 48,835,000.00 7,976 6 Norwich (North Earlham & Marlpit) 35,200,000.00 8,110 Totals: £84,035,000.00 16,086 Averages: £42,017,500.00 8,043

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £5,224.11; Per Annum = £522.41

Map Area South East Grant Approved (£) Population 7 Brighton (East Brighton) 47,200,000.00 16,809 7 Southampton (Thornhill) 48,700,000.00 9,743 Totals: £95,900,000.00 26,552 Averages: £47,950,000.00 13,276

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £3,611.78; Per Annum = £361.18

Map Area South West Grant Approved (£) Population 8 Bristol (Barton Hill) 49,994,876.00 5,299 8 Plymouth (Devonport) 48,725,000.00 4,972 Totals: £98,719,876.00 10,271 Averages: £49,359,938.00 5,136

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £9,611.52; Per Annum = £961.15

Map Area London Grant Approved (£) Population 9 Brent (South Kilburn) 50,060,000.00 6,962 9 Hackney (Shoreditch) 59,400,000.00 20,306 9 Hammersmith & Fulham (North Fulham) 44,268,000.00 9,212 9 Haringey (Seven Sisters) 50,121,000.00 10,737 9 Islington (Finsbury) 52,900,000.00 8,946 9 Lambeth (Clapham Park) 56,000,000.00 7,262 9 Lewisham (New Cross Gate) 45,000,000.00 8,047 9 Newham (West Ham & Plaistow) 54,565,000.00 10,126 9 Southwark (Aylesbury Estate) 56,200,000.00 7,557 9 Tower Hamlets (Ocean Estate) 56,600,000.00 7,401 Totals: £525,114,000.00 96,556 Averages: £52,511,400.00 9,656

Average per head of population: 10 Years = £5,438.44; Per Annum = £543.84

New Deal for Communities (NDC) – Ranked by Region in Descending Order of Average Grant per Head of Population (over 10 years):

Map Area Region Per Head 10 Years (£) 8 South West 9,611.52 1 North East 6,216.06 2 North West 6,081.29 3 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,757.46 9 London 5,438.44 6 East of England 5,224.11 4 East Midlands 4,862.59 5 West Midlands 4,574.22 7 South East 3,611.78

New Deal for Communities and 10 year funding allocation – Ranked by Area in Descending Order of Average Grant per Head of Population (over 10 years):

Map Area Partnerships Grant Approved (£) Population Per Head 10 Years 3 Hull (Preston Road) 54,969,000.00 5,581 £9,849.31 8 Plymouth (Devonport) 48,725,000.00 4,972 £9,799.88 8 Bristol (Barton Hill) 49,994,876.00 5,299 £9,434.78 9 Lambeth (Clapham Park) 56,000,000.00 7,262 £7,711.37 9 Tower Hamlets (Ocean Estate) 56,600,000.00 7,401 £7,647.62 9 Southwark (Aylesbury Estate) 56,200,000.00 7,557 £7,436.81 5 Coventry (Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm) 54,000,000.00 7,3152 £7,382.09 9 Brent (South Kilburn) 50,060,000.00 6,962 £7,190.46 2 Rochdale (Old Heywood) 52,003,000.00 7,259 £7,163.93 1 Middlesbrough (West) 56,600,000.00 7,330 £7,111.32 2 Manchester (Beswick & Openshaw) 51,725,000.00 8,262 £6,260.59 4 Nottingham (Radford & Hyson Green) 55,112,000.00 8,976 £6,139.93 1 Sunderland (East End and Hendon) 53,895,000.00 8,784 £6,135.59 6 Luton (Marsh Farm) 48,835,000.00 7,976 £6,122.74 2 Knowsley (North Huyton) 55,800,000.00 9,318 £5,988.41 1 Hartlepool (West Central Hartlepool) 53,794,000.00 9,092 £5,916.63 9 Islington (Finsbury) 52,900,000.00 8,946 £5,913.26 1 Newcastle (West Gate) 54,900,000.00 9,336 £5,880.46 2 Liverpool (Kensington) 61,912,300.00 10,589 £5,846.85 2 Salford (Charlestown and Lower Kersal) 53,000,000.00 9,136 £5,801.23 2 Oldham (Hathershaw and Fitton Hill) 53,530,000.00 9,365 £5,714.74 9 Lewisham (New Cross Gate) 45,000,000.00 8,047 £5,592.15 3 Sheffield (Burngreave) 52,000,000.00 9,432 £5,513.15 9 Newham (West Ham & Plaistow) 54,565,000.00 10,126 £5,388.60 5 Birmingham (Kings Norton) 50,000,000.00 9,685 £5,162.62 3 Doncaster (Doncaster Central) 52,000,000.00 10,293 £5,051.98 7 Southampton (Thornhill) 48,700,000.00 9,743 £4,998.46 5 Wolverhampton (All Saints and Blakenhall) 53,500,000.00 10,878 £4,918.64 9 Hammersmith & Fulham (North Fulham) 44,268,000.00 9,212 £4,805.47 4 Derby (Derwent) 42,000,000.00 8,770 £4,789.05 9 Haringey (Seven Sisters) 50,121,000.00 10,737 £4,668.06 5 Sandwell (Greets Green) 56,000,000.00 12,147 £4,610.95 3 Bradford (Little Horton, Marshfield & West Bowling) 49,975,000.00 10,985 £4,549.39 5 Walsall (Bloxwich East and Leamore) 52,000,000.00 11,9652 £4,346.01 6 Norwich (North Earlham & Marlpit) 35,200,000.00 8,110 £4,340.32 4 Leicester (Braunstone) 49,500,000.00 12,405 £3,990.33 5 Birmingham (Aston) 54,000,000.00 17,861 £3,023.35 9 Hackney (Shoreditch) 59,400,000.00 20,306 £2,925.24 7 Brighton (East Brighton) 47,200,000.00 16,809 £2,808.02

The Partnership that occupies the ‘mid-point’ on the table above, is Salford (Charlestown and Lower Kersal) - being 20th in terms of the allocated grant per head of population over 10 years. On a pro rata basis, Shaftesbury Ward would attract a grant, over 10 years, of £32,718,914.19. Even considering the partnership receiving, under NDC, the least per head of population over 10 years, viz., East Brighton (in the prosperous South East of England), the pro rata grant to Shaftesbury Ward would be £15,837,230.06 (£1,583,723.01 per annum). Some people might seriously doubt, however, that the deprivation levels experienced in the South East of England bear comparison with those in inner city Belfast after several decades of conflict.

Notes
1. Source: National Audit Office, English Regions, An early progress report on the New Deal for Communities programme, REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL HC 309 Session 2003-2004: 11 February 2004 Link...
(Unless otherwise indicated) Population Statistics extracted from ‘Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics, New Deal for Communities Areas, Neighbourhood Statistics, National Statistics’. Link...
2 New Deal for Communities (NDC) National Evaluation, Administrative Data Indicator Package - 3rd November 2006, produced by the Social Disadvantage Research Centre (SDRC) at the University of Oxford.  Link...