Expertise: Social Exclusion
Social exclusion occurs when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems, such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown. In recent years there has been a growing recognition that transport can represent a significant barrier to social inclusion.
TTR has extensive experience in the following areas:
- Engaging with the local community to identify the source of the problem;
- Working with the local community to identify solutions;
- Listening to people and responding to their needs;
- Devising transport solutions that increase people’s life chances; and
- Working with non-transport agencies to achieve ‘all round’ solutions.
People who are disadvantaged often experience serious difficulties in moving around. They are much less likely to have access to a car than the general population. Regular and reliable public transport services are not available in every community, are sometimes unaffordable for people on low incomes or simply do not take people where they need to go. Walking and cycling may not be suitable options for accessing services which are distant or in environments where traffic levels and accident rates are high.
TTR offers a range of services:
- Monitoring authorities’ inclusion targets;
- Measuring and evaluating social exclusion;
- Developing ‘outreach’ strategies;
- Specifying implementing solutions;
- Applying the best European practice;
- Applying sensitive qualitative research;
- Conducting statistically rigorous surveys.
For examples of social exclusion projects undertaken by TTR, go to Experience: Social Exclusion
