Summary of our project

The outcome of this project will be a short film that discusses wealth disparity in Poplar. This subject is of real relevance to the young people in Poplar – despite living within a stone’s throw of London’s financial hub, many young people in the area have no connection to and do not benefit from the wealth generated by businesses in Canary Wharf. They will explore issues such as:

- “Promises” made when Canary Wharf was first built

- What perceptions do young people have of their City neighbours and are these perceptions accurate

- What solutions do they believe are needed to bridge the income gap

- What opportunities are there for young people to break into the financial world, are businesses in the Wharf creating opportunities for them

This project will provide exposure to diverse groups. They will interact with the local older generation, who can remember the “promises” made when Canary Wharf was built. Secondly, they will interact with City workers, from a different income band to themselves. Thirdly, the young people themselves are from diverse ethnicities. This project will highlight an important issue for young people in Poplar, and provide them with a better understanding of what is often seen as a different world right on their doorstep.