Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Social Research Institute
Abstract
Families in Tower Hamlets is an ongoing research project led by University College London into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the lives of families with young children and pregnant women. This report is of initial findings from the ‘first 500’ respondents, who completed the survey between July and September 2020. We present findings in terms of three main ethnic groups that broadly represent proportions in the local population: one third of the population identify as White British and White Irish; a further third identify as Bangladeshi; and a final third identify with a wide range of other ethnicities which we have had to present as ‘Other ethnicity’ in this report and we acknowledge this is unlikely to do justice to the range of experience within this group. With this lens of ethnicity, combined with analysis by household income, we can see certain clear patterns arising. Here, we focus on five main areas: family livelihoods; housing and environment; supporting children at home; health and social support services; and participants’ own health and mental health. Subsequent outputs will present findings in more detail
