Nottingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton?...

[Oldrivet]

Or anywhere else?

I'm very origionally from Shrewsbury but haven't been back for years and I've lived in many different places since I left as a teenager.

I currently live in Somerset but my teenage kids are finding it difficult due to a lack of diversity. They are mixed race and I think feel quite lonely.
Had a long discussion with upset dd last night who revealed a lot.

I wfh mostly so I think my company wouldn't have an issue with me moving however, 2 are in secondary and eldest in college. Middle one is year 10.

I am worried because it is really affecting middle one's MH and to some extent my elder who is not enjoying college.

Also, I am really struggling with rising prices and have just sold my house to get some debts paid off.

I cannot afford to buy here again atm.

Rent for a 3 bed/4 will be around 1600/7 or more for what we need.
I will have proceeds from the sale and won't get help so it would be private of course.

Seriously wondering if it's time we move further north so the kids have more diversity around them and I can afford something to suit.
On the other hand, its a difficult time with their studies although dd2 is a real struggle to get into school. She does very well academically but her health and MH are suffering.

I was wondering about the areas above. My dad worked for years at the hospital in Wolverhampton but I don't know it well.
I don't know Nottingham or Coventry well either.

Nottingham is very diverse overall, but whether a move here would be good depends on your budget. Like most cities you could end up in an area that won't help your children's mental health or education. There are areas with very good schools and others with schools that are struggling. Some areas are predominantly one ethnicity so again, you need to do your research. I love where I live, and although I have lived in Norfolk, Oxfordshire and Berkshire I always wanted to come home. But my family are all here so it's very different to your situation.

Not Coventry.

I don’t think I have once stepped in there without something mental happening. And I really do rarely frequent there so that’s quite an achievement.

Coventrian here. Very diverse, but not that cheap tbh. Population here has exploded and with the two unis, it’s packed.

My teens have lots of friends, all different nationalities and ethnicities. I personally don’t think it’s that mental but it probably is for the average mumsnetter.

Coventry fan here. Schools are solid, lots of theatre, live music and cultural offerings, obviously helped by Warwick Uni campus being in the city.
I have been in Nottingham twice this year and felt less secure walking in that city centre than I do in Cov. Having said that, I didn't feel unsafe and obviously I know my local city areas far better.
Have you considered Worcester?

I’m back in Wolverhampton after living down south for years and am loving being back somewhere that has a reasonable cost of living with access to lots of culture, sports, lots of green spaces and nearby countryside and good travel links, both around the area and to other parts of the country. It’s cheaper than Birmingham but still has the advantages that comes with being in the conurbation. There are some great schools and lots of colleges in the city and across the Black Country offering a wide range of specialisms. Travel across the West Midlands is pretty good - buses, trams and trains. It’s very diverse and this diversity is celebrated. Like everywhere these days you do get pockets that don’t agree with this but thankfully not too many as the city has well established communities that have been integrated for decades.

Most of your DCs are of an age where the access to travel will be vital for them to develop independence.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/93377142#/?channel=RES_LET. This is in a lovely area. There's a 4 bed around the corner for £1795pcm.

Wolverhampton has just become the city with most murders in the uk, taking over from Nottingham. Tettenhall gives you easy access to the city center, but also easy access to Shrewsbury if you want to pop back!

That's meant to say, But Tettenhall's a bit further out, though still gives you easy access to the city center. . .

I just imagined Worcester as not very diverse.

There is a story behind this.
The children's father does not communicate with them now and lives a long way away. My family are quite spread out and though I'm in contact still with my ex -h's family, they mostly live abroad or in London.
They just don't have any close role models, family or friends at all from their African side and I think that is really starting to affect them. I knew it would but after the conversation I had yesterday, didn't realise just how much. It is important therefore I think for them to be in a more diverse (particularly black) community.

Leamington Spa close to Coventry is gorgeous. Lovely town which is safe but also a vibrant nightlife. Also close enough to bigger cities like Coventry and Birmingham. But you can come back to safe Leamington as a hub.

As 'nice' as Worcester is, it's one of the least diverse cities I've ever been to. It's incredibly white apart from the students!

Of course, it's important we feel safe as well though. I do not really want to return to a big city (have lived in London, Mancs and big cities abroad) and I'm getting old (46!) and enjoy the relative peace of where we are. However, They must come first and I'm willing to do whatever to help them.

My eldest does go into Bristol a lot with her friends as we are not too far but it's far too expensive to live there for us.

I'm living in Telford.
I would look at moving up to Shrewsbury if I was you.
Lots of houses being built and much nicer than Telford which has been absolutely saturated with immigrants during the last 5 years.

I live in Coventry and my kids have grown up here. There are parts of the city that are rough and there are areas of deprivation but I think that's the same in every city. Very diverse with people from all over the world - you hear lots of different languages spoken . The city has 2 universities and depending on their interests there's lots for young people to do.
Good transport links across the West Midlands and beyond. I work in the city centre and I've never felt unsafe.
Good luck with whatever you decide

I’m a bit confused/ concerned that you have sold your home to clear debts and then are planning to private rent. Wouldn’t it be better to buy something manageable than rent?
you haven’t said your budget - Coventry is very mixed, there are very nice areas but they are expensive. I’d look at Warwick (cheaper than leamington spa but still diverse) . The issue I see though is trying to find school places.

I would also agree that there is lots for teens to do in Coventry

I am planning to but would need to apply for a new mortgage and need to get my credit rating back up after paying off what I need to so I think renting is my only option for the next few months. It's really frustrating as I've been really good with budgeting since the kids were small and always maintained a strong credit rating but this year has really thrown me as I had a job last year with low pay and have had to pay out for certain things beyond my control.

Bristol has a strong black community based in St Pauls so until you move it might be worth getting DC involved with activities that are part of that or even things like finding a hairdresser that understands their hair (there are several of those). October is Black History month so it's a good time to see if there is anything that might interest them eg https://www.uwe.ac.uk/events/search-results?q&fromdate&todate&c=Black+History+Month#null or www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings/region/south-west/bristol-south-west/

Shrewsbury is hardly diverse. Did you read the OP at all? And "saturated with immigrants" ? Fucking hell. Give it a rest.

Have you visited shropshire at all recently?
Telford has been absolutely flooded
. Open your eyes. Local groups have now started policing the streets as it's unsafe.
Shrewsbury is lovely with a very good night life.

Hi OP. Have you picked those three places because there's a residential community of the kind of background similar to your ex? Otherwise they seem like quite random places to pick

Nottingham is a large city so if you want to avoid cities don’t move there. There is a black MN group in here so maybe a better place to get some answers?

What about Leicester - it’s a city but much smaller

Coventry fits with your diverse request
leamington spa and Warwick, not so much - not sure that Warwick is cheaper than Leamington? I’d have thought they’re pretty much the same price. It is certainly quieter in these two towns than Coventry.

you can easily rent a 3 bed house for £1400 a month

Yes, I guess they are really but I was trying to think of somewhere not too far from family and people I know (even though it'd still be a good drive).
I don't really have anyone up North. Mostly in midlands and South Wales and friends here in the SW.

Happy to hear of other ideas.