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.

Wolverhampton has a reputation for not being an especially nice place.

If your other children are happy, I would consider a move very carefully. It’s a big upheaval for teenagers, even when our kids were 9 and 7 it was a lot more disruptive for them than I had imagined. The problem is that whenever things are tough they look back to the old home “Where we used to live this would never have happened…”
Can it be that this is normal teenage difficulty and your child has picked on the thing that makes her different to blame? I’d evaluate this carefully.

Telford had always been an absolute dump. Grew up in Shropshire so its been shite since 1980 and probably before.

Nothing to do with immigrants.

I'm part of Lower the Flags in Shrewsbury so the previous poster hopefully isn't typical!

You’re right, Worcester is not very diverse, except for the uni and the taxi drivers, many of whom come from Wolverhampton where it’s easier to get a taxi licence.
It is however a very friendly and nice place with some good value property.

OP - it worries me that you plan to private rent. That is throwing money away each month. Any chance to just buy?

OP - I think you may want to be quite careful about moving to a black community for role models? This sounds a bit idealistic. Given their dad has not been a good role model there is an element of warning right there. Crime rates and educational attainment are highest/lowest among Black Caribbean boys when compared with all ethnic groups in Britain - you might equally find some less positive role models there.

All I’m saying is don’t be idealistic about these things,

How odd. I've lived here for over twenty years and find it quite safe. I grew up in a village in Warwickshire and I'd far rather be here.
My young adult DD have a diverse group of friends because their school and the social things they do were/ are diverse. You'd get a three bed house in a decent part of the city to rent for £1500 a month.

It is a lovely town from what I remember. I still have a sister there and in contact with very old friends from school. Just worry we may have a similar problem.
even when I was young people did not have a high opinion of Telford tbh and that's 1980s.

The only time I went to Telford in recent years is to watch our football team play against them.

We do not go through the town centre. Straight to Bucks Head, straight home again.

Luckily we got promoted 🤣

Nottingham ticks all your boxes

Been my home for nearly 40 years. I work in the likes of Kenilworth and Leamington, and could afford to live there now, but I wouldn’t want too. My teens would be bored and them places are no where near as diverse as Coventry. Leamington isn’t as safe as someone up the thread made out and Ken is boring as hell for teens. It’s where you go to retire.

OP has said her children's father is black African, which is a very different community.

Not all black ppl in Britain are Caribbean.

I think you are right that OP needs to choose her new area very carefully though.

I agree Leam looks nice on the surface but has a real underbelly of anti social behaviour. Crack heads in the park, random vandals roaming around. It’s very strange juxtaposition.

If OP is renting then atleast they can try and move if that’s necessary. Thats not ideal for schools though.

To PP regarding my cov experiences… Maybe I am unlucky but it’s always insane and I probably go 3-4 times a year. Last time I drove into a multi-storey carpark. Having a great time. Suddenly swarmed by police. Had I seen anything?! Seen what? Is this safe to be here!?

They said yep it’s fine. Get out the car and walk down to lift. Come out of lift and someone was dead on the floor having just jumped off the roof.

Police could have said. I had young kids with me.

Very sad. And clearly unlucky. But still insane. I lived in London for 20 years, Sheffield for seven. It might be because it’s when I am visiting I am always in the centre. But still, I would be in the centre of Sheffield or London a lot more than 3-4 times a year and I can’t actually think of a single crazy Sheffield experience. London had a few but anecdotally cov is giving many more crazy incidents.

I think you’ve been unlucky. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but having worked in the centre for years also (I’m a social worker so I’ve truly seen it all around Cov and Warwickshire)….the suicide was unfortunate, if it was one of course, might not have been. I have known that happen once before when I was around 21 and in town, but I don’t think that’s unique to Coventry.

There is a current multi story car park that has been abandoned by its owners near the Belgrade. I wouldn’t recommend that one. Any issues that do happen in the centre, are probably issues happening up and down the country in urban cities.

I grew up near the centre with black Caribbean and Asian families mainly (I am white). Im not completely singing it’s praises but it does tick OPs diversity box, although the list was a bit random I guess.

Telford was a nice place to live until a couple of years a go then the government crapped on us and now its horrible and chaos.
Good luck with your lowering of the flags. I'm counting down until the next election.

I agree with you, it ticks many of ops boxes and crime is relatively low for a city of its size.

I certainly wouldn't think Kenilworth ticks any boxes and would possibly be worse than where she is living now - it possibly has an average age of 45 and is not diverse and would struggle to take on diversity amongst many residents

Warwick is less ridged, and leamington much more diverse and flexible, yes there is crime but nothing more than any other town of similar size and population.

Night life though is lacking for younger people and the town is full of coffee shops and places to eat out

I'd also avoid Nuneaton and Bedworth, they are not part of the west midlands but part of Warwickshire and the "poor" northern half that seems to lack funding - whereas Coventry get a far better deal being int he West Midlands

why not take a few days to go and stay and get a feel for the area with your dc so they can see what its like

I doubt you can count that high.

Coventry isn’t the nicest in the town centre and surrounds. Outskirts do seem nice but I think it’s city prices and none of the bonuses.

Northampton is diverse and has nice areas that are safe, good schools and just a nice place to live. Cheaper than bigger places but not cheap.

Don't you worry Nigel will sort it.