This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
Black Mumsnetters
Safe Home Counties to raise black families
Rimumof3 · 10/12/2022 02:21
Hi guys, I’m looking to move to one of the Home Counties but I need diversity. It doesn’t have to be all black, in fact I prefer not to be in an all of any race community. I just can’t have my kids being the only black kids in their year.
So my requirements are as follows:
- safe, diverse community
- close proximity to London
- big houses
- great schools
- great town centre
- leafy area with things to do
Would love if you could let me know suggestions. Ps not Kent or Essex.
Thanks xx
SingingSantaChristmas · 10/12/2022 02:28
We are in Sussex and my children have friends from lots of different backgrounds. E.g. in my son's school class he has a friend whose parents were born in Zimbabwe, one whose parents are of Indian heritage, one half Italian and half Ghanaian, one half Hungarian and half British, one half German and half French, another who is Japanese/ British. Seems fairly average for the school, in a nice area. I think most of the places that are commutable to London in less than an hour are far more mixed these days as people have moved out of London when they have families.
Reugny · 10/12/2022 09:19
There is another thread on this.
I have siblings and friends in:
-West Sussex
-Kent
-Surrey
-Berkshire
-Hampshire
-Cambridgeshire
-Buckinghamshire
It isn't hard to work out what cities or towns they live in or near in most cases.
Rimumof3 · 10/12/2022 09:51
Thank you for the suggestions!
I know I literally pressed send and saw it 🤦🏽♀️
Rimumof3 · 10/12/2022 09:54
I love that level of diversity. I’ll add West Sussex to my search. I’ve been looking at Hertfordshire mainly but extended to Berkshire & Buckinghamshire.
justpreeing · 10/12/2022 23:25
Berkshire, my cousin moved to Newbury from east london. Said the school is quite diverse as there’s lots of Asian doctors. also lots of grammars in the area
it’s very nice and leafy. After moving his son said they can’t go back.
he also says reading is very good, that’s it’s like a mini lagos
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 01:11
Lol at mini Lagos 😂there’s nowhere you can’t find Nigerians lol. So can we get our food bits or do we still need to go to London for the markets? Also @justpreeing do you know where in Reading? Reading is front runner at the moment but i’m hoping to pinpoint an area. Thanks x
justpreeing · 11/12/2022 01:26
@Rimumof3 haha yes. Yeah you can get your food bits locally. Don’t know the exact area but 805 have a reading location: www.805restaurants.com/our-restaurants/reading
So it should be somewhere near that.
Another thing I’ve done in the past when looking for diverse areas is too check RCCG (a Nigerian church) locations in the uk: www.rccguk.church/?page_id=2684
For example Milton Keynes has about 10 of them, which is a lot. Great diversity there, good sized houses without breaking the bank but the schools but no grammars
Oliotya · 11/12/2022 06:14
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 01:11
Lol at mini Lagos 😂there’s nowhere you can’t find Nigerians lol. So can we get our food bits or do we still need to go to London for the markets? Also @justpreeing do you know where in Reading? Reading is front runner at the moment but i’m hoping to pinpoint an area. Thanks x
We moved to reading earlier this year. We've really liked it so far. Plenty of diversity (not just racially) and shops, restaurants etc. We're in tilehurst. The "nice" bit is caversham, but it's also the least diverse.
Twilightstarbright · 11/12/2022 06:41
I’m in south Herts close to Barnet and the schools are pretty diverse.
TreadLight · 11/12/2022 10:03
www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/ethnic-group/ethnic-group-tb-6a/black-black-british-black-welsh-caribbean-or-african
The census 2021 data has been mapped so you can check the racial mix of an area, almost down to street level.
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 11:08
@Oliotya whats tilehurst like, in terms of houses, schools and neighbourhood. Would you say it’s a safe place to raise black kids?
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 11:11
@Twilightstarbright barnet is basically north London I want to go further out and get more house for my money
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 11:12
@MrsSkylerWhite do you mean the seaside? It’s not far at all and a distance like that would be perfect but I’ve not really even considered there as an option tbh.
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 11:13
@TreadLight thanks for the link that’s really helpful :)
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 11:25
@MrsSkylerWhite it sounds lovely, diversity is just one element of my requirement. I’m looking for good schools, big houses for less money lol, good shopping centre, leafy vibes. I’m not sure Brighton gives that. Although a good local seaside would be amazing
MrsSkylerWhite · 11/12/2022 11:33
Ah, ok. Cheap it isn’t, that’s for sure!
good luck with your search.
(I know you’re not keen on Essex but Harwich/Dovercourt, again on the coast, close to the Suffolk border, fulfil pretty much every requirement.)
TheFormidableMrsC · 11/12/2022 11:39
I live in North Herts. I'd say it's pretty diverse here! A good mix of cultures. Both my son's primary and secondary schools are very much mixed race. One of my son's best buddies is from Ghana and he settled really well here.
Vermin · 11/12/2022 11:41
Rickmansworth / Watford is very diverse (lots of Nigerians among others!) but I don’t know about specialist food shops or church. Excellent schools but you might need to move out slightly for cheap housing- I think Rickmansworth does large but not cheap!
south bucks is very Asian but few Caribbean or African families around, and a sorry lack of ethnic food shops.
Rimumof3 · 11/12/2022 12:19
What’s everyone’s thoughts on MK? The houses are so enticing 🤩
Sigma33 · 11/12/2022 12:43
TreadLight · 11/12/2022 10:03
www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/ethnic-group/ethnic-group-tb-6a/black-black-british-black-welsh-caribbean-or-african
The census 2021 data has been mapped so you can check the racial mix of an area, almost down to street level.
Thanks for this link, it's facinating!
justpreeing · 11/12/2022 12:47
TreadLight · 11/12/2022 10:03
www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/ethnic-group/ethnic-group-tb-6a/black-black-british-black-welsh-caribbean-or-african
The census 2021 data has been mapped so you can check the racial mix of an area, almost down to street level.
Haha @TreadLight was coming back here to post this
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