Helen Willmot completed a Sociology Ph.D at Leeds University in 2001 and then a postdoctoral Research Fellowship with Edinburgh University. She worked as a researcher in the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at LSE from 2003-06 and now works in the charity sector.Rosemary Davidson is currently a Research Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute. She has post doctoral experience in the fields of social policy, psychology and public health, with research interests in social status, resilience, group processes and qualitative research methods. Anne Power is Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Head of LSE Housing and Communities, a research group based within the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. She is author of many books, reports and articles on housing, cities, environmental problems and low-income communities.

"Some people can't choose a nice area. So how do public services affect their lives? This insightful book shows, through the voices of the people themselves, just what a difference those services can make." Prof Lord Layard, London School of Economics

• Introduction; Family roles in community matters; Schools in communities ; Young people, space, facilities and activities; Preventative policing, community safety and community confidence; Family health and neighbourhood conditions; Families move into work: skills, training and tax credits; Housing and regeneration; How the areas are changing.

Helen Willmot completed a Sociology Ph.D at Leeds University in 2001 and then a postdoctoral Research Fellowship with Edinburgh University. She worked as a researcher in the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at LSE from 2003-06 and now works in the charity sector.Rosemary Davidson is currently a Research Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute. She has post doctoral experience in the fields of social policy, psychology and public health, with research interests in social status, resilience, group processes and qualitative research methods. Anne Power is Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Head of LSE Housing and Communities, a research group based within the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. She is author of many books, reports and articles on housing, cities, environmental problems and low-income communities.

"Some people can't choose a nice area. So how do public services affect their lives? This insightful book shows, through the voices of the people themselves, just what a difference those services can make." Prof Lord Layard, London School of Economics

• Introduction; Family roles in community matters; Schools in communities ; Young people, space, facilities and activities; Preventative policing, community safety and community confidence; Family health and neighbourhood conditions; Families move into work: skills, training and tax credits; Housing and regeneration; How the areas are changing.

Helen Willmot completed a Sociology Ph.D at Leeds University in 2001 and then a postdoctoral Research Fellowship with Edinburgh University. She worked as a researcher in the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at LSE from 2003-06 and now works in the charity sector.Rosemary Davidson is currently a Research Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute. She has post doctoral experience in the fields of social policy, psychology and public health, with research interests in social status, resilience, group processes and qualitative research methods. Anne Power is Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Head of LSE Housing and Communities, a research group based within the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. She is author of many books, reports and articles on housing, cities, environmental problems and low-income communities.

"Some people can't choose a nice area. So how do public services affect their lives? This insightful book shows, through the voices of the people themselves, just what a difference those services can make." Prof Lord Layard, London School of Economics

• Introduction; Family roles in community matters; Schools in communities ; Young people, space, facilities and activities; Preventative policing, community safety and community confidence; Family health and neighbourhood conditions; Families move into work: skills, training and tax credits; Housing and regeneration; How the areas are changing.