Informal Welfare in Belfast

A study of three contrasting Belfast communities which confirms Abram's and Bulmer's contention in "Neighbours" that long-established, stable, working-class communities provide a higher level of informal support than those subject to rapid population turn-over. An important element in community integration and social support is the presence of a web of grass roots voluntary organizations. Housing and planning policy are also seen to contribute to social cohesion in the most stable areas. As in most studies, women both gave and received considerably more informal care from friends, parents or children than from their husbands; in contrast the great majority of husbands would turn to their wives if they "felt down" or had a personal problem. In two areas studied closely, domicilary help from social services was greater in the area with less informal care and vice versa; however, this does not seem to be a result of deliberate policy.