People living in some of the Bradford district’s traditionally white estates feel they are seen as the “lowest of the low”, according to a new report.

The research by a team from Bradford University aimed to look at why, despite efforts to improve the lives of excluded social groups, there is no apparent evidence of sustainable change.

The project saw residents from the Scholemoor estate in Bradford and the Braithwaite and Guardhouse estate in Keighley acting as researchers to explore people’s views on their communities, how they participate within them and how they interact with external organisations.

They found while many residents actively tried to improve their estates this could lead to strain on their lives and a misunderstanding of their motives.

Residents said they felt they were blamed for their problems, stigmatised by where they live and discriminated because of their class.

Respondents also said they felt their voices were not really heard by outside organisations but the research did find many people were looking for ways to improve their lives.

Jenny Pearce, co-author of the report, said: “These communities were once respectable places to live but have been damaged by a process of long-term decline. It is vital to recognise the residents and community activists working to change their estates.

“Transformation is not possible without listening to their voices and tackling the difficult issues head-on.”

Bana Gora, Bradford manager of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation charity, said: “One of the key shared problems across all these communities is residents’ feeling of powerlessness to influence meaningful change.

“Agencies and other bodies who work with these estates need to believe in people’s capability to contribute to solving their own problems. Residents understand the issues and challenges facing their estates better than anyone and must be part of the solution.”

Lesley White, centre manager of Reevy Hill School children’s centre in Buttershaw, said while many parents were working hard to improve their lives, some people still had a negative perception of the estate.

She said: “I think the perception of Rita, Sue and Bob Too lives on. It’s the wrong perception to have, as a lot of parents are really working hard, doing courses in maths and English and moving on to college and university. People do want to improve their lives.”