Community Cohesion

Selina Ullah

Assistant Director

Safer and Stronger Communities

What do mean by community cohesion in Bradford ?

‘Community Cohesion and Inclusion in the Bradford District is based on building a shared vision and values and a sense of belonging for all within a culturally rich and diverse environment. It is a place where people from different backgrounds and communities are valued and can live together with mutual respect, understanding and tolerance. It is a District where people are treated fairly, feel safe and secure, understand their rights and responsibilities, and can play an active role in the social, civic and economic life of the community’

Why the Council thinks this is important ?

• Deprivation• Active citizenship • Discrimination• Economic Downturn• International, regional and local events• Crime and antisocial behaviour• New arrivals• Managing perception

What are we hoping to achieve ?• Deprivation

– We will work towards tackling the serious impact on the quality of life of the district’s population. We will target resources in our most deprived areas to narrow the gap and ensure the benefits of social, physical, environmental and economic development are open to all

– Members are committed to increasing opportunities for citizens to be engaged in decision making

– How we behave towards each other and respect the other – We are committed to delivering a better district, and ensuring

the wellbeing of our residents– Importance of increasing Rights but also Responsibilities and

Expectations– Enforcement – will be used to achieve the priorities we agreed

with partners e.g. illegal activity and ASB– Enforcement – non attendance education

What are we hoping to achieve ?• Active Citizenship

What are we hoping to achieve ?• Discrimination

– We will create a climate of change which encourages people from different backgrounds and communities to value each other and live together with mutual respect, understanding and tolerance

How do we measure cohesion ?

Strong & Cohesive Communities

Priority• Equal access / closing gaps• Getting involved, contributing

(sports / arts) • Getting on together, interacting• Feeling safe

% who agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together

(NI 1)

65% 64% 65%

54%

64% 63%

73%

61%

75%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

ALL Male Female 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ White BME

% feel they belong to their immediate neighbourhood (NI 2)

58% 57% 59%

41%51%

60%

76%

56%63%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

ALL Male Female 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ White BME

% say have been treated with respect & consideration

by local public services in last year (NI 140)

69% 67% 71%63% 66%

71%75%

70%63%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

ALL Male Female 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ White BME

% who have been involved in decisions that affect

the local area in the past 12 months (NI 3)

16%

22%

10%15% 16% 16% 14% 14%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

ALL Male Female 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ White BME

Some examples of work taking place

• Anne Frank Ambassador Training• Black History Month• NHS Health Training • Mental Health and Housing Service• Refugee Employment Training• Community Reassurance for COI groups• Bradford City Run – Disabled Groups• National Old People’s Day in Ilkley• Working with the Police raising awareness of HATE crime• Building capacity through Cohesion and Inclusion• Alcohol Awareness week 19th – 24th Oct• Bradford North Football Tournament• Family Learning Events Across the District Libraries

Challenges• Economic Downturn – Impact on family life, jobs

and training• Increasing Educational Achievement – building

skills for the future• Promoting understanding and tolerance between

and in communities• Host Communities and New Arrivals – agreeing

behaviours and norms • How do we get our schools to become part of

their communities ?