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Community Cohesion: the UK perspective

June Mason and Reannan RottierMarch 2009

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Overview

Community cohesion: a brief history What is community cohesion? Measuring community cohesion Cohesion delivery framework Specialist cohesion teams Meaningful interaction Citizenship ceremonies Face to Face and Side by Side: Communities and Local Government’s

interfaith strategy Understanding community cohesion locally: Government Office for

London video

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Community cohesion: a brief history

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Community cohesion: a brief history

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What is community cohesion?

Measuring community cohesion: key terms

National & local indicator

National indicator

Measuring community cohesion: PSA 21

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Our main source of evidence on community cohesion (including meaningful interaction and belonging), empowerment and volunteering

Household survey of adults aged 16+ in England and Wales

Nationally representative core sample of almost 10,000 people plus a minority ethnic boost of 5,000 people

Data collected through face to face interviews (approx 60mins)

First conducted in 2001

Since 2007: continuous design with findings available quarterly (last statistical release available: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1133115.pdf )

A National Statistics product

Measuring community cohesion: The Citizenship

Survey

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The Citizenship Survey shows that nationally, cohesion has remained high since 2003:

Measuring community cohesion

• Percentage who think people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area

Indicator 1

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Meaningful interaction is high:

Measuring community cohesion

• Percentage of people who have meaningful interactions with people from different backgrounds

Indicator 2

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Sense of belonging has increased:

Measuring community cohesion

• Percentage of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood

Indicator 3

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Cohesion levels vary locally:

Measuring community cohesion: the local picture

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Measuring empowerment

• Percentage of people who feel they can influence decisions in their local area

Indicator 4

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Measuring community cohesion: it’s complicated but crucial

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Community Cohesion: It’s over to you

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£50 million investment to promote community cohesion and support local authorities in preventing and managing community tensions

New guidance for local authorities through the Cohesion delivery framework, which is updated on a regular basis http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/cohesiondeliveryrevised

A range of other commitments, including Specialist Cohesion Teams

The Department’s response to the Commission on Integration and

Cohesion

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Specialist cohesion teams

Provide advice and support to local authorities facing cohesion challenges – particularly those areas facing rapid change or experiencing migration for the first time

Provide advice on conflict resolution, mediation, leadership and on the steps that local leaders might take when new people arrive in their area

Pilots in two areas – Breckland and Barnsley – ran from July 2008 to January 2009

Evaluation of the pilot underway, due to report March 2009 Aim to roll teams out to other local areas facing cohesion

challenges

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Meaningful interaction: The golden thread of cohesion

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Meaningful interaction: definition

“…conversations [which] go beyond surface friendliness; in which people exchange personal information or talk about each other’s differences and identities; people share a common goal or share an interest; and they are sustained long-term (so one off or chance meetings are unlikely to make much difference)” (Commission for Integration and Cohesion, 2007)

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Meaningful Interaction between people from different backgrounds reduces stereotypes and prejudices; and more generally can lead to better health, wealth and happiness for individuals including less crime, fear of crime and mitigation for the impact of deprivation for communities

Having friends from different backgrounds is one of the key predictors cohesion; meaningful interaction is therefore a key component of building cohesive communities.

Meaningful interaction: Why it’s important

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Like other cohesion work, our work on meaningful interaction is about people from all different backgrounds, rather than being limited to people from different race and faith backgrounds.

Intergenerational interactions or interactions across social class, for example, are also important. 

CLG Ministers are fully supportive of this approach.

Meaningful interaction

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Interaction is an integral part of other activities – so if you wish to take specific actions to bring people together from different backgrounds, then it is most effective to make this a natural outcome of another activity

Deciding to support interaction means that organisations may need to make a commitment to it, as success depends on sustaining this work not one off events

You may wish to promote its benefits, to promote a “culture of civility” and help people feel they have a voice.

Meaningful interaction: Important principles

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Face to Face and Side by Side: the department’s interfaith strategy

Launched July 2008 A framework to help government, faith

communities, faith-based and third sector organisations, inter faith organisations and wider society to work together

Face to Face: dialogue which leads to faith communities having a better understanding of one another, including celebrating the values held in common as well as acknowledging distinctiveness

Side by Side: collaborative social action involving different faith communities and wider civil society, which brings about positive and concrete change within local communities

Publishing Guidance for Local Authorities and Partners

Working with Housing Association and Public Housing Providers

Working with Charitable Funders.

Investigating the role of good design in encouraging MI

Commissioning new up to date research to inform our work and the work of other in the future.

Sponsoring several large scale Iconic Projects that have a ‘Feel Good’ effect.

Examples of good practice on the recently set up ‘portal’

Influencing other Government Departments to include MI in their policies.

Meaningful interaction: What we’re doing

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Understanding community cohesion locally: Government Office for London video

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Further information June.Mason@communities.gsi.gov.ukReannan.Rottier@communities.gsi.gov.uk

General information on our cohesion workhttp://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/racecohesionfaith/

General information on the Citizenship Surveyhttp://www.communities.gov.uk/communities-study

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