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Guidance on Community Cohesion for Local Authorities, Local Government Association 2002hot!
- 31.03.2006
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Produced by the LGA in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Office, Commission for Racial Equality and the Inter-Faith Network for the UK, this guidance is designed to assist all local authorities and their partners in strengthening and building community cohesion. It provides advice on ways to review existing policies and practices so that they help to build more cohesive communities. It suggests actions that local authorities and their partners can take which are highlighted at the end of each chapter. Building cohesion is not an approach that government - central or local - can impose. Like most aspects of community life, cohesion is something which people themselves generate but which government and its partners can facilitate. Indeed, many authorities have been working to avoid fractured communities or to respond to specific incidents but have not necessarily described this work in community cohesion terms. Local authorities do, along with other local agencies, continually adapt to the rapid changes within their economy, environment and social mix, these all impact on communities and community cohesion. It is the combined, joined up and sustained efforts that build a cohesive society.
The challenge facing us all, since the publication of the Cantle and other reports, has been to translate our understanding of the issues raised into practical action to improve the situation on the ground. This action needs to tackle the causes that can lead to conflict and to guard against circumstances that could lead to the fracturing of communities. Local authorities have a key role to play in driving this agenda forward for their area - working closely with other local players.
- Hits: 293
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Community Cohesion: Report of the Independent Review Team (CCRT) chaired by Ted Cantlehot!
- 01.04.2006
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The Community Cohesion Review Team (CCRT) was set up following the 2001 urban riots to identify good practice, key policy issues and new and innovative thinking in the field of community cohesion. The Terms of Reference were specifically: ‘To obtain the views of local communities, including young people, local authorities, voluntary and faith organisations, in a number of representative multi-ethnic communities, on the issues that need to be addressed in developing confident, active communities and social cohesion. To identify good practice and to report this to the Ministerial Group, and also to identify weaknesses in the handling of these issues at local level.’
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Community Cohesion: Our Responsibility (NACAB and CRE, 2002)hot!
- 01.04.2006
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Community cohesion is currently high on the political agenda, in large part, because of the violent community disorders in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham in 2001. The official reports that followed these disturbances described fragmented and polarised communities lacking a strong sense of civic identity and social values. This briefing paper summarises some of the recent initiatives implemented to help build cohesive communities. In particular, it looks at what various stakeholders, including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), are doing to foster a multicultural society in which each person enjoys equal rights while also sharing the responsibility for strengthening communities.
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Community Cohesion Education Standards for Schoolshot!
- 01.04.2006
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The Community Cohesion Review Team chaired by Ted Cantle investigated the circumstances that surrounded the disturbances in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley in 2001. The report identified the role of schools as being central to breaking down barriers between young people and helping to create cohesive communities. A cohesive community is one where: there is a common vision and a sense of belonging for all communities; the diversity of people’s different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued; those from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities; and strong and positive relationships are being developed between people from different backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and within neighbourhoods. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places particular duties upon all public bodies, including schools, to promote race equality. This document is set within that context and provides schools with advice on how best to promote community cohesion. It provides a framework for schools to promote community cohesion through tackling discrimination and promoting good race relations by breaking down barriers whilst also focusing on raising educational attainment levels.
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Leading Cohesive Communities: LGA and IDeA, Feb. 2006hot!
- 01.04.2006
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Produced jointly by the Local Government Association and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) with the support of the Audit Commission, Home Office and Office of Deputy Prime Minister, this publication notes that the importance of building or maintaining community cohesion is reflected in the wide range of literature available to guide and advise those with responsibility for different aspects of service delivery or community engagement. Until now, however, there has been no guide designed specifically for local authority leaders and chief executives even though the leadership role is among the most crucial. The LGA and IDeA, supported by the Audit Commission, Home Office and ODPM (and with advice from the Commission for Racial Equality and Inter Faith Network) has produced a guide to fill this gap. Leading cohesive communities comes in two parts: (1) a guide looking at some of the key themes and approaches such as definitions of cohesion; developing a vision; statutory responsibilities; measurement; links between central and local government and civil renewal. (2) a casebook of examples of how local authority leaders and chief executives have contributed directly to their authority’s work to promote cohesive communities.
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