Local Initiatives
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Area-Based Initiatives
The Home Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
have produced two publications that provide advice and
guidance on how best to address cohesion within both
new and existing Area Based Initiatives (ABIs) and how
to ensure that relations between recipient communities
and their neighbours are not damaged by misperceptions
of funding decisions or of the benefits to communities.
- Community Cohesion Advice for those designing,
developing and delivering Area Based Initiatives (ABIs):
Building cohesion into regeneration and renewal
This is intended for those responsible for designing,
developing and delivering ABIs or other regeneration
projects and for those involved in implementing and
monitoring them.
Guidance
on Community Cohesion
(file size 671kb)
- Building Community Cohesion into Area Based Initiatives:
A guide for residents and practitioners
This is a practical guide with extensive case studies
intended for those living and working in Area Based
Initiatives and other regeneration areas.
Area
Based Initiatives (ABIs)
(file size 1mb - Warning:
this is a very large file and may take a long time to
download)
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Beacon Councils and Community
Cohesion
The Beacon Council Scheme was created to disseminate
best and good practice in service delivery across local
government. Beacon authorities have demonstrated a clear
vision and strategy, effective partnership working and
a willingness to innovate.
Every year, the government selects themes for the beacon
scheme. The themes are announced one, two or more years
in advance and some themes are repeated in future rounds.
The themes are chosen primarily because of their importance
in the day-to-day lives of the public and are key to
improving the quality of life in all our communities.
As democratically elected organisations, local authorities
are in a key position to provide strong leadership for
their areas and their communities. Round 4 of the Beacon
Scheme concentrated for instance, on the importance
of strong leadership, combined with effective partnership
working. The 6 Beacons chosen to disseminate best practice
around the theme of community cohesion have worked to
ensure there is true celebration of diversity, tackling
inequalities and overcoming fragmentation between different
groups to build real equality of opportunity and strong
community relationships.
Further information about the Beacon Council Scheme
can be found at www.localregions.odpm.gov.uk/beacons
and www.idea.gov.uk/beacons.
Another useful site is www.idea.gov.uk/knowledge
which you can register free of charge. You will need
to click on 'Improving your Council' and then on 'Beacon
Authorities' to access all the information on Beacons
including community cohesion.
Below are details of the 6 Beacons with links to their
websites offering further detailed information.
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Cheshire Fire Authority
Cheshire Fire Authority has developed numerous strategies
to actively embrace partnerships and make the communities
of Cheshire safe, strong and cohesive. Partnerships
with other emergency services, caring agencies and voluntary
groups have combined to make a positive impact on fire
related issues and contribute to improving the quality
of life in the local community.
Cheshire Fire Authority, as part of its dissemination
process, seeks to develop and enhance its good practice
by promoting a national strategy to embrace community
cohesion, which will be a key part of the modernised
Fire and Rescue Service.
A key aspect of the Fire Service's work is partnering
with voluntary groups and national initiatives such
as the Prince's Trust, in order to offer work and training
opportunities in the Service for young people and fire
safety services for older people. This brings people
from different backgrounds together; old and young;
employed and unemployed; able-bodied and people with
disabilities.
Further information on events, initiatives and development
opportunities is available at www.beacon.cheshirefire.co.uk.
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London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is London’s second
largest borough in terms of population. It is very diverse
with nearly 26% of its population from black and ethnic
minority communities. It has a longstanding commitment
to community cohesion with a clear vision led by a Cabinet
Committee that oversees a programme of Service Equalities
Audits and action plans.
Their work is grounded in consultation with all communities
and places great emphasis on partnership working with
statutory and voluntary agencies.
They are committed to furthering cross-cultural liaison
and work through partnerships such as Barnet’s
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, Celebrating
Diversity Action Group, Multi-Agency Racial Harassment
Group and the Holocaust Memorial Working Group.
Education initiatives include a Multicultural Resources
Exhibition, a national event that showcases multicultural
resources for the classroom, inter-generational projects
and curriculum support packs.
Other initiatives include Black History Month, Barnet’s
Multicultural Community Day, community based neighbourhood
warden scheme and a telephone based interpretation service.
The council itself is also active in offering work opportunities
to young people who would otherwise suffer exclusion.
Further information and a full programme of events
has been arranged for their Beacon year and can be found
by looking at www.barnet.gov.uk/beacon.
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Leicester City Council
Leicester City Council believes in promoting the integrity
and sustainability of Leicester and its people in the
interests of their past, their present and their future.
Their success to date is based on 5 key strengths:
- Political and organisational leadership
- Effective and consistent community engagement
- Networking and partnership working /li>
- Revitalising neighbourhoods
- Celebrating cultural diversity
They are aiming to create a thriving and diverse society
in which everyone is involved and in which everyone
can have a decent and fulfilling life. This aim is integral
to their community plan, which sets out the Council’s
top priorities of diversity, community safety, education,
health and social care, environment, jobs and regeneration.
The priority of community cohesion is led from the
very top - at both political and officer level. They
also recognise the importance of formal and informal
networks in creating a cohesive community and invest
significant resources in maintaining them.
Effective partnership working is vital. For example,
a multi-cultural forum comprising of senior officers
and members meet regularly with faith, media, public,
police and health, business and voluntary community
representatives, helping to create a commitment to tackling
race inequality in Leicester.
Their Beacon dissemination programme will highlight
five key messages; the need for personal and collective
leadership, long-term commitment, wider community engagement,
respecting differences and celebrating diversity, and
that practice makes better not perfect.
Further information is available at www.leicester.gov.uk/beacon
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Rochdale Metropolitan Borough
Council
Rochdale borders Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.
It is approximately 10 miles from Burnley, and 30 miles
from Bradford. However, unlike these near neighbours
Rochdale did not experience disturbances of the kind
witnessed in the summer of 2001. They believe this was
the result of good community relations built on well-established
partnerships with other agencies, and a broad approach
to community cohesion based on long-established Township
structures.
A recognition of the complexity of local communities,
and of their diversity and distinctiveness, is central
to their vision. The principle of community partnership
is at the heart of the Council’s policymaking
process and is completely embraced by the Leaders of
all 3 main political parties. They have based their
corporate strategy, “Aiming High,” on community
priorities established after extensive public consultation
through the Rochdale Borough Local Strategic Partnership.
Programmes to celebrate diversity, promote community
safety, and represent local people are both Council
and LSP priorities. They believe that this approach
supports what is now known as “community cohesion.”
They have developed their four Township Committees,
which were set up as full Standing Committees of Council
with Executive powers with substantial financial and
regulatory powers. The Township structure encourages
local involvement and a shared identity amongst local
people. Township Committees are at the centre of debate
about the key issues affecting people’s lives
within their communities. They act as an effective early
warning mechanism for controversial local issues, as
well as creating opportunities for positive action to
be taken to celebrate the strengths of the various diverse
communities they represent. They also consult Townships
on strategic matters, and have developed individual
strategies for each Township on matters such as housing
and regeneration.
They mirror this approach to geographical communities
in their approach to communities of interest, including
disadvantaged people. This is achieved by development
and support of a wide range of partnerships with other
agencies within the Borough, and by building on the
existing work of all agencies. This partnership approach
is fundamental to their ability to respond to the needs
of a diverse and changing community.
Rochdale Council has created a strong partnership with
the media which has allowed black and minority ethnic
candidates to stand for Council without an upsurge in
nationalist voting and BNP presence. Recently, tea was
the theme for a large multi-cultural celebration in
the city.
Key Lessons
Community Cohesion isn’t just about race, culture
and religion. It’s about:
- Establishing a common vision and sense of belonging
- this is personal : individuals make a difference
- Valuing Diversity - helping people to contribute;
getting hundreds and small things right; celebrating
our rich cultural heritage.
- Fostering strong and positive relationships - including
police, schools and the media to develop a common
culture, in which it’s OK to disagree.
- Ensuring similar life opportunities for all - via
education, regeneration, housing and leisure; as an
employer
- Taking young people seriously - an asset, not a
problem.
- Community Cohesion is a journey rather than a destination
- there’s no room for complacency; build mechanisms
to allow a swift response to changing circumstances.
Further information is available at www.rochdale.gov.uk/beacon.
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Tewkesbury Borough Council
Tewkesbury believes that community cohesion is not
just an urban issue, nor is it solely about bridging
ethnic divides. The council believes that by developing
community initiatives across the fault lines of society
such as loss of local facilities, youth problems, poverty
and deprivation, community cohesion can be attained
Tewkesbury has implemented many positive initiatives
including work with travelers, young people, older people
and the appointment of a community cohesion champion.
In particular areas where the council has identified
fault lines that need addressing it has, in partnership,
developed "action strategies" to provide a
comprehensive inter-agency response, involving relevant
agencies such as the police and registered social landlords.
Further information is available at www.tewkesburybc.gov.uk/beacon.
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London Borough of Tower
Hamlets
Tower Hamlets believe that the key factors behind their
successful approach to community cohesion has been:
- High expectations for all communities
- A focus on accelerating improvement and achieving
ambitious targets
- Active and involved partnership and energetic third
sector activity
- Strong and responsive communication networks between
the different agencies and our local communities.
They do not believe that community cohesion can be
approached as an ‘add-on’ to public service
delivery, and have deliberately chosen not to develop
a separate strategy for community cohesion. Rather,
their approaches to community cohesion are embedded
in their Community Plan and in the way services are
planned and delivered across the Council and its partners.
Community cohesion cannot be sustained without effective
partnership. The Council plays a key role through the
Tower Hamlets Partnership (our Local Strategic Partnership)
in leading an agreed, inclusive local vision and direction
for the borough and in enabling community involvement
to assist in its delivery. Their vision seeks to accelerate
the rate of improvement in the quality of life experienced
by all local people. To this end, the Council and its
partners are fully committed to the government’s
aim of achieving minimum standards in key areas of living
- like jobs, health, education, housing and freedom
from crime - for all communities. This makes community
cohesion integral to all service delivery.
The Council has recognised the importance of education
in building community cohesion and has a range of services
and activities in place to support this, including working
with the Council of Mosques to improve school attendance
and using School Governors to visit local communities
to reinforce positive messages about education. Qualified
teachers are being invited to stay and teach in Tower
Hamlets through a recent advertising campaign, whilst
a 24 hour rapid response team of trained mediators is
on hand to interrupt and diffuse tensions across the
Borough. The team consists of mainly young people from
within the communities at night be in conflict.
To view case studies that show Tower Hamlet’s
work in more detail - one for each theme of their Community
Plan - and to view further information please visit
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Additional examples of community cohesion and good
practice that are taking place across the country can
be found at www.lga.gov.uk.
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