Background and definition

Policy background

Commission on Integration and Cohesion

A new definition

Policy background

During the summer of 2001 there were disturbances in several towns in the north of England. Fights broke out between groups of young people – particularly from white and Asian ethnic backgrounds.

Following this, the then Home Secretary David Blunkett established the Community Cohesion Review team under Ted Cantle. The team produced a detailed report into the issues behind these disturbances and outlined a national strategy to tackle them.

This is arguably the point at which ‘Community cohesion’ as a term and a policy aspiration gained common currency in local government. In 2001 however, responsibility for the emerging policy area remained with the Home Office. Thus it retained a focus on community safety and identifying and addressing tensions.

Since 2001 the conceptual framework has widened. Arguably ‘Community cohesion’ encompasses ‘a lot of stuff councils were doing anyway’. However, it brings it together in a way that better enables councils to identify and meet the challenges and opportunities. These include rapid change, population movements and super-diversity.

Community cohesion now has strong links with the Equalities agenda. It also provides a strong and vital strand in delivering ‘place shaping’ and citizenship.

Commission on Integration and Cohesion

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on London in July 2005, questions were posed about the nature of British society. How can different groups:

• peacefully co-exist
• respect differences but avoid isolation and segregation
• work together to develop a shared sense of belonging and purpose?

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced the creation of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (CIC) in June 2006. The commission, a fixed-term advisory body, set out with the following purpose:

“…to consider how local areas can make the most of the benefits delivered by increasing diversity – but will also consider how they can respond to the tensions it can sometimes cause. It will develop practical approaches that build communities’ own capacity to prevent problems, including those caused by segregation and the dissemination of extremist ideologies.”

It produced its final report ‘Our Shared Future’ in June 2007. It has been an important embodiment of a wider and more inclusive understanding of ‘Community cohesion’. It has shifted away from concentrating on ‘race and faith’ and ‘tension and disturbance’ to the importance of positive relations. It champions helping people fulfil their potential and feel a positive sense of belonging to an area or community. The report also placed an important and welcome emphasis on the need for ‘local solutions to local issues’.

Useful links: where to find out more

Original cohesion review team report  – from the CLG website

‘Our Shared Future’: the CIC’s final report – from the CIC website

Communities and Local Government’s response – from the CLG website

A new definition

Following the final report from the CIC in June 2007, Communities and Local Government, the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and the Local Government Association (LGA) agreed the following definition:

“Community Cohesion is what must happen in all communities to enable different groups of people to get on well together. A key contributor to community cohesion is integration which is what must happen to enable new residents and existing residents to adjust to one another.”

Our vision of an integrated and cohesive community is based on three foundations:

1. People from different backgrounds having similar life opportunities
2. People knowing their rights and responsibilities
3. People trusting one another and trusting local institutions to act fairly.

And three key ways of living together:

1. A shared future vision and sense of belonging
2. A focus on what new and existing communities have in common, alongside a recognition of the value of diversity
3. Strong and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds.

A lot of the work and discussion in local areas has focused on the second half of the definition. Specific projects have been designed to bring people from different backgrounds together and promote understanding. This work has been enormously worthwhile. But, as the definition states, these projects need to be delivered in a wider environment of perceived fairness and opportunity.

Delivering the foundations needs engagement at the most senior levels in a council. Shared understanding and agreed approaches between all partners is needed. Effective leadership and in-depth knowledge of local communities is vital.

Focused projects should then flow from this knowledge and understanding. There is an important link here with the equalities agenda. To deliver equalities and cohesion effectively it is vital that they are part of the core business of the local strategic partnership (LSP). They must also be mainstreamed throughout service planning and performance management. This can be done through the Sustainable Community strategy and the LAA.

There are also important overlaps and links with other key concepts and policy areas, in particular community empowerment, civic participation and citizenship.

Useful links: where to find out more

Current community cohesion policy

Equalities resource

Cohesion and strategic partnerships

Comprehensive area assesment resource

Community empowerment resource

Race, cohesion and faith - from the CLG website