Community Cohesion Conference 2008 National Coalition Building Institute Royston John Director NCBI London

Community Cohesion Community Cohesion Contingency Planning and Tension Monitoring requires “local authorities to better map their communities and the people that live there… Community Cohesion Contingency Planning and Tension Monitoring requires “local authorities to better map their communities and the people that live there…

Community Cohesion The guidelines encourage local authorities to be aware of: The guidelines encourage local authorities to be aware of: –Who is living in their area? –Patterns and trends they manifest It encourages: It encourages: –early intervention preventing community conflicts and general cohesion within communities. –sharing of info and feedback from police, neighborhood wardens and community workers.

Community Cohesion And invites councils to: And invites councils to: –bring together all key players in the community - government agencies, police, community and faith groups –monitoring racist, religious and other criminal incidents closely –action to resolve tensions including working with local media –and of course closer working with young people in the community from all different faith and cultural groups

Community Cohesion representation - strategic and grass roots level representation - strategic and grass roots level utilise the Local Strategic Partnership in real partnerships and include small and voluntary community organisations utilise the Local Strategic Partnership in real partnerships and include small and voluntary community organisations engage with people who actually understand new communities... you need the 9am to 5pm day turned on its head… create the 5pm to 9am day instead. engage with people who actually understand new communities... you need the 9am to 5pm day turned on its head… create the 5pm to 9am day instead.

Community Cohesion o the police already provide a 5pm to 9am service. o Who else will actually work alongside them; who will actually fill the voids not requiring police attendance….. community leaders, community elders, youth workers, street pastors, social workers all play a part. o But your real community is mrs jones, mrs patel, mrs polanski, mrs mirzas, mrs campbell o unpaid, unsung, community heroes

Community Cohesion Work with young people in: Work with young people in: –primary schools; –secondary schools; with adults at with adults at –community dialogue events; –interfaith events; –Drop in centers; –befriending service –beyond local complexities allotments, boot fairs etc

Community Cohesion Welcome packs –protocols – Welcome packs –protocols – –eg rubbish emptied; what exactly happens in the town halls; Polish led - Drop in centers; Polish led - Drop in centers; befriending service befriending service impact of the London bombings impact of the London bombings mandating training mandating training

Community Cohesion In NCBI we advocate that community groups need some basic skills: In NCBI we advocate that community groups need some basic skills: –people understanding –relationship dialogue skills –low level group negotiation and mediation skills; –mentoring and coaching skills

Community Cohesion "The overwhelming majority of people in this country live successfully side by side…. "The overwhelming majority of people in this country live successfully side by side…. 81% of people feel that individuals from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area 81% of people feel that individuals from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area 83% agree that people in their local area respect ethnic differences. 83% agree that people in their local area respect ethnic differences.

Thank You! Phone: Phone: Royston John –