Themes

Cohesion

Showcase - best practice
Our website of case studies to inform and inspire. Showcase highlights projects that contribute to creating better communities. These examples give practical insight into developing sustainable communities. Visit Showcase at showcase.homesandcommunities.co.uk Before creating Showcase we researched which sources of best practice knowledge are already used by sustainable communities practitioners and how we can make this better. We're grateful to our stakeholders for their help with this research.
Cohesion resources
Three pieces of research highlighting cohesion in the area of sustainable communities. Cohesion for Sustainable Communities (April 2008) A report to define what community cohesion should mean to sustainable communities practitioners, exploring the gaps in current training in around this issue, identifying the skills that those practitioners need to facilitate greater cohesion in their localities, and resulting in a learning module to help them understand the contribution they can make. We commissioned this report, which was undertaken by the Office for Public Management (OPM)
Community Cohesion
Building cohesion is vital part of building sustainable communities Cohesion is fundamentally about the social element of what makes a community sustainable – the relationships between neighbours – but the degree of cohesion that exists in an area is usually the product of a mix of economic, social and environmental factors together. It is important to identify cohesion as a distinctive component of sustainability more widely, because that will make it easier:
Cohesive communities debate findings published
Our second online debate, In the midst of a recession how can we develop cohesive communities , took place in spring 2009 The main findings were
Faith in community development and cohesion
A discussion seminar presented by the British Humanist Association for Interfaith Week 2009 What is the role of faith in community development and cohesion work? Current government policy appears to champion the contribution of ‘faith groups’ in community work. 'Faith' and the 'faith sector' are seen as playing a key role in defining communities, as well as fostering social capital and providing much needed services.
Introduction to public participation for community and voluntary groups
Understanding of the role of public participation in the delivery and implementation of public policy programmes This seminar provides voluntary, charitable and third sector organisations with an understanding of the role of public participation in the delivery and implementation of public policy programmes and how their voices can be heard by policy and decision-makers.
What role does humour play in diversity and cohesion?
What role does humour play in diversity and cohesion? Institute of Community Cohesion - Masterclass Ted Cantle shares his 10 favourite racist/faithist/sexist/disablist jokes and asks: What role does humour play in diversity and cohesion?
Places for All award category
Category finalists CATEGORY WINNER: Castle Quay Bedford, Bedford Borough Council & Complex Development Project
Debate considers the recession's impact on cohesive communities
The second of our series of online debates looks at how community cohesion can be maintained and developed in the midst of a recession.
Future Communities website
futurecommunities.net is all about community participation and place management, it's been created to help people who build communities. The site shows well presented, clear examples of projects that have created sustainable communities. Additionally the site provides background guidance for people to implement on their own development projects.
Dialogues in Community Cohesion
A seminar to explore the relationship between design and community cohesion. This seminar, run by Ashram Housing Association , will share best practice and launch the newly accredited Community Design Course aimed at local residents wishing to actively engage in housing, neighbourhood design and related careers. Speakers at this conference include: Peter Jones, Head of Investment, HCA Indy Johar, founder of 00:architects Jas Baines, CEO, Ashram » Location: The Studio, Birmingham » Cost: Free » Booking deadline: 18th February 2009 » To book a place and for further information, download the flyer on the right.
Bringing People Together 2008
Winner: This is Not a Gateway This Is Not A Gateway (TINAG) is an organisation which aims to have an impact on the way people think about cities. This is of growing importance as 2007 was the first year that more people across the globe lived in cities than in rural areas and it is estimated that sixty per cent of the global population will live in urban areas by 2030. Judges' comment: "A highly innovative and creative project which is quite literally reaching parts of the city, the professionals and the community which are often hardest to engage. Has developed a real sense of common purpose and passion for learning about urban development." www.thisisnotagateway.net
Build empowered and cohesive communities by maximising community engagement
Break new ground in engaging communities and businesses through innovative consultation to achieve community ownership and empowerment for sustainable prosperous regeneration More details at www.engagingcommunitiesconference.co.uk Venue: Thistle Marble Arch, London How to book: Book your place at www.engagingcommunitiesconference.co.uk

Managing spatial diversity
Skills for managing spatial diversity Queen's University Belfast Dr Brendan Murtagh  Challenges our current understanding that race, religion and poverty interlock to produce ‘wicked' urban problems. Offers a model of practice to 1.  Inform the national debate on community cohesion 2.  Inform the management of ethnically diverse places 3.  Inform the skills sets that may help professionals and practitioners resist the pulling effects of residential segregation.
Skills for sustainable communities research
Skills for sustainable communities Queen's University Belfast Dr Frank Gaffikin  Aims to identify the priority skills, knowledge and abilities needed to make a sustainable community. Aims to identify good and bad practice in community-building in divided cities. Uses four case studies; communities are encouraged to ‘learn by doing'. Aims to translate lessons into recommendations and policy proposals.
Blackburn with Darwen National Action Project
We are worked with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council on curriculum development and community cohesion in regeneration. The project aimed to: Establish a credible and respected forum, representative of all the communities in the borough to engage and inform town centre development. Develop connections with local schools and work with Blackburn College to jointly develop curriculum materials about place-making and the town centre, making use of materials developed through the Milton Keynes project and other resources. Embed community cohesion within the town centre masterplan and develop best practice in this area which can be used to influence the masterplanning profession through future policy making. Work with English Partnerships to develop standards and/or a kitemark to ensure community cohesion and diversity policies are embedded into the procurement process.
Response to Strong & Prosperous Communities White Paper
6 Nov 2006: The Department for Communities and Local Government published the Local Government White Paper 'Strong and prosperous communities’ on 26 Oct 2006. We welcome the White Paper, which includes strong themes of community leadership, civic engagement and effective representation. Key elements of the White Paper for us include: Enabling citizens and communities to have a greater say in the services they receive and in shaping the places in which they live; A new framework for strategic leadership within local areas bringing together local partners; and Local government becoming a strategic leader and a place-shaper.

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