Developing Cohesive and Integrated Communities
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It is very hard to find simple definitions for community development, community cohesion and integration which is easy to understand and which every one can agree on. There have always been many views on what all these mean and we do not expect this article will end those discussions, but hope it will encourage further discussion on how we work together to develop vibrant and cohesive communities.
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Community development can best be described as an occupation (both paid and unpaid) which aims to build active and influential communities based on justice, equality and mutual respect.
Community development work is done in ways which challenge oppression and tackle inequalities. It involves changing the relationships between ordinary people and people in positions of power, so that everyone can take part in the issues that affect their lives.
Community development work involves working with communities to:
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Identify their strengths, needs, rights and responsibilities
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Plan, organise and take action
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Assess the effect of any actions taken.
Community development also involves working with agencies to increase their capacity to understand and work within their communities as well as working with other communities and is fundamental is promoting community cohesion and integration.
Without understanding, acceptance and tolerance of other communities cultures and religious beliefs and there will always be tension.
Community development is a long term process, focusing on people and their needs and aims. This process is essential to ensure that changes are sustainable and long lasting.
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Community Cohesion and integration
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Community cohesion can be described as the ‘common vision and the sense of belonging’ that exists within communities. It extends to incorporate a wider set of concerns important to a community. These can include economic development, service provision, social inclusion, health, housing, education and planning.
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Why is Community Cohesion and Integration important?
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Community Cohesion and integration is important to all communities whether BMER or generic. The disturbances in Burnley, Oldham and Bradford five years ago and recent tensions between faith groups has led to the realisation that there is an urgent need to encourage and promote community cohesion.
Where communities become disenfranchised, tension and intolerance will emerge. From this, conflict and unrest will result. Neighbourhoods will become fragmented, anti-social behaviour will increase and resources will be stretched.
In order to avoid this, communities themselves need to identify current and potential problems and the barriers to cohesion and must be committed to working towards positive interaction.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) with the support of the Commission on integration and Cohesion have been tasked with finding innovative approaches which communities can use to empower themselves and enable cohesion.
They will have to identify the knowledge and skills needed to help people, groups, organisations and communities to find consensual strategies and common ground on which they can begin to work together.
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Building Cohesive Communities
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A cohesive community is one where people want to live and invest. Building a cohesive community is a necessary step towards improving people’s quality of life and enabling them to achieve their potential.
Community cohesion policies must address the changing dynamics of race and faith relations within many communities in London and nationally. Migration is on the increase, the regeneration of neighbourhoods is on-going and in London the development of Thames Gateway and the Olympics will create new and diverse communities.
Central and Local Government need to invest not just in physical regeneration but importantly they need to invest in communities.
There needs to be targeted investment to build sustainable and cohesive communities. Central and local government must work closer with community organisations if they want a real understanding of the diverse communities that exist in Britain today.
Community organisations are well placed to provide information on issues that can cause conflict between communities and they can identify solutions to preventing future conflict. Community organisations and groups can identify barriers to cohesion and integration and can showcase good practice.
Building cohesive communities must be seen as on-going. Any regeneration initiative must include mechanisms which will identify the different communities within the area, any tension or conflict; current or potential and include policies to tackle these. There needs to be a process whereby communities can contribute to the building of cohesive communities. The DCLG and the Commission on Integration and Cohesion now have the opportunity to develop that process. In London, this can be achieved by working with community networks. BNRRN is well placed to contribute to the work of Commission and will be working with its member organisations to identify good practice.
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