Presented by TNS Social

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• Presented byTNS Social
• April 2007

Commission on Integration and Cohesion Thames
Valley University 6 November 2007
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Why Is Integration and Cohesion Important?

• Increased movement/migration means that the
  make-up of our communities is changing at a
  faster rate
• New areas in the UK are experiencing large-scale
  changes to their community make-up for the first
  time
• Concerns about fairness and immigration
• Events in our Northern towns in 2001, show the
  dangers of a breakdown in cohesion
• Supports work to tackle inequalities and
  discrimination
• Broken, alienated communities provide space for
  extremism

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Three elements to the presentation

• Analysis
• Recommendations
• Next steps

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What did the Commission find on integration and
cohesion?

• The national picture is positive.
• Individuals perception on cohesion shaped by
  personal characteristics, attitudes and local
  experiences of living in a community
• A break-down in integration and cohesion occurs
  when multiple problems affect an area
  unemployment, high crime, fast pace of change,
  poverty
• Improving integration and cohesion therefore
  reliant on multiple improvements being made at
  the same time

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Worries about the fair allocation of public
services and about immigration

• 56 of people feel that some groups in Britain
  get unfair priority when it comes to public
  services.
• This perception is stronger nationally. At the
  local level only 25 feel that some groups get
  unfair priority.
• Are people convinced that migration is good for
  the economy?
• Overall, 36 agreed and 36 disagreed.
• 18 of people identified immigration/migrants as
  the main issue facing Britain today.

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Part Two

• Analysis
• Recommendations
• Next steps

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Four Key Principles

• Shared futures
• Strengthened rights and responsibilities
• Mutual respect and civility
• Visible social justice

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A New Definition of Integration and Cohesion

• Shared contribution to a future vision
• Strong focus on individual rights and
  responsibilities
• Similar life opportunities
• Trust in institutions locally to act fairly
• Recognition of contribution of settled and new
  communities
• Strong and positive relationships

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Shared Futures

• National Vision Govt to set out a clear
  statement of integration and cohesion policy
• A national shared futures campaign from 2008 to
  2012
• Shared Vision at a local level mapping,
  monitoring and mainstreaming
• New local performance framework single national
  PSA target, local indicators/targets, CAA, CLG
  forthcoming guidance
• Strong local leadership reflecting diversity,
  role of political parties

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Strengthening Rights and Responsibilities

• Further development of Citizenship education,
  citizenship ceremonies, volunteer scheme for
  young people linked to citizenship
• A new national body responsible for integration
  of new migrants clear line of sight, set
  objectives, baseline evidence, develop good
  practice, monitor impacts.
• Straightforward approach to welcoming new
  migrants - welcome packs, briefings, role of
  employers, new CEHR/CBI Forum.
• Support for Learning English DCSF review ESOL
  funding, local areas to redirect an element of
  translation resources to ESOL, LSC strategy.

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Building Mutual Respect and Civility

• The need to strengthen social bonds
• Mutual respect helps people cope with the pace of
  change
• Work with young people, faith communities and
  women
• Community development work
• Work to tackle anti social behaviour and crime
• Monitoring and responding to community tensions
• Guidance on Single Group Funding

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Making Social Justice Visible

• A commitment to equality that sits alongside the
  need to make social justice visible, to
  prioritise transparency and fairness, and to
  build trust in the institutions that arbitrate
  between groups.
• Targeted action to address inequalities - role of
  the CEHR
• Communication with existing communities to
  address perceptions of special treatment
• Engaging the national and local media
• Local action to tackle myths
• Better data collection on population change and
  the impact of migration

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Practical action in Four Spheres of Interaction

• Light touch, locally driven set of activities -
  review of cross cultural activities
• Nationally sponsored Community Week
• A national school twinning programme
• Role of larger employers
• Housing and Regeneration
• Arts and sport

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Part Three

• Analysis
• Recommendations
• Next steps

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Next Steps

• The Commission has now been disbanded it is
  over to us.
• The Government will respond formally in January
  2008
• Councils need to consider the report and take the
  recommendations forward
• 50 million available over the next three years
  from central government for community cohesion
• New national guidance (family groups, information
  packs, translation, one stop-shop web portal)
• New teams to support local areas experiencing
  rapid change
• Greater emphasis by central government on
  bridging activities

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And in Ealing.

• Ealings Integration and Cohesion Strategy will
• Improve coordination and provision of ESOL
• Build the capacity of groups to facilitate
  interaction through our community grants scheme
• Review of teacher training including conflict
  resolution and mediation
• Launch anti-bullying strategy during
  anti-bullying week in November
• Improve consultation across the LSP to engage
  citizens further in local decision making
• Expand Ealings volunteering scheme to provide
  more activities for young people
• Improve private sector housing and local letting
  schemes

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More information NameMike Wiltshire, Policy
OfficerTelephone contact number 020 8825
7659Email wiltshirem_at_ealing.gov.uk