COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (186) issued by The Government News Network
on 6 October 2007
Communities
Secretary Hazel Blears today announced a ten-point action plan to
promote cohesion and tackle community tensions including
£50million investment.
This is part of the Government's response to the 10-month
review by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion which looked
at the major challenges Britain faces in responding to increasing
change in local communities.
New data out this week confirmed the Commission's finding
that the national picture is a positive one. It showed that 81% of
people feel that individuals from different backgrounds get on
well in their area, 85% of people feel they belong strongly to
Britain and 77% feel they belong strongly to their neighbourhood.
But despite the overwhelming majority of people getting on
together, the Government's initial response will make clear
that there are still new and often complex challenges that require
action nationally and locally in order to bring communities
together and tackle perceptions of unfair treatment.
The new proposals have been set out in a letter from Hazel Blears
to the Commission's Chair Darra Singh - Chief Executive of
Ealing council. Key Government action includes:-
£50 million investment over the next three years to promote
community cohesion and support local authorities in preventing and
managing community tensions. This is an increase from £2m in
2007/08. Local councils will use the money to respond to their own
particular challenges -some focusing on new migration, others
looking more at how they promote interaction between people from
different backgrounds. Activities might include - youth projects
bringing people from different backgrounds together; involving
young people in community activities through volunteering,
mentoring or becoming neighbourhood wardens; school or places of
worship twinning programmes, local pride in the community
campaigns; conflict resolution; award ceremonies to celebrate
local people and local achievements.
Promotion of new 'Citizen Days' across all local areas
in England following four successful pilots. All local authorities
will receive guidance on how to promote a strong sense of
citizenship and civic pride with activities focused around new
local 'Citizen Days'. These will celebrate both national
and local culture and stress shared local tradition alongside
shared British values like respect for rule of law, tolerance and democracy.
Information packs for new migrants - setting out a series of
rights and responsibilities. The packs will help new migrants get
to grips with what is expected of them from national laws to local
traditions - this could include respect for the rule of law and no
drink driving. It will also set out guidelines on British cultural
norms - including tolerance and understanding of other faiths and communities.
Specialist integration and cohesion teams will work to support
local councils in managing any major changes in the local
population. This could include integration experts helping in
mediation, planning to manage the impact of migration or community
relations. These teams will be piloted from next year.
New national indicators on promoting cohesion will help local
authorities focus their attention on what really works in their
local area and help other areas learn from it. These new
indicators will demonstrate for the first time how cohesion is
playing out in different areas of the country. In addition they
will place a new responsibility on local authorities to create
opportunities for people from different backgrounds to mix and
develop a sense of belonging.
A rebalancing of local translation provision with a much greater
emphasis on learning English. The Commission on Integration and
Cohesion made clear that not being able to speak English is the
biggest barrier to integration. We will publish new guidance for
local authorities and public bodies in the coming weeks. The
guidance will set out how local authorities should only translate
where necessary and put a greater focus on promoting English.
New Cohesion funding guidance. We will stress that funding for
public bodies should focus primarily on groups promoting
integration and support the coming together of different
communities rather a single identity.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: "Britain has a
proud tradition of tolerance and different communities living side
by side. In addition, migration has always made a tremendous
cultural and economic contribution to the country. But whilst this
remains the case, we cannot be complacent and must tackle the
future challenges head-on.
"As a Government and a country, we must be honest there are
issues we need to address as a result of new patterns of migration
and ensure that we have the ideas and policies to tackle them over
the next 10 years.
"Britain grows more diverse and globalisation brings new
patterns of migration. There are new challenges, affecting parts
of the country who may not have experienced them before."
"Our plan includes a comprehensive set of measures to tackle
the new issues we face and promote integration and develop strong,
resilient communities. It will promote our shared British values
like respect for the rule of law, tolerance and fairness. New
investment will help spread a stronger sense of civic pride and
shared heritage. It also raises to a new level our work direct
with local authorities and communities, ensuring they have greater
support at a local level in building united communities."
Other actions contained in the plan include:
Practical support on cohesion. A cohesion web-based
'one-stop shop' will be set up so that any individual,
group or organisation who needs help, advice or support on how to
develop their cohesion policies or respond to cohesion issues will
be able to access expert help and guidance via a dedicated
website. New cohesion impact tests will also be available - a
useful tool for 'cohesion proofing' policies.
A new interfaith strategy that will focus on what more needs to
be done to promote interaction and dialogue between faiths and
develop shared values.
Increasing our understanding of what
works. The Citizenship Survey is the tool used to measure levels
of cohesion in this country. Currently carried out every two
years, from now on the data will be collected on a quarterly
basis, ensuring that our work is underpinned by the very latest
intelligence on people's attitudes and experiences.
Notes to Editors
This press notice applies to England
1. The Commission on Integration and Cohesion was an independent
body established in August 2006.
2. Our Shared Futures - The Commission's final report was
published on June 14 2007 and can be found at http://www.integrationandcohesion.org.uk/
3. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has written to Chair of the
Commission Darra Singh responding to the recommendations in the
report. This letter can be viewed at
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/hazelblearsletter
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk