1. Community Cohesion: The Role of the Housing

2. Ted Cantle Professor, Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo)

3. Introduction: Community Cohesion – A New Framework for Race and Diversity Emerged after 2001….. Polarised & segregated communities Parallel lives Ignorance, fear & demonisation Lack of leadership & values Initiatives reinforced difference & separation

4. Community Cohesion is Promoting a common sense of belonging Positively valuing diversity Tackling disadvantage and inequalities, but not just by punitive measures Promoting interaction in the workplace, schools and neighbourhoods, to fundamentally change attitudes and values

5. Community Cohesion has developed Now applies to faith, age, sexual orientation, travellers, social class – not just ethnicity The Muslim community, has been a focus of Government policy and programmes New focus on rural areas – EU migration And also the White community, coming to terms with change - and ‘super diversity’….

6. …Super Diversity - A changing word In 1965 75m people lived outside the home country –few Brits even had holidays abroad; Now 200m and 600,000 Brits live in Spain, more in other countries (200,000 NZ); 3m with 2nd homes 25m tourists to UK each year, 70m from UK to global destinations Globalisation is real: international students, brands, internet – and growing!

7. Super Diversity - not just about numbers Broader Diversity: Over 300 languages in London schools; 65 in Boston, Lincs EU migration, new areas Faith – and all diversity And population ‘churn’

8. Super Diversity is also about ‘identity’ From ‘defensive’ multiculturalism to active engagement and building commonalities With diaspora identities competing with national identity – new faith new identities Development of ‘Britishness’ and citizenship agenda and becoming ‘global citizens’ The identity challenge for young people…..

10. Super diversity and identity Hybrid, fluid and sequential identities Relationship between citizen and state And relationship between different citizens Impacts on social capital too

11. And not all comfortable with diversity….. Ethnic and faith conflicts in South Africa, France, Australia, UK, many other countries Demands to limit migration Growth of extreme right Divisions & tensions within communities & neighbourhoods

12. Managing new (Identity) Interfaces No longer a ‘black’ and ‘white’ issue Between and within BME communities and all differences Monitoring and anticipating tensions and conflict Views of young people themselves – and is the emerging gang culture the new family? Communications faster than ever – rumours, blogs, pirate radio, Facebook

13. The Management of Settlement - problems Managed migration in economic terms but less attention to social & community New migrant ‘handbooks’ and welcome packs but much less attention to ‘host’ community Resources conflicts are sometimes real particularly schools and housing, just as a result of population growth

14. The Management of Settlement - problems Long standing patterns of segregation, by ethnicity and faith And social class New movement – ‘White Flight’? New migrant patterns Evidence from schools analysis

15. Housing as a strategic partner

16. Part of team to develop cohesion across all agencies and in public, private and voluntary sector Cross-agency, cross-party, cross-sector, to create a new moral climate of opinion About vision and leadership of community New focus on ‘place-making’ And create a sense of belonging

20. Housing – Practical Collaboration at a local and regional level

21. Share data – particularly on knowing new communities and mapping, to build real time picture of community finger on the pulse at all times – work with all agencies part of tension monitoring work – front line staff and delivery partners

22. Housing – Practical Collaboration at a local and regional level And more open about policies –prepared to discuss & change priorities with more involvement See difference between perception and reality Work with newcomers and existing residents Create schemes that bring people together, rather than divide them

23. Housing – Changing peoples attitudes towards ‘others’

24. Housing – Changing peoples attitudes towards client groups and ‘others’ Supporting changes in attitudes towards all minorities and demonised groups Breaking down myths and stereotypes Providing a safe place for discussion of difference And opportunity to ask ‘ignorant’ questions And to challenge

25. Housing – Changing peoples attitudes towards client groups and ‘others’ Specific responsibilities to ‘others’ Social class, GRT, LGBT, disability groups Older people Special needs and learning difficulties ASB and hate crime

26. Housing – as a creator of communities

27. New developments – planning mixed communities? Allocation of properties What is the Vision of ‘integration’? One aspect of ‘parallel lives’ – various ‘layers of separation’ – but…

28. Housing – as a creator of communities but… recognise profound impact on incidental or banal encounters and longer term and sustainability agenda Influence on other providers, especially schools ‘mixed’ means social class, ethnicity, age, disability and other

29. Housing – as a creator of communities Creating shared spaces – by design Community facilities Employment patterns and opportunities Engagement and role of tenants and residents groups Community leaders – gatekeepers or gateways

30. Housing – as a creator of communities Building social capital – re-emphasise role of local institutions and social networks in communities Neighbourliness and well being emphasis Possibility of reduced social care and other costs

31. The power of community cohesion to create change

32. Choose projects with shared purpose But using innovation and creativity to excite people – even have fun Safe and neutral spaces to challenge prejudices and stereotypes Work with schools - duty to promote community cohesion in England

33. The power of community cohesion to create change Contact is the most effective way of tackling stereotypes and myths and creating respect and trust Danger of Single Group or Identity Funding and Area based schemes, in competition with others Incentivise collaboration and thematic programmes to bring people together

34. The power of community cohesion to create change Aimed at wider community, not just service users To develop new ‘gateway’ community leaders rather than rely on gatekeepers To build long term change – link programmes into civil society and mainstream programmes

35. Working together Work with partners – in schools, with statutory, private and other voluntary organisations Share data, be part of local and regional collaboration; share tension monitoring role Reinforce each others messages Make projects sustainable - build the work into mainstream and into civil society

36. Working together Creating diversity advantage – sense of excitement and fun – a forward vision Work with the press and media and consider impact – perception is more powerful than reality New messages – local Housing leaders, celebrities, employers, sportspeople – may be more credible that political leaders Work with local community leaders – from ‘gatekeepers’ to ‘gateways’ Create new strategic partnership and purpose

37. Let’s Build Upon Success

38. Ted Cantle Book: Community Cohesion - A New Framework for Race and Diversity www.cohesioninstitute.org.uk