Community Cohesion 

Draft Community Cohesion Plan

Have your say!  We have drafted a new version of the Community Cohesion Plan.  Click here to download the draft plan and to send in your views.  The deadline is 20th January 2012.

Community Cohesion in Leicester is about communities getting on well together.

It is about all communities; it is not just about relationships between different ethnic groups. Segregation, misunderstanding and tension can occur between all sorts of communities, for example communities of younger and older people, or different neighbourhoods.

Find out more by downloading Community Cohesion in Leicester. With a foreword by the Cabinet lead for Community Cohesion the document sets out what everyone can do to promote cohesion, what it means, why it is important, how we are doing, how it is being led and managed and what actions are being taken.

Through ‘Community Cohesion’ we are aiming to achieve the following outcomes:

• Different communities get on well together   

  Bringing different communities together to build bridges, understanding and respect between them. This could mean for example new arrivals in neighbourhoods getting to know people who have lived in the area for a long time. We want to break down some of the barriers that can exist between different groups, especially if there is a risk of misunderstandings and myths developing.

• New communities bond together  

  Helping new communities to grow and bond together to help them build self-help, identity and roots.

• Everyone in Leicester feel they belong  

  Helping people in Leicester to feel at home and to see our diversity as strength to be enjoyed. We will help people to enjoy and celebrate living in Leicester and to strengthen their sense of belonging. This means helping people to understand and enjoy each others’ cultures and traditions. It also includes broadening the experiences of life in Leicester for those who may be only seeing a small part of what Leicester is about.

• Young people understand and respect different communities, and adults and young people get on well together  

  We will support children and young people to develop understanding and respect for different communities, and help to build good relationships between young people and adults in the city.

• There is freedom from tension  

  We will address tensions and the causes of tension between and within communities in the city.

Community Tension Management

Community tensions are monitored regularly through joint arrangements between the Police and the City Council, and reported on a regular basis to the One Leicester Partnership.

There is a clear system for managing tensions that are causing significant concern to ensure that appropriate action is taken in a timely and effective manner.

The purpose of the system is that we recognise within all communities there is the potential for tensions to arise which may lead to conflict.  The nature of tensions, conflicts and divisions will differ and there may be tensions and mistrust between different ethnic or faith groups, new arrivals and long-term residents, or along inter-generational lines.  Therefore, having the ability to track and monitor local trends and hot spots, alongside any national or international events which may threaten cohesion, will allow us to agree and implement actions in order to manage tensions on the basis that early intervention can make a real difference in stopping more serious problems from developing.

If you are aware of any tensions between different communities that you think we are not aware of, please email tensionsmonitoring@leicester.gov.uk.  However please note that any crime, including anti-social behaviour, should be reported to Leicestershire Police on 0116 222 2222.

Community Cohesion Fund

Leicester City Council has a Community Cohesion Fund to support organisations to carry out work or activities to support cohesion in the city.

Information on the wide range if projects that have been supported is also available. See the Community Cohesion Fund Project Summaries 2010-11

Community Cohesion Charter

Leicester and Leicestershire's Community Cohesion Charter sets out our commitment to making Leicester and Leicestershire a thriving multi-faith, multi cultural and cohesive place to live in, work in and socialise in.

Stronger Communities

Our Community Cohesion work is part of One Leicester work on building strong communities in the city.

Find out more about One Leicester - Stronger Communities work

Community Cohesion in Leicester - Key Documents

There are a wide range of key documents about community cohesion in Leicester:

Go to Community Cohesion in Leicester - Key Documents