Local bodies (Councils, health, police, fire, housing associations etc)
Emerging themes
'Everyone has a role to play… we are not frightened by diversity… we
celebrate it'
'We can feel comfortable in the realisation that we all have common
ground'
We need:
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Broader debate than narrow focus on faith and race
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Discuss it in plain English - jargon turns people off
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Strong visible, personal leadership in local bodies
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Focus on civic values: rights, roles and responsibilities
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More emphasis on commonalities, not just difference
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Greater opportunities for active engagement
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Strong, clear consistent communication of changes
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To tackle inequality, discrimination and exclusion across all communities
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To invest in English language provision
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Mixed communities with mixed housing
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To address complex inter relations of factors
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To recognise that global events can have an impact on local relations
Your key messages
'There is a crucial role for frontline councillors'
'Everyone in the community making the effort to play a part in the
community, be neighbourly…'
'Just wanted to comment the role of youth work across all sectors'
We need:
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Recognise uniqueness of cohesion in localities (rural, urban, coastal)
and the complexity of challenges
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Local bodies can provide community leadership, compelling vision and help
to shape places
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Local bodies have to be proactive - dispersal and the nature of
migration mean issues sometimes hidden
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Must create safe, supportive, shared spaces
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English language is crucial to integration but translation support needed
to aid initial stages of settlement
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Must mainstream cohesion into the ‘day job’ through the fire service
remit on community safety and neighbourhood policing
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There is a key role for frontline councillors
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Be bold in challenging misinformation and myths
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Ensure balance - demonstrate impact of regeneration and programmes to
host and new residents
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Key role for voluntary, community and faith sectors in welcoming new
settlers, and in providing reassurance at times of conflict or crisis
Some important challenges
'Statutory organisations play a vital leadership role in setting out
common values of inclusion and fairness'
'All organisations have a role to play … schools, art, sport'
We need:
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Leading by example with strategic, co-ordinated approach and
representative workforces
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Capacity building in areas with weak local leadership
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Facilitating and resource international partnerships
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More responsible communication by media and others
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Pooling accurate information and data on changes
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English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Access for All -
needs sustainable funding
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Tackling unscrupulous landlord practices