New Commission on Integration and Cohesion Calls on Communities to
'Tell us what you think'
The Commission on Integration and Cohesion is inviting national
organisations, local organisations and individuals in communities across
the country to say what they think integration and cohesion means to
them - and what practical steps can be taken to make our communities
more cohesive and integrated places to live.
Chaired by Ealing Council Chief Executive Darra Singh, the Commission has
been set up to identify what things are working in local areas to build
cohesive communities - and where local and national Government needs
to do more to help diverse communities thrive.
The Commission’s document called -'Your chance to tell us what you
think' - is a chance for a wide range of people to influence its
report, which will be published in June 2007.
Representative organisations such as schools and universities, criminal
justice agencies, local authorities and employers and race and faith groups
are all being called upon to play a key role in getting communities to
respond to their questions, through local meetings and forums and through
informal discussion. Individuals and people who have not been involved
before, including established communities and people on low incomes are
also being invited to participate.
Darra Singh will be writing to key stakeholders over the next few days
inviting them to participate in the consultation.
The consultation document is part of a wider outreach and engagement
programme involving visits and meetings in the English regions. The
Commission has already visited the North-West and will be visiting the East
Midlands later this week.
Darra Singh said,
“There is arguably no more important issue facing the country today than
how we promote integration between communities and improve cohesion at a
local level.
“As a nation, we face questions about how people and communities of diverse
backgrounds and beliefs can live together, respecting differences but with
a shared sense of belonging and purpose. At a local level, this challenge
is made more critical in the context of increasing diversity and the often
rapid changes in population.
“Our starting point is that diversity has bought many benefits to this
country. But we need to equip communities with the tools to be able to cope
with the impact of globalisation and the demographic change this can bring.
"I urge everyone to get involved in telling us what they think -
either as individuals or through organised discussions. We are especially
keen to hear from women, young people and people who may not have been
involved in this debate before. This is an opportunity for you to tell us
what the issues are and what needs to be done at a local level to build
cohesive communities.
"We want to hear about what doesn't work too. We want to take
difficult issues head on, so that the Commission can develop bold
recommendations for Government in its final report next June. "
The Commission’s document 'Your chance to tell us what you think'
is published online at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1504314
[External link] and the consultation will be open until 19th January
2007 [Extended untill May 2007]. Feedback and evidence can be submitted to
the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, c/o Communities and Local
Government, or e-mail the Commission at coic@communities.gsi.gov.uk .
Notes to Editors
1. The Commission is an independent body chaired by Darra Singh, Chief
Executive of Ealing Council, set up by Communities and Local Government in
August 2006.
2. The Commission will report back to Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly in
June 2007.
3. Darra Singh was appointed chair of the Commission in June 2006. The
other 13 commissioners were announced on 24 August 2006. They are:
Michael Keith
Nargis Khan
Hamza Vayani
Leonie McCarthy
Frank Hont
Harriet Crabtree
Ed Cox
Sam Tedcastle
Steve Jordan
Decima Francis
Steve Douglas
Ebrahim Adia
Ramesh Kallidai
The Commission is currently undertaking a significant programme of
consultation and public meetings and events across the country. The first
meeting of the Commission was held in Manchester in October. Dates of
further consultations will be posted on the Commission’s website.
4. Today's news release is issued by the Commmission on Integration and
Cohesion via the Department for Communities and Local Government media
network.
