Community Cohesion

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

Community cohesion is about relationships between all communities; it’s not just about relationships between different ethnic groups. Segregation, misunderstanding and tension can occur between all sorts of communities, such as communities of younger and older people for example, or between 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.

In Leicester, we have developed a strategy for community cohesion, and a commissioning plan. Leicester's Community Cohesion Plan sets out how we are performing in seeking community cohesion. It sets out five outcomes we want to see, and the work we are doing to achieve those 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 same area through meaningful engagement.

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

Everyone in Leicester feels they belong. Helping people in Leicester to feel at home, and to see our diversity as a strength to be enjoyed.

Young people understand and respect different communities, and adults and young people get on well together. Supporting children and young people to develop understanding and respect for different communities, and helping to build good relationships between young people and adults in the city.

There is freedom from tension. Addressing 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.

There is a wide range of information about community cohesion in Leicester, the demographics of the city and reports about new arrivals in the city on our Community Cohesion Key Documents pages.

Contact

Cathy Carter

Leicester Partnership Team

0116 252 6719

cathy.carter@leicester.gov.uk