Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Community cohesion is more than ‘race relations’ and social equality. It is about breaking down barriers and building relations between and within communities;

• rich/poor
• old/young
• transient /permanent
• new comers/established residents
• race/race
• faith/faith
• etc....

It is about celebrating and valuing differences and developing a common sense of belonging based on shared values and responsibilities for all communities. It lies at the heart of creating a safe and strong Charnwood and is about listening to and addressing the concerns of all communities.

Much of our work is based on the report of the Charnwood Community Cohesion Pathfinder Team; Community Cohesion in Charnwood - Meeting the Challenge (PDF Document 177.29 Kb.)

We are following the Government’s definition of Community Cohesion:

"Community Cohesion is what must happen in all communities to enable different groups of people to get on well together. A key contributor to community cohesion is integration which is what must happen to enable new residents and existing residents to adjust to one another.

Our vision of an integrated and cohesive community is based on three foundations:

• People from different backgrounds having similar life opportunities
• People knowing their rights and responsibilities
• People trusting one another and trusting local institutions to act fairly

And three key ways of living together:

• A shared future vision and sense of belonging
• A focus on what new and existing communities have in common, alongside
• A recognition of the value of diversity

Strong and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds."

Charnwood Borough Council is working in partnership with the Stronger Communities Group of Charnwood Together to develop and deliver a Community Cohesion strategy for Charnwood.

Associated activities

Inter Faith Week 2009 This week (15-21 November 2009) provides a great opportunity for faith communities to get involved and reach out to other faith communities, and indeed to others who are not faith-based. It is a real opportunity to work creatively as well as cohesively!

It would, for example, be an excellent opportunity for borough and Loughborough faith and non-faith communities to come together to work on a project or a series of projects. At a very simple level, it offers the chance to open up places of worship and community venues to a wider, specifically targeted audience.

If you have any ideas and would appreciate some guidance and practical help, please let Nadja Rein know as she would be keen to assist wherever and whenever possible.

Charnwood Museum The Boys: Triumph Over Adversity Exhibition

Tuesday 27 January - Sunday 1 March.

Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony

Tuesday 27 January at 12:30am