The Role of Local Authorities and Partners in Building Cohesive Communities

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http://cephaspublicpolicy.co.uk/39-the-role-of-local-authorities-and-partners-in-building-cohesive-communities#sigProIdf9d4d1702d

Outline

In July 2015, the Government commissioned Dame Louise Casey to commence a review which formed the key part of the fourth pillar of the Government’s Counter Extremism strategy; to build more cohesive communities.

Published in December 2016, the review urged both government and local councils to deal with challenges and obstacles to integration and opportunity in the UK. The Government’s response to the Casey Review was published in March 2018 - ‘the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper’, followed by the publication earlier this year of the ‘Integrated Communities Action Plan’ setting out the government’s next steps for building strong integrated communities.

The Government cited evidence (including Dame Louise Casey’s independent review) – ‘to a worrying number of communities, divided along race, faith or socio-economic lines’.

The level and pace of migration was highlighted amongst other key factors which affected integration. The Strategy also recognised the importance of local authorities’ role, as leaders of local places in fostering and promoting community cohesion.

In addition the Local Government Association (LGA) published their new guidance on community cohesion in March 2019, the LGA pointed to councils ‘strong track record of responding to community cohesion challenges, whether it is the arrival of new communities, acts of terrorism or tensions linked to serious crime incidents’.

This timely Cephas Public Policy Communications symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for key staff who work at all levels across local authorities, third sector organisations and other stakeholders to discuss the latest government thinking on promoting community cohesion. The symposium will allow delegates to discuss preventing or addressing unacceptable behaviour and hate crime, and assess other major challenges to successful integration and opportunity in Britain.

Order of the Day

09:15 Registration and Morning Refreshments

10:15 Chairs Introduction

10:30 Morning Presentations

• An update on the government’s commitment to build strong integrated communities set out in the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper and subsequent Action Plan

• Strengthening local leadership - how local authorities can take the lead in building more integrated and cohesive communities   
  

• Preventing and tackling hate crime – discuss how voluntary, statutory and council bodies are raising the reporting of hate crime and delivering preventative measures to tackle anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred and support all communities facing hatred

• Regulatory and environmental services – disrupting violent extremism through regulation and enforcement

11:30 Morning Coffee Break

11:45 Open Floor Deliberation and Debate

12:45 Networking Lunch

13:30 Afternoon Presentations

• Vision and strategy - ensuring active consideration of cohesion issues is mainstreamed through the entire work of the council

• Supporting and providing services for asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants

• Using data to build up a picture of local cohesion trends and its benefits to councils

• Effective community engagement – Consider how communications can support councils’ community cohesion activities

14:30 Afternoon Coffee Break

14:45 Open Floor Deliberation and Debate

15:45 Chair’s Closing Remarks 

16:00 Close

Who Should Attend?

• Community Engagement Officers
• Community Safety Managers
• Community Cohesion Officers
• Faith Organisations
• Heads of Community Wellbeing
• Heads of Community Support and Services
• Locality & Community Empowerment Managers
• Outreach Officers
• Area Managers
• Prevent Coordinators and Officers
• Safeguarding Leads
• Service Managers
• Team Managers
• Children and Young Peoples Leads
• Police Services & Police Authorities
• Police Hate Crime Units
• Race Equality Practitioners
• Criminal Justice Practitioners
• Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
• Equal Opportunities Officers
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Practitioners
• Immigration Advisers
• LGBT Liaison Officers
• Local Education Authorities
• Local Voluntary Organisations
• Refugee and Asylum Support Officers
• Social Inclusion Officers
• Third Sector Practitioners
• Youth Offending Teams
• Academics and Researchers