Cohesion and Integration:The challenge for settled communities

Linden Rowley

Institute of Community Cohesion

Who are ‘settled communities’?

• context of complex population dynamics

• predominantly white communities in rural areas – many experiencing aging populations, declining populations

• urban areas with longstanding diversity – many settled BME communities

• London Boroughs and parts of some cities with high levels of ‘churn’ or population mobility

New patterns of population change

• A8 migration comprised only 16% of non British in-migration in 2005/06

• Migration from the New Commonwealth made up 26%• Non A8 migration has continued to focus on

traditional areas of migration, particularly London.

New patterns of population change

Migration from EU Accession States• Since 2004 rapid increase in A8 migration from

20,000 in 2003/04 to 77,000 in 2004/05 and 74,000 in 2005/06

• Predominantly from Poland, also Lithuania• Highly visible because of suddenness of increase,

focus on work and distribution• 65 of the top 100 authorities for A8 workers were

not in top 100 for percentage BME at 2001 Census (eg Boston 2nd for A8 248th for BME)

Challenges for settled communities• Deprivation• Underachievement and inequalities• Isolation• Lack of understanding about population changes –

why is it happening, who is in the community, why are they here, under what circumstances?

• Myths about ‘preferential treatment’• Fear and prejudice• BME settled communities experiencing racism from

some new communities

Challenges for settled Communities

• Settled migrant communities not necessarily welcoming new migrants from their own country

• Tensions relating to demands for services and pressures on services

• Tensions relating to basic day-to-day living• Tensions relating to ways of socialising• Lack of basic contact/integration • Language barriers• Concerns about identity and ‘Britishness’

Opportunities/Responses

• Working with settled communities is often the neglected strand in local cohesion strategies and action plans

• Anticipate population changes – get upstream

• Engage with settled communities in advance of new arrivals

• Communications – bust the myths, communicate the benefits, use local media effectively, belonging campaigns

• Leadership on this from all partners and local champions

Opportunities/Responses

• Engage with settled communities on understanding their issues and work with them to develop ways of addressing these – ‘Communities themselves are best placed to identify their own problems, determine solutions and their own futures’

• Monitor community tensions and work on appropriate interventions

• Work with employers – they often have the most contact with new communities, benefit most and are the most positive about their new workforce – what can they do to support the processes of cohesion and integration?

Opportunities/Responses

• value the contribution the settled community has made to the history and development of the area and support that contribution in looking to a shared future

• citizenship - curriculum and opportunities outside of schools

• promoting volunteering

• the wide range of practical ways of bringing people together – arts, sports, events, interfaith activities, schools twinning, women’s groups, youth activities, shared spaces

Two tales of a city

• Northfields Tenants Association - Leicester

• Braunstone tenancy sustainment - Leicester

Defining our own challenges and responses

Institute of Community Cohesion

www.cohesioninstitute.org.uk