The government published a strategy document that set out a comprehensive series of reforms covering welfare, crime and policing, children and young people, business rules, immigration and communities. It said that the reforms were designed to 'bring people together and steer the country through the global economic downturn'. There were over 50 measures to strengthen the rules that tied communities together, strengthened enforcement, and provided for clearer consequences for rule-breakers.
Source: Fair Rules for Strong Communities, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527) and other departments
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2008-Dec
A study examined evidence on community organizations owning or managing assets, including buildings and land. There was limited evidence of the scale and nature of community ownership of assets. The potential benefits of asset management and ownership were clear, although they focused mainly on the advantages gained by organizations. There was less evidence on benefits accruing to communities.
Source: Mike Aiken, Ben Cairns and Stephen Thake, Community Ownership and Management of Assets, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2008-Dec
A think-tank report said that local councils should commemorate local heroes by naming public places such as streets and parks after them. Recognizing the achievements of local citizens would help to build community cohesion and local civic pride, and give areas a unique identity.
Source: James Hulme, What's In A Name? Celebrating local achievement through public spaces, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: Report | NLGN press release
Date: 2008-Dec
A study examined community involvement in local services, with an emphasis on the role of public officials – officers and managers employed by public bodies. Almost all public officials felt community engagement was valuable in principle: but there was more uncertainty about putting it into practice. Officials sometimes dismissed community input as 'unrepresentative', or preferred 'good engagers' who understood the complexities involved. These attitudes had the potential to exclude some people from governance.
Source: Kathryn Ray, Maria Hudson, Verity Campbell-Barr and Isabel Shutes, Public Officials and Community Involvement in Local Services, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report | Findings | PSI press release
Date: 2008-Nov
The postal services regulator called on the government and the Post Office to work with all stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the network of post offices. A strategy was needed to reduce uncertainty, safeguard against further unplanned closures, and build confidence in a sustainable post office network.
Source: Eighth Annual Report on the Network of Post Offices 2007/08: A year of transition, Postal Services Commission (020 7593 2100)
Links: Report | Summary | Postcomm press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Nov
The government announced that the Post Office had been awarded the contract to continue providing the post office card account. It said that in order to support a viable Post Office network, a decision had been taken to cancel the competitive tender (announced in December 2006). Consequently a new contract had been awarded to the Post Office, running initially from 2010 to March 2015, with the possibility of an extension beyond that.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 13 November 2008, columns 965-982, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DWP press release | DBERR press release | Consumer Focus press release | CRC press release | Age Concern press release | Help the Aged press release | Transact press release | Citizens Advice press release | Compass press release | FSB press release | Countryside Alliance press release | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report | FT report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
A new book examined the ways in which front-line social development work professionals engaged with communities, and the dilemmas inherent in the policy context in which they operated.
Source: Paul Hoggett, Marjorie Mayo and Chris Miller, The Dilemmas of Development Work: Ethical challenges in regeneration, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Nov
A paper summarized evidence on the nature and impact of the changing ethnic mix in society, and reviewed recent policy responses. Although the 'super-diversity' resulting from recent migration presented new policy and practice challenges, the nature of long-established ethnic communities was also changing: some were experiencing new forms of discrimination, while others fulfilled aspirations that were very similar to those of equivalent white communities.
Source: John Parry, The Housing and Neighbourhood Impact of Britain's Changing Ethnic Mix, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined the role that neighbourhood management could play in promoting community cohesion by examining the experience of five case study pathfinder areas. The report had a particular focus on race, ethnicity, and cultural issues as they related to community cohesion.
Source: SQW Consulting, Community Cohesion and Neighbourhood Management: A theme report from the neighbourhood management pathfinders national evaluation, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report by a cross-party group of MPs called on the government to champion 'community pubs' as small businesses and essential community amenities.
Source: Community Pub Inquiry, All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, c/o John Grogan MP (020 7219 4403)
Links: Report | CAMRA press release | Publican report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report drew together findings from an extensive evaluation of neighbourhood management pathfinders conducted between 2002 and 2008, including household survey analyses, interviews, and case studies. It provided a final statement of how neighbourhood management had been delivered by the pathfinders and of what had been achieved.
Source: SQW Consulting, Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders: Final Evaluation Report – People, Places, Public Services: Making the Connections, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined the social aspects of pub-going.
Source: The Enduring Appeal of the Local, Social Issues Research Centre (01865 262255)
Links: Report | SIRC press release
Date: 2008-Oct
A report provided an overview of how neighbourhood management activity had been extended beyond official pathfinder areas into other neighbourhoods. It included a summary of the national evidence base about the nature of neighbourhood management, and the findings of a new national survey of local authorities about the extent of neighbourhood management and the different models emerging. It drew on summaries of ten new case studies of neighbourhood management initiatives, illustrating the range of practices.
Source: SQW Consulting, Neighbourhood Management Beyond the Pathfinders: A national overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A think-tank report said that the failure of the community development finance sector to realize its full potential was rooted in the conflicting demands placed it. Outreach and regeneration work, designed to generate long-term social benefits, could not be easily reconciled with financial sustainability.
Source: Veronika Thiel and Sargon Nissan, UK CDFIs: From Surviving to Thriving – Realising the potential of community development finance, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
A think-tank report said that the potential of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (giving more power to local communities and councils over their neighbourhoods) had not yet been realized.
Source: Anthony Brand, Sustainable Communities Act: The key that finally unlocks real local potential, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Date: 2008-Oct
A new book criticized attempts by the state and other agencies to correct the 'collapse' of communities. Modern societies, underpinned by a ruthlessly competitive and individualistic economic system, had undermined ties of family, solidarity, and commonality. However, when the idea of community was articulated it was almost invariably along conservative and reactionary lines – with unelected spokespersons unquestionably accepted as 'community leaders', and with formal contractual relationships taking the place of 'traditional' social order.
Source: Dave Clements, Alastair Donald, Martin Earnshaw and Austin Williams (eds.), The Future of Community: Reports of a death greatly exaggerated, Pluto Press (020 8348 2724)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
A report said that up to 1 in 10 people in England benefited directly from neighbourhood services provided by housing associations – such as food co-ops, energy efficiency programmes, credit unions and business start-ups, playgrounds, community centres, and sports grounds.
Source: iN Business for Neighbourhoods: The evidence – The scale and scope of housing associations activity beyond housing, National Housing Federation (020 7278 6571)
Links: Report | Summary | NHF press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that widening inequality had led to social fragmentation and the isolation of poorer communities. It called for a radical rethinking of the approach to regeneration and community development. 'Top-down' government attempts at regeneration such as the New Deal for Communities had inadequate impact because they over-emphasized democratic and bureaucratic concerns and did not make use of local talents, knowledge, and resources.
Source: Charlotte Young and Don Young, Sustainable Paths to Community Development: Helping deprived communities to help themselves, School for Social Entrepreneurs (020 8981 0300)
Links: Summary | SSE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Sep
The inspectorate for education and children's services examined aspects of adult and community learning and its impact on community renewal.
Source: The Role of Adult Learning in Community Renewal: Neighbourhood learning in deprived communities programmes, HMI 070228, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | Ofsted press release
Date: 2008-Sep
A new book said that traditional understandings of what constituted community safety had created a skewed understanding of crime and disorder that ignored the real threats to community cohesion and well-being. It offered a different conceptual understanding of community safety, based on a more proportionate understanding of social harms inflicted on communities.
Source: Charlie Cooper, Community, Conflict and the State: Rethinking notions of 'safety', 'cohesion' and 'well-being', Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that local councils lacked a clear understanding of different types of migrants and the nature of migrant communities. The enlargement of the European Union had created new forms of migration, for which councils should be prepared. Building strong relationships with existing migrants could provide insights into existing needs and future changes.
Source: Stephen Jeffares, Jenny Phillimore and Chris Skelcher, Governance of Migration: Strategies for European cities, Institute of Local Government Studies/University of Birmingham (0121 414 5008)
Links: Report | INLOGOV press release
Date: 2008-Aug
A series of papers was published as part of the evaluation of community strategies (mainly drawn up by local strategic partnerships). There was an increasingly coherent and sophisticated approach in the strategies to the specification of actions, targets, and indicators.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith, Detailed Assessment of Community Strategies, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only) | Policy Research Institute, Process Evaluation of Plan Rationalisation 2004-2007, Department for Communities and Local Government | Surya Monro, Equalities and Community Strategies: Research report, Department for Communities and Local Government | Martin Purcell, Issues Paper 9: The Role of Elected Members, Department for Communities and Local Government | Murray Hawtin and Martin Purcell, Issues Paper 12: Community Engagement in Community Strategies, Department for Communities and Local Government | Surya Monro, Sukky Jassi and Alison Darlow, Issues Paper 11: The Relationship Between Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements, Department for Communities and Local Government | Lynne Dowson, Issues Paper 10: Local Development Frameworks and Community Strategies, Department for Communities and Local Government |
Links: Paper (Percy-Smith) | Paper (Policy Research Institute) | Paper (Monro) | Paper (Purcell) | Paper (Hawtin/Purcell) | Paper (Monro/Jassi/Darlow) | Paper (Dowson)
Date: 2008-Aug
An article reported the findings of an extensive study of English local councils' efforts to engage, educate, and empower local citizens. Although local authorities had made significant progress in widening the structures for communicating with and engaging citizens, there remained considerable scope for improving activities that addressed the learning implications of effective citizenship.
Source: Rhys Andrews, Richard Cowell, James Downe, Steve Martin and David Turner, 'Supporting effective citizenship in local government: engaging, educating and empowering local citizens', Local Government Studies, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Aug
An article examined attempts by the devolved administrations to develop their own agenda for change with respect to the introduction of 'community planning'. More formalized arrangements might be required to support the development of a stronger and broader strategic framework for community planning.
Source: Simon Pemberton and Greg Lloyd, 'Devolution, community planning and institutional decongestion?', Local Government Studies, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Aug
A new book examined how new dimensions of diversity and difference were emerging at the neighbourhood level. Topics covered included new immigration, religion and social capital, faith schools, labour and housing market disconnexions, neighbourhood territoriality, information technology and neighbourhood construction, and gated communities.
Source: John Flint and David Robinson (eds.), Community Cohesion in Crisis? New dimensions of diversity and difference, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
The government published guidance to 'local cohesion practitioners', designed to help them understand the concept of cohesion, map their local communities to identify possible cohesion issues, and develop action plans to address those challenges.
Source: Cohesion Delivery Framework: Overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Guidance | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
Researchers examined the effect of cross-community contact in mixed and segregated areas in Northern Ireland. Longitudinal analyses provided a clear demonstration that contact reduced bias. More superficial neighbourhood contact worked via reduced inter-group anxiety, whereas more intimate friendship contact worked via increased self-disclosure. Extended contact was especially effective for those with lower experience of direct cross-group contact.
Source: Miles Hewstone, Nicole Tausch, Joanne Hughes and Ed Cairns, Can Contact Promote Better Relations? Evidence from mixed and segregated areas of Belfast, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Date: 2008-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that local councils had been given insufficient money by the government to meet the cost of dealing with a rising number of migrant workers. The government's migration policy also needed to take into account the effect of migration on community cohesion.
Source: Community Cohesion and Migration, Tenth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 369, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Shelter press release | UCU press release | Liberal Democrats press release | FT report | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report examined how neighbourhood and community empowerment could improve well-being, by: providing greater opportunities for residents to influence decisions affecting their neighbourhoods; facilitating regular contact between neighbours; and helping residents gain the confidence to exercise control.
Source: Mandeep Hothi with Nicola Bacon, Marcia Brophy and Geoff Mulgan, Neighbourliness + Empowerment = well-being: Is there a formula for happy communities?, Young Foundation (020 8980 6263), Improvement and Development Agency and Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics
Links: Report | IDeA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A study examined the challenges to be addressed if government policies to promote community engagement were to be genuinely inclusive of newcomers as well as more established communities. Community engagement and community cohesion were both existing public policy priorities: but there had been gaps in knowledge about how to promote community representation in ways that took account of diversity and population change.
Source: Geraldine Blake et al., Community Engagement and Community Cohesion, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report said that segregation between communities seemed to be growing in some parts of the country. Extremism, both political and religious, was on the rise as people became more disillusioned and disconnected. The report examined how sustainable and cohesive communities could be built at both local and national level.
Source: Nick Johnson (ed.), Citizenship, Cohesion and Solidarity, Smith Institute (020 7592 3618)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
A study examined different models of citizen-centred governance and the principles on which this was based. Towns and cities were governed by a patchwork of special-purpose governance structures operating alongside local authorities, National Health Service bodies, and other government agencies. The picture was 'complex and changing'. Citizens and service users in disadvantaged neighbourhoods were doubly disadvantaged: not only did they have to overcome the economic, social, and political barriers of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, but their opportunities for involvement in shaping public services were also constantly being changed.
Source: Marian Barnes et al., Designing Citizen-centred Governance, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2008-May
A literature review examined what was known about the effectiveness of intergenerational practice, in particular in education, community development/neighbourhood renewal, and health settings. There was evidence that successful intergenerational projects had the potential to deliver positive outcomes for participants and for communities.
Source: Iain Springate. Mary Atkinson and Kerry Martin, Intergenerational Practice: A review of the literature, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Date: 2008-May
The opposition Conservative Party published plans designed to support small shops. It said that it would oppose government plans to scrap the needs test that helped councils block unwanted out-of-town superstores.
Source: Small Shops Commission, Disappearing Britain: Why we must stand up for small shops – Interim report, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000)
Links: Report | Conservative Party press release
Date: 2008-Apr
A report examined the relationship between public participation, community cohesion, and empowerment. Drawing on a literature review and the experiences and insights of a broad range of people from local and central government, academia, and third sector organizations, it explored how local authorities and communities could best work together towards greater cohesion.
Source: Stella Creasy, Karin Gavelin and Dominic Potter, Everybody Needs Good Neighbours? A study of the link between public participation and community cohesion, Involve (020 7632 0120)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A new book examined the concepts and perspectives guiding research into how family and community relationships had changed across the generations.
Source: Rosalind Edwards (ed.), Researching Families and Communities: Social and generational change, Routledge (01264 343071)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Apr
A report said that schools that had predominantly white or Asian pupils could damage local communities and should be avoided. Non-mixed schools perpetuated extremist attitudes among white pupils, and did not prepare Muslim Asians for possible prejudice later. (Researchers questioned a sample of young people in Burnley in the wake of the town's 2001 riots.)
Source: Alan Billings and Andrew Holden, Interfaith Interventions and Cohesive Communities: The effectiveness of interfaith activity in towns marked by enclavisation and parallel lives, Department of Religious Studies/Lancaster University (01524 592425)
Links: Report | Lancaster University press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report evaluated a pilot programme that explored the potential to develop 'active networks' in local communities. Each programme aimed to bring together key workers, activists, and community leaders who were working to make a difference in their community, in order to create more effective neighbourhood and community networks.
Source: Icarus Collective, An Evaluation of Local Links: Reviewing a pilot programme to develop active networks in local communities, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2008-Jan