Empowered and integrated communities

Successful communities are usually those in which people are actively engaged rather than passively present and where there are shared values and understanding between people - both within defined groups and between people from different backgrounds.

 

'The most valuable contribution though comes from us all as local citizens. Yes it is true that government - local and central - is essential to the mix of activity...    ...However, it is through millions of small, everyday actions that we can all either improve or harm our local communities. Whilst the state and the third sectorGlossary: refers to organisations are those that operate independently on a not-for-profit basis, usually defined as voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, mutuals or co-operatives can assist, they cannot replace or second guess what we do as individuals...   ...We are a country of many backgrounds and many talents, and to create tomorrow's future today we all need to commit to integration and cohesion being everyone's business.'

'Our Shared Future' Report of the Commission for Integration and Cohesion (2007)

Government is keen to unlock people's talents so that they are better able to contribute to their community and to its future prosperity. There are a number of elements that need to be in place for communities to be empowered, including:

  • opportunities to be involved in the life of the community
  • access to information about activities and decisions that are being taken
  • opportunities for residents to articulate their views - and to have their voice heard
  • opportunities for ownership and control
  • influence over local spending
  • opportunities to hold official positions of influence
  • good arrangements to ensure accountability
  • means of redress

The Empowerment White Paper 'Communities in Control' proposed some new measures that will help to shift power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and individual citizens - including a duty on local government to involve and to respond to petitions, participatory budgetingGlossary: when residents are directly involved in making decisions about how sections of local budgets are allocated and invested, support to take ownership and control of assets and several new budgets available to communities.

The Commission for Integration and Cohesion report is highly relevant to the development of new communities. It promotes a drive towards stronger social networks and a sense of shared values between people within communities, something that needs to be a high priority for new developments if the people living there are going to feel a sense of belonging and ownership. It establishes a new definition of integration and cohesion.