Diversity Exchange 25 th October 2007 Liz Hanney Diversity Exchange Manager

1. Diversity Exchange25th October 2007Liz HanneyDiversity Exchange Manager

2. Bradford District • Population 485,000 (2005) • 5th largest metropolitan area in the UK • 4th largest LA in the UK (in terms of population) • Growing population (increasing youth pop) • Approx 22% BME population • 16.1% pop Muslim compared to an average of 3.0% • 50% of 5500 babies born annually are of South Asian origin • Large number of recent immigrants • 300,000 live in main city area • 2/3rds of District is rural

3. Bradford District • 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the UK • Evidence that inequality gap increasing • 8th most deprived health community in the UK • 27% secondary school pupils eligible for free school meals • 30% children live below poverty line • 5th most employment deprived LA in England • In lowest 5th of all LA’s in the UK for English, maths and science

4. Bradford District • % of people who feel other people can be trusted and mix well continues to increase • 90 council seats of which 2 are BNP, 39 Labour, 32 Conservative, 14 Lib Dem, 3 Green • Major city centre regeneration plan underway • Several schools nationally recognised for value added achievement • No recent major civic disturbances/ unrest

5. Community Cohesion • LSP led on Cohesion from 2003-2006 • LA took lead for Cohesion in 2006 • Since 2006 lack of clear direction on Cohesion • In 2006 new LA leadership, Chief Exec and Deputy Chief Exec • Future of LSP under negotiation • Independent review of Cohesion under LSP 2006 • Shared Future paper produced in 2006

6. Community Cohesion • Under LSP project-based approach • Limited impact on key players and agendas • Limited strategic support • Narrow understanding of cohesion as ‘race’ issue • Unwillingness to engage with equalities agenda • Emphasis on multicultural/ integrationist approach and unwillingness to acknowledge difference • Lack on engagement with White communities, minority BME communities • Lack of expertise/ flexibility to address changing communities ie EU migration

7. 2007 - where are we now? • Review of Sustainable Communities Strategy/ LAA underway • Fairness to all • Civic Action • Community relations • Confident Communities

8. 2007 – where are we now? • Lack of civic resilience • No conflict prevention strategy • Lack of coordination of activities/ support for practitioners = duplication and gaps • Little knowledge of impact of current interventions • Policy not informed by practice • Lack of commitment to cohesion agenda • Separateness between LA and external partners

9. 2007 – the challenges • Needs of new migrant communities ie. EU migrants/ African asylum seeker and refugee communities • Young Men (all communities) – lack of engagement and opportunities • Perceptions and levels of understanding • Separateness of communities – lack of opportunities to mix • Little willingness to debate and discuss • Territorialism – claiming of space and issues • Religion vs secularism – clashes and tensions • PET and PVE agendas • Economic/ Health/ Education challenges

10. Diversity Exchange • What is it? • The Diversity Exchange supports creative and innovative work to build better connections between different communities in the Bradford District • Why does it exist? • The aim of the Diversity Exchange is to create a District which is better able to deal with difference

11. History • Ouseley Report • Centre of Excellence • Diversity and Dialogue • District-wide Resource • Not direct delivery • LSP support • NRF funding

12. Why? • Clashing of world views • Clashing of values and beliefs • How deal with difference? • How agree baseline? What’s good enough? • Need to create culture of open and honest debate

13. Priorities • Strong project focus • Linking Communities • Dialogue/ Safe Spaces • Good Practice • Advice and Guidance • Information and Research

14. Case Study - Linking Communities • Project developed in 2005 following focus groups and needs analysis • 3 rounds of activity since 2005 • Linking Communities aims to link groups together who they otherwise would not have the opportunity to meet • Linking Communities helps groups build friendships and develop better understandings of the different communities living in the Bradford District, through meeting, talking to each other, sharing activities and common interests. • Over 340 local groups have linked together and over 4,500 individuals have been involved. • Link-ups supported by development worker and small grants £50-£300 • Recent evaluation indicates positive impact of project

15. Linking Communities • Learning more about why some communities have limited opportunities to meet and what the long-term impact of this is for the District and what interventions may be effective in addressing this • Continuation of Stage 1 – aimed primarily at under-developed, single-identity and isolated groups • Development of Stage 2 - support work that develops relationships and builds understanding between groups and organisations that share a common goal, aim or interest • Currently piloting and evaluating Stage 2 • Linking Work appears to be standard cohesion approach for Bfd District but little knowledge of impact

16. What’s Next? • Creating framework • Engagement with communities through increasing membership • Capacity Building • Strengthen partnerships and links • Develop website and resources • Strengthen research and learning opportunities • Create more opportunities for learning to inform policy, practice and service delivery • Develop expertise around Dialogue and Safe Spaces and Linking Work