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Communications building cohesion. 19 October 2009 Hilary Kitchin Policy Analyst. Communications need to be strategic. ‘Whole community’ corporate approach Adopt a strategy Decide what works for your authority Have a practical impact - structured Implicit / explicit knowledge
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Communicationsbuilding cohesion 19 October 2009 Hilary Kitchin Policy Analyst
Communications need to be strategic • ‘Whole community’ corporate approach • Adopt a strategy • Decide what works for your authority • Have a practical impact - structured • Implicit / explicit knowledge • Linking comms to cohesion strategies
Staff are a major resource • Convey priorities & expectations • Variety of mechanisms • Measuring penetration • Formality and informality • Trade union contribution
Roles for elected members • Ward councillors are trusted by the public • Incorporating a role for ward councillors • Cabinet members as key drivers • Bipartisan approach • Cabinet responsibilities • Lead members and the media
Partnerships are slowly changing • Inter-relating with civil society • Value of cooperative infrastructure • Strategic work with forums • Permanent and reactive relationships • Early stages for LSP sub-groups • Police as key partners
Limits of myth-busting • One component of a multiple strategy • Pre-emption v reaction • Need to be proactive will always arise • Has some strategic value in early stages of adopting a broader strategy • Beware, can be counter-productive
Improve handling of the media • Objectives – sense of place – human interest • Local press and radio • High priority due to impact of negative reporting • Editorial expectations • Persistence • Being approachable
References Communicating Cohesion: report and summary http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=1568757 Building Cohesive Communities: What frontline staff and community activists need to know http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/buildingcohesion