Building community leadership teams is needed where there is a break down of community cohesion. Following the 2001 streat disturbances we were called in to Bradford to assist people heal and move on from painful events, channel concerned citizens energy into building community cohesion and provide a leadership team and a focus for citizen action into the future. We also ran similar programmes in Kirklees, Oldham and Burnley. More recently we helped a consortium in Leeds develop a Civic Pioneers leadership team to work to build community cohesion.

Community Building

Through tailor-made training, coaching and support programmes we equip people with the leadership skills they need to take leadership in their communities so they can build their own community resource teams. The process of assisting community resource teams build community cohesion involves being able to listen to the heartfelt concerns of all concerned when there is conflict or controversy. Our skilled trainers deliver conflict resolution and mediation programmes that get underneath the presenting issues so that everyone can understand why they, sometimes repeatedly, get stuck in the same tough places. Local activists and leaders learn how to be reliable allies for all groups. Taking community leadership not only takes skills. It also requires courage and principles. We train community leaders to take on the tough issues of their neighbourhood, organisation or coalition of individuals and organisations.

Community Cohesion Pathfinder

Our work with the Community Cohesion Pathfinder Programme that we project managed and delivered on, on behalf of Leicester City Council, can be found on the Resources page. The report is entitled: Putting Young People at the Heart of Community Cohesion.