Community Cohesion

Newport is an ethnically diverse area with a demographic make up that has remained stable for a significant period of time.

Evidence suggests that Newport is experiencing a rapid shift in population as a result of:

• economic migration from the EU and other countries
• the dispersal of refugee and asylum seekers
• new housing and jobs being generated in the city

The Local Service Board, One Newport, has identified Community Cohesion as one of its three priorities in the Local Delivery Agreement.

What is ‘Community Cohesion’?

The UK and Welsh Assembly Government defines Community Cohesion as:

“what must happen in all communities to enable different groups of people to get on well together. A key contributor to community cohesion is integration, which is what must happen to enable new residents and existing residents to adjust to one another.”

What does it mean for Newport?

One Newport’s vision for the city over the next ten years is of “working together to create a proud and prosperous city with opportunities for all”.

Community cohesion will help to establish Newport as a city where:

• people from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities
• people know their rights and responsibilities
• people trust one another and the local institutions to act fairly

Community Cohesion Projects

2009/2010

Projects included:

• residents survey commissioned to develop baseline measures for cohesion in Newport
• development of a Newport Community Cohesion Strategy
• ward profiles for all wards in Newport
• Welcome Packs including local information in 7 key languages
• an electoral canvassing project
• support for the development of COMMON, a forum for Mosques and Muslim organisations in the city
• BME Youth Forum

2010/2011

Projects including:

• British Red Cross to develop multi cultural support network groups for vulnerable refugee and asylum seeking women and children in Newport
• Stow Hill Communities First Partnership to extend the range of services to young people
• Malpas Court Social Enterprise
• Newport-wide BME (Black, Minority and Ethnic) partnership bid, primarily for BME young people
• Migration Research Project
• Community Safety Pathfinder Project

Counter-Narrative Leaflet – ‘What Does Islam Say About…’

On Tuesday 14^th June Newport formally launched a counter narrative leaflet, which challenges some of the distorted views that a minority of vocal, attention-seeking extremists seek to promote amongst particular target audiences.

The counter-narrative leaflet has been a joint initiative of COMMON (Council of Mosques & Muslim Organisations Newport) and NPDG (Newport PREVENT Delivery Group). It is believed to be the first counter narrative leaflet of its kind in the UK endorsed by such broad local grassroots Muslim community representation.

For more information contact:

Email: info@newport.gov.uk