The second of our series of online debates looks at how community cohesion can be maintained and developed in the midst of a recession.

The debate runs from 23 April to 6 May and will address the key cohesion challenges facing our neighbourhoods and communities. These include community empowerment and leadership, forging positive relations between people from diverse backgrounds and the role of the public, private and voluntary sector in supporting cohesion locally. The debate will also examine the potential role legislation could play in delivering cohesion as a strategic function of public bodies.

It will raise questions about how communities and institutions can bring people together to identify shared values and aspirations, explore positive steps that build trust, reduce tensions whilst identifying the cornerstones of effective cohesive practice.

To voice your opinion visit Debate Place, on Showcase, our case study website at http://showcase.homesandcommunities.co.uk/debate/in-the-midst-of-a-recession-how-can-we-develop-cohesive-communities.html#debate

Gill Taylor, Chief Executive of the HCA Academy said:

"Today’s economic climate could have a major impact on cohesion unless the homes and communities sector adopts a concerted effort to ensure communities are fair for everyone. Cohesion must be embedded in every stage of growth and renewal projects and this requires effective leadership, greater understanding and innovative ways of working. Debate Place is a great platform for us to share ideas, discuss the latest thinking and raise questions about this leading issue."

The debate will be accompanied by a series of short films from the Institute of Community Cohesion, the charitable sector, United Faiths, the Peace Studies Department at Bradford University and Queens University Belfast. The films focus on:

• The definition of cohesion
• The impact of the recession
• The importance of being proactive
• How the lack of cohesion damages society
• The importance of creating a better understanding to strengthen relationships within a community.

A number of cohesion reports and examples of best practice that support the debate can be downloaded:

• Promoting Sustainable Communities and Community Cohesion – a report that explores how the sustainable communities and community cohesion agendas may be promoted, developed and embedded within and across different professional disciplines and sectors.
• Cohesion for Sustainable Communities – a study that defines what community cohesion should mean to sustainable communities practitioners. It explores the gaps in current training and identifies necessary skills.
• The Mixenden Community Link – is a project that brings together asylum seekers, economic migrants and local residents of a large former council estate on the outskirts of Halifax to create an increased sense of social cohesion and community spirit.
• Blackburn Regeneration Consultation – is an example of best practice that helped embed the idea of community cohesion into all areas of a regeneration programme, from public engagement and procurement to skills development.

The third in the series of online debates will focus on the impact the recession will have on skills within the homes and communities sector. The dates will be announced through our newsletter