Community Cohesion Strategy

How the strategy was developed

In December 2006 the council, on behalf of the Barking and Dagenham Partnership, appointed The Campaign Company to ensure members of the wider community had an opportunity to have their say and constructively inform the development of the community cohesion strategy.

The Campaign Company focused on getting the views and opinions of residents, key voluntary and community sector organisations and local businesses.

The Campaign Company's work revealed:

Key to making a strong community and a good place to live is the sense of togetherness
The 4 themes of: togetherness, respect, fairness and safety are broadly accepted by the population as being the key elements for a good and cohesive community
There was greater optimism from black and minority ethnic residents and groups, and they have a more positive perception of the area and public services
The need to achieve full engagement with local people who do not feel engaged with the wider community, and feel sceptical that things will improve
There is a common perception that access to services and resources is not fair
Improving the local environment is the most important thing that could be done to improve the borough. This is followed by improving safety
Some people were not clear about how the regeneration-led changes within the borough (e.g. Thames Gateway and Olympics) and the potential economic and social opportunities will benefit them and their families
White groups responded better to direct and interactive consultation techniques (i.e. someone at their door, in their club) rather than reactive ones (e.g. postal survey, invite to a meeting)
Once people were engaged they were prepared to enter into detailed and sustained dialogue

This work has confirmed the main concerns of local people:

To live in a safe place
To have fair access to services
For all sections of the community to respect each other
For the Barking and Dagenham Partnership to create and support opportunities for communities to come together
For there to be improvements in the local environment
For there to be increased opportunities for young people

These priorities have been translated into actions in this strategy's action plan. We will use the following techniques in delivering those actions:

Engagement and involvement of the community in developing services
Myth busting

Our stakeholder groups responded positively to our efforts to build capacity, undertake engagement and develop this strategy.

We have received generous support from other local authorities in and outside London, as well as the Improvement and Development Agency, Government Office for London and Communities and Local Government.

Contact

Heather Wills

Head of Community Services, Libraries and Heritage

Civic Centre

Rainham Road North

Dagenham

RM10 7BN

Tel: 020 8227 2786

Fax: 020 8227 2241

Textphone: 020 8227 2462

Email: heather.wills@lbbd.gov.uk|