What do we mean by a 'community'?
In discussing 'community cohesion', we need to be clear what we mean by the word 'community'. Stafford Scott provides a very helpful discussion of how to approach this on page 15 of 'A dialogue of equals' (2008):
"One of the factors which makes community engagement so complex is that there is really no such thing as 'the community'. The term is used to describe the thousands, if not millions, of individuals who live in a given area and may also work there to help local people. When we talk of communities, we can have different things in mind. At 'Pacesetters', our understanding of a 'community' includes those people who are linked to a particular locality, through residence, work or regular visits. It includes 'communities of interest', by which we mean people who have a shared experience that transcends their geographical location.
The key thing to keep in mind is that a community always consists of a number of other communities, be they based on ethnicity, gender, age, disability, location etc. In essence, all communities are linked and intertwined in a myriad of different ways. No individual community is so different from the rest of society that its particular needs should not be understood. For those who carry responsibility for delivering public services, engaging with the community means ensuring that everyone in their local area is given the opportunity to comment on the services provided for them and on the trust's priorities. It also means involving them in major decisions that will improve their quality of life. This is meant to be a two-way process - a true dialogue of equals - with NHS organisations benefiting from the imagination and energy of local people."
This message is really important for anyone working on community cohesion because it highlights the importance of finding ways of involving those groups who are seldom heard, who feel marginalised by the rest of the community in which they live and do not feel they have a stake in society. This might apply to some ethnic groups, disabled people, carers who have no support or respite or to young people who are not in education, employment or training.
Communities need to be better understood and 'mapped', even when they are recognised as separate entities. For example, iCoCo has been asked to provide details of local Muslim communities which are, in themselves, very diverse. In truth, they are seldom organised around any one theological, ethno-national, or community heritage group and have many different needs and aspirations. It is important to recognise the diversity within communities from the outset and to be prepared to listen to the range of different voices, avoid the 'gatekeepers' of communities and to reach under-represented sections such as women and younger people (see iCoCo's study, 'Understanding and appreciating Muslim Diversity', 2008). The same is true of all minority communities and of course the white community is equally diverse. The pace of change in all communities is also accelerating and it is important to keep the nature of each community under review to ensure that services are reaching all sections and especially those in most need.
