What is community cohesion?

In simple terms, community cohesion is all about people – all different types of people living and getting on well together in their communities. A cohesive community is one where there is respect and trust, differences are celebrated and everybody has shared values and a real sense of belonging.  The broad definition of Community Cohesion provided by the Welsh Government is:

“Community Cohesion is 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”.

In 2009 the Welsh Government published “Getting on Together” the WAG Community Cohesion Strategy.  The purpose of the Strategy is to support service providers and their partners to develop a strategic approach to promoting and maintaining cohesion in their local areas.

In response to the Welsh Assembly Government strategy, the Safer Blaenau Gwent Community Safety Partnership (CSP) set up the Blaenau Gwent Community Cohesion Forum. Membership of the Forum includes representatives of key partner organisations including Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Gwent Police, Individual Communities First Partnerships, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Blaenau Gwent Public Health, Youth Offending Service, Victim Support, Valleys Regional Equalities Council and Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations.

The partners have come together to develop a plan focused around the 4 following prioritises:

1. Helping communities get on well together
2. Tackling discrimination
3. Getting people involved
4. Making cohesion count

For further information on Community Cohesion in Blaenau Gwent please contact the Community Cohesion Link Officer (Emma Scherptong – details below) based in GAVO.

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