Predictors of community cohesion

With school's now having a duty to promote community cohesion (which will be inspected by ofsted from September 2008) this report by the Department for Communities and Local Government may provide a useful introduction to the context of community cohesion.

Key points:
- A person's sense of cohesion depends on factors relating to both their individual characteristics and the community in which they live.
- In most cases, ethnic diversity is positively associated with community cohesion, however, the relationship between diversity and cohesion is complicated and dependent on the type of ethnic mix in an area.
- Positive predictors of cohesion include living in an area with a broad mix of residents from different ethnic groups and having friends from other ethnic groups.
- Negative predictors include an increasing percentage of immigrants born outside of the UK, individual level disadvantage, and high levels of crime or fear of crime.
- Disadvantage undermines perception of cohesion, and this is true irrespective of the level of ethnic diversity in a community, and across all communities, but it is not the case that all deprived areas have low cohesion.
- Feeling that one has an influence on local decisions adds to community cohesion.
- People involved in volunteering have a more positive view of cohesion, are likely to feel more empowered, and form networks with individuals in their community.

Conclusions:
- The researchers' conclusions included the following:
- Individual and community level factors influence cohesion.
- Ethnic diversity is a driver in cohesion.
- Disadvantage, crime and fear of crime have a negative effect on cohesion.
- Vulnerable groups often see cohesion more negatively.
- A feeling of empowerment is important to cohesion.
- The predictors of cohesion are different for different ethnic groups.