Communities under pressure: strengthening good relations in England

With cuts to local services, fewer resources for supporting local communities and rising unemployment, especially among the young, many people fear tensions among communities will get worse in England.

It is important that those of us who promote good relations among communities tell local and national decision-makers what works in reducing these tensions.

Talk for a Change and International Alert, with funding from Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Oxfam, want to help run workshops across England for practitioners to discuss:

• successful ways of strengthening good relations
• the complex factors which impact this work
• how to communicate these lessons to decision-makers

People will have the chance to build on the lessons from these workshops via an online discussion forum. We will also be hosting a national event to build consensus on how these lessons can influence policy and practice.

Do you do “good relations work”? Talk for a Change and International Alert would like to invite you to one of eleven regional meetings. The events will explore setting up a national coalition of good relations organisations which could improve the voice, practice and visibility of good relations work in England. At the events you will have a chance to discuss local divisive narratives and how you are currently tackling them, and impact measurement in our field. This is funded by JRCT.

Please come along to one of the events:-

South London 
24th June at 110 Union Road, Stockwell. This event is co-hosted by the Stockwell Partnership. For times and joining instructions please contact leila@stockwell.org.uk

Greater Manchester
27th June. This event is co-hosted by SARF. For venue, times and joining instructions please contact dan@the_sarf.org.uk

Merseyside, Cheshire and Warrington
2nd July at Peace Centre, Warrington. This event is co-hosted by Foundation 4 Peace. For times and joining instructions please contact terry.o’hara@foundation4peace.org

North East region
15th July at Newcastle Quaker Meeting House. This event is co-hosted by NCRN and ARCH. For times and joining instructions please contact pauline.bittlestone@hotmail.com

Yorkshire
11th September in Leeds. This event is co-hosted by WIYN, T4P Leeds, PPC Bradford, Centre for Good Relations. Please contact nicola.sugden@talkforachange.co.uk

The events below are still being planned:
West of London
East of England
East London 
South West region
East Midlands
West Midlands

If you are interested in co-hosting an event (we can cover the costs and provide a small fee), please download more information here.