- Restoring national pride and
building closer relationships between local communities at the
heart of new social cohesion action plan
- Millions will be invested to tackle
cracks in the country's social foundations and make people feel
proud of where they live
- Clear expectations will be set for integration, including
learning English, for those who plan to settle in the UK,
while new measures will tackle extremism
Communities will be brought back together and the scourge of
extremism tackled through a new action plan strengthening social
cohesion across the country, set to be published later today
(Monday March 9).
The new action plan is launched against a backdrop
of rising hate crime and extremism, and at a time of global
insecurity, meaning local ties are more important than
ever.
Following years of chronic under investment in communities,
millions will be pumped into local areas to restore
national pride.
An extra £5 million boost for the Common Ground Resilience Fund,
backing grass-roots organisations and local authorities to
tackle divisions in communities, with community events,
interfaith programmes and youth projects to reduce
isolation and strengthen social ties.
This will build on £5.8 billion already committed to hundreds
of neighbourhoods through the Pride in Place programme.
Today's action plan will also set clear expectations set for
integration for people looking to settle in the country
and introduce stronger measures
to tackle extremism and religious hatred.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government
said:
“There are so many forces in the world that want to pull
communities apart when in reality we have so much more
in common.
“The UK is a multi-ethnic, diverse society and we should
celebrate each other's cultures and traditions and the shared
values that unite us as a nation.
“We must listen to people's concerns about growing divisions
and take action to bring our communities back
together.
“That's why we are investing to restore pride, empowering people
to transform where they live and uniting people around love of
their local area.”
Deputy Prime Minister commented:
“We are clear-eyed about the forces that have been driving
division and hate in our society. This plan heralds a patriotic
renewal of our communities and the bonds within them - a driving
mission for this Government.
“Communities don't grow stronger and closer by accident – they
need support to thrive.
“Investing in community groups and grassroots organisations that
bring people together, reducing reoffending and making our
streets safer, are important steps in that effort.”
The plan will include measures to promote integration, protect
children from segregation, tackle religious hatred and
racial discrimination and clamp down on extremist
influence in our institutions such as charities and
universities.
- There will be stronger
protections for students and staff on campuses across the
country against extremism, harassment and intimidation,
a new confidential whistleblowing route for staff to
raise concerns and a ‘campus cohesion charter' to strengthen
respect and shared values.
- Charity Commission given
powers to tackle extremist abuse of the sector, including
the power to shut down charities and swiftly remove
trustees.
- A ‘State of Extremism' report
annually setting out the nature and scale of the current threat
facing the UK and government action to counter its activity and
influence, whilst the Visa Watchlist Taskforce will be
strengthened to block hate preachers and extremists of all kinds
from entering the country.
The action plan, called ‘Protecting What
Matters', will be published later this afternoon.
