Community Cohesion Pathfinder: Community Facilitation

Working in partnership with Mediation in Kirklees, this is one of 14 pathfinders set up by the Government across the UK.

According to the Home Office, “Many areas in the UK have seen tremendous economic and social change in their local populations but these changes have not always engaged or benefited all sections of the community.

Consequently, rather than relationships between varying cultural communities improving and developing, in some cases they have actually deteriorated.

In the summer of 2001 disturbances, apparently racially inspired, occurred in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley. This unrest appeared to have been born out of deep seated frustrations and divisions that are not unique to these particular towns.

Following these events the Government commissioned reports into the causes of the disorder and the symptomatic collapse of social cohesion. It became clear that in these areas there was very little interaction between individuals of different cultural, religious and racial backgrounds.”

In response, Total Conflict Management will be delivering a six day training programme for local residents in the Kirklees areas covered by this pathfinder. The course includes modules on community problem solving, conflict resolution and mediation.

Furthermore, we are currently developing a community conferencing training manual and training the trainers programme.

Carey Haslem from Total Conflict Management is taking a leading role in developing this piece of work. Carey is well known in the UK as a leading provider of ADR and community mediation, training and community development. She has extensive experience of community conflict resolution and community cohesion having worked extensively with LEAP and in her role as Chair of Mediation UK.