Building Stronger Communities - sharing what we found out

Developing a new approach to cohesion

Calderdale Council is developing a new way to build stronger communities and social cohesion in Calderdale. This starts with a new strategic framework, to be completed by the end of the year. A link to the new framework will be added to this page in January 2025.

To develop the framework, we listened to local people and heard about the things that matter most to them. This was achieved by having individual strengths-based conversations with adults from across Calderdale from May to July 2024. Key findings from the conversations will be used to identify priorities in the new cohesion framework.

Conversations were framed around eight different topics. Click on the headings further down this page to view the key findings for each topic.

How we describe cohesion

Social cohesion happens when people from different backgrounds meet, mix and get along.

The work of cohesion and integration is about developing neighbourhoods, workplaces, institutions and social spaces where difference is welcomed and celebrated.

It is about creating opportunities where empathy and curiosity about people ‘not like me’ are encouraged.

When this happens, we can move beyond narratives of ‘us’ and ‘them’ towards ideas of kindness, trust and social cohesion between groups of people.

What we did

Conversations were carried out by neighbourhood officers within localities. We also asked VAC Engagement Champions, who are connected to a range of community and voluntary organisations. They seek out and talk with residents through their own connections.

In addition we asked Ideas Alliance to work with our neighbourhood teams. They delivered a series of focus group sessions with people from specific marginalised groups.

Relevant data from conversations conducted by North Halifax Partnership (NHP) as part of their Reimagining Communities project was also included.

Who we heard from

In total we heard from 798 individuals and collected over 4,000 comments on the different topics. This breaks down as:

• A total of 577 people contributing their views via conversations
• 95 people participating in focus groups
• Shared data from 126 people in North Halifax who took part in the Reimagining Communities project