Lecture Notes: Community Cohesion and Diversity

Overview

• Topic: Theme A - Diverse communities and community cohesion
• Key Concepts:
  • Diverse community
  • Community cohesion
  • Integration

Key Definitions

• Community Cohesion: Creating a sense of belonging for all communities; valuing different backgrounds.
• Democracy: Government by the people directly or through elected representatives.
• Integration: Bringing different groups of people together in society.
• Diverse Community: Comprised of individuals with various identities based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or social class.

Examples of Diverse Communities in the UK

• Cities like Manchester with ethnic and religious diversity.
• Age diversity:
  • Fallowfield, Manchester: Median age 22
  • Wilmslow: Median age 47

Challenges of Diversity

• Tensions can arise between different groups, leading to conflicts or riots.
• Importance for schools, local governments, and organizations to promote community cohesion.

Role of Organizations

• Oldham Youth Council:
  • Works to empower young people.
  • Promotes activities and opportunities for youth.
  • Encourages communication with local and national government.
  • Raises the profile of young people positively.
• National and Regional Initiatives:
  • British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament.
  • Projects addressing issues affecting young people.

Celebrations and Awareness Campaigns

• Cedar Mount Academy Initiatives:
  • Celebrates Black History Month (October) and Asian History Month (March).
  • Goals include raising awareness of issues affecting these communities and celebrating their culture and achievements.
  • Initiatives include themed menus, promoting books by black and Asian authors, and educational competitions.

Importance of Integration

• Integration encourages participation in society.
• UK citizenship requires English proficiency and knowledge of UK history and democracy.

Exam Tips

• Be prepared to explain the importance of community cohesion.
• Consider why integrated communities lead to higher participation in society.