Diverse forum

For centuries communities in the UK have absorbed people from different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds and faiths with different ways of living.

It is easy for politicians, and for those who wish to cause conflict, to associate this diversity with a decline in social cohesion. But research commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation makes it clear that indicators as to how communities co-operate can be found as much in age, gender, work patterns and income distribution, as they can in ethnic or national make-up. Work done by the Housing and Migration Network, run jointly by HACT, Metropolitan Housing Partnership and JRF, highlights just how the arrival of migrants in communities can be managed in a way that builds social cohesion, rather than threatens it.

Working at neighbourhood level, showing political and managerial leadership, courage and skill, communities are welcoming new arrivals and creating approaches that benefit everyone.

The key is hearing the voices of people living in communities, and understanding their perspectives. At a time of significant constraints on the public purse, there is no doubt that communities will face greater strain.

Those of us providing housing and other neighbourhood services can allow this to polarise communities. We can accept a debate that assumes difference automatically results in division. Or can we listen to those communities who live with diversity.

Their views will be challenging, controversial and contradictory. But in the difficult times we face we can choose between allowing their views to be parodied as simply fear of difference, or understood for the rich source of evidence they really are.

Julia Unwin CBE is chief executive of the JRF. She will be speaking about building understanding between new and settled communities at the Chartered Institute of Housing annual conference and exhibition in Harrogate, 22-24 June