Community cohesion and social capital
What is community cohesion?
Community cohesion is about a sense of belonging, valuing diversity, tackling inequalities and promoting interaction to develop positive relationships within a community.
What is social capital?
Social capital is the social glue that helps people, organisations and communities to work together towards shared goals. It comes from everyday contact between people, as a result of their forming social connections and networks based on trust, shared values, and 'give and take'.
Community cohesion, social capital and schools
Building social capital develops community cohesion, and there are a number of reasons why this is important to schools. Some of those reasons include:
- developing neighbourhood and social networks enable communities to collaborate and trust each other
- when parents take an active interest in their child's school, the teachers try harder and the children do better
- high social capital can be good for children's behaviour, development and educational success
- people who are active in their community or belong to groups and clubs tend to enjoy better health
Sources: Institute of Community Cohesion, North East Social Capital Forum
Recommended further guidance
The Institute of Community Cohesion
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
Connected and Collective, an easy guide to social capital North East Social Capital Forum
Our Shared Future: Report of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion 2007, summary
