Setting the Scene
The objective of the project was to pilot and develop ways of building and measuring cohesion which would then be shared with RSLs and other housing organisations. We looked at building cohesion in areas of existing housing, building cohesion in new build developments and measuring cohesion.
A number of different projects were commissioned, and all were independently evaluated. We have called our project “Cohesion Counts” to emphasise the value of both measuring community cohesion and of properly evaluating any work carried out.
A steering group was set for the project which included officers from the HMR Pathfinder, Oldham and Rochdale Councils, Oldham Housing Investment Partnership and the Regenda Housing Group – which was commissioned to provide overall project management. The input of the steering group was invaluable from the outset, with officers offering a wealth of experience, input and advice.
The aim of the Cohesion Counts project was to identify best practice and share it with other people who are working in the same field, firstly through a conference held at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on the 25th March 2010, and thereafter through this website.
The wider partnership approach to Cohesion Counts has considerably enriched the end results.
