Developing Community and Social Cohesion through Grassroots Bridge-Building: An Exploration. Policy and Politics 37,4 517-534

In the context of the UK public policy goal to increase community and social cohesion, this article explores the nature of local ‘bridge building’ – activities intended to increase interpersonal contacts between diverse ethnic, faith and nationality groups. We draw on earlier research in a range of fields to develop the bridge-building concept and present findings from a study that identified community level projects with bridge-building as a specific aim. We show the range of groupings involved, the activities encompassed and their organisational features. We consider the actual and potential contribution of local bridge-building to cohesion in the light of earlier research and our own study.

If you have difficulty in obtaining this journal and this article through your library, please contact Mark Norton - mark@ivar.org.uk

To read  a summary of some of the bridge-building project findings in Bridging Community Divides: The Impact of Grassroots Bridge Building Activities click here.