Research and resources on social cohesion theory and best practice.
The Belong Network Library
Research and resources on social cohesion theory and best practice.
The Belong Network Library
Welcome to the Belong Network Library
The Belong Library is free to access and brings together a wide range of online resources produced by the public, private and civil society sectors to build the evidence base around social cohesion.
It is regularly updated and includes:
- measurement and evaluation frameworks,
- ‘what works’ guides,
- relevant research,
- best practice sharing
- training materials for small and large charities and other volunteer-involving sports and community organisations.
Please contact us if you are unable to find what you need – we’d be delighted to help.
Find Resources
Search:
Filters
Resource Themes
Resource Type
Resource Years
Kindness, Emotions, and Human Relationships: The blind spot in public policy October 2020
There is growing recognition of the importance of kindness and relationships for societal wellbeing. But talking about kindness does not fit easily within the rational lexicon of public policy.
The Practice of Kindness: Learning from KIN and North Ayrshire October 2020
The Practice of Kindness brings together practical examples of things that can be done to create the conditions for kindness. However, it also highlights the barriers to relationships within organisations, and posits kindness as a radical concept that demands challenging the systems and structures – including risk and regulation, professionalism, and performance management – that currently govern our institutions.
An Unlikely Pair? Anger and Kindness October 2020
A short research article by People United highlighting the role of a specific type of anger against injustice in increasing kindness and social action.
The Art of Living Together October 2020
Jo Broadwood, CEO of Belong, explores the ability of the arts to connect people across identity groups quickly and powerfully. Broadwood proposes a series of recommendations for arts practitioners interested in the impact of their work on intergroup relations and generating empathy with the other.
Changing the World Through Arts and Kindness October 2020
This report brings together 10 years of research showing that the arts can play a practical and imaginative role in building a kinder and more caring society. The paper contains a series of illustrative case studies demonstrating that arts participation can result in increased empathy, willingness to help others, and self-efficacy.
The Social Cohesion Investment: Local areas that invested in social cohesion programmes are faring better in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic October 2020
The report presents headline findings on trust and cohesion from comparisons between six local authority areas that have invested in cohesion programmes versus other places in the UK.
Quantifying Kindness, Public Engagement and Place October 2020
The Carnegie Trust presents findings from the first ever quantitative survey on kindness in communities and public services.
The Unmet Needs of Migrant Communities From Europe September 2020
The Unmet Needs of Migrant Communities From Europe is a working paper prepared by David Jepson from ACH and Beth Wilson from Bristol Refugee Rights. It explores the impact of austerity, Brexit and now the Covid-19 pandemic on migrant communities, as questions whether we are doing enough to support those vulnerable to uncertain employment and the consequences of loss of income.
Understanding Community Resilience in our Towns August 2020
The Understanding Community Resilience in our Towns report has been published as part of HOPE not hate Charitable Trust’s Hopeful Towns project. The project aims to better understand what makes a place confident, optimistic and open, and to help towns across England and Wales to fulfil their potential. The Hopeful Towns project wants to address the root causes of hate, to stop divisive narratives from taking hold in the first place, and to promote policies that champion the value of towns.
Unity and Division in the Contexts of Covid-19 and Brexit August 2020
Hands Across the Waters – Divided Societies in Britain, Ireland and the United States, focused on the role of psychological research and advocacy in addressing increasingly divided societies in Britain, Ireland, and the United States, drawing on findings from our Beyond Us and Them research project.