The toolkit will help organisations explore best practice and set up ways to evaluate their projects, and to assess the impact they have on cohesion in the communities in which they are run.

Ruth Hollis, Chief Executive, Spirit of 2012 said;

“We know that sport is a really powerful way to bring groups of people together around a common interest and foster mutual understanding – as well as have lots of fun and make new friends,”

“We are delighted to be extending our relationship with COIN to support the toolkit which will share learning for everyone working to develop more cohesive communities through sport and beyond.”

 

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COIN anticipate that the finished toolkit will be used by sports and physical activity programmes, civil society organisations, commissioners and funders of cohesion and integration programmes, businesses and workplaces who want to support cohesion and integration initiatives locally.

Jo Broadwood, Chief Executive, COIN said;

“We are delighted by this award from Spirit. There are many inspiring individuals and organisations across the country who are doing intercultural activities and work which bridges divides and promotes empathy and good relations across difference. 

“By its nature this work is challenging to measure and evaluate. Spirit’s award will mean we can provide an easy-to-use accessible toolkit for providers and commissioners of programmes so that they can feel confident their programmes are fostering greater inclusion and integration.”

 

The Cohesion and Integration Network is a membership network which was established in 2018 to connect, support and mobilise organisations delivering projects focused on cohesion. They have focused in particular on connecting across different sectors and localities, bringing together different demographics to think about better integration.

Professor Ted Cantle, who is the UK’s leading authority on community cohesion and intercultural relations, and carried out the Government’s report into the underlying causes of the 2001 disturbances in Oldham, Burnley and other towns, is Chair of the COIN board of Trustees. 

He says:

“We are so pleased to work with Spirit of 2012, who are helping to lead positive change in this field with exciting and innovative projects. We can now begin to capture the learning and help many other organisations to build on the success and secure sustainable improvements in cohesion and integration.”