Has Britain’s famous community spirit all but disappeared? Recent research undertaken by Yes Agency (in conjunction with Staffordshire University) concludes that a sense of community/neighbourliness is still alive and well. But it’s not in middle class suburbia – it thrives in our council estates – the ones largely labelled as ‘deprived’ areas.

Interestingly, many of the government’s objectives for the UK’s communities are centred around these so called ‘deprived’ areas. Here community cohesion is purported to be hampered by ethnic unrest, economic disadvantage, worklessness and substance misuse. Or is it? Our research findings indicate that community cohesion is actually strongest in these areas. In fact, community is almost completely eroded in those areas where private housing dominates and the reality is that it exists only within areas with a high proliferation of social and council housing.

So how do these communities operate differently to their private housing counterparts? And for those involved in social enterprises, how can you capitalise on these insights we’ve gained?

The aspiration...
“We want strong, cohesive communities in which people feel comfortable and proud to live, with a vibrant civic culture and strong local economy.”
Ruth Kelly, Community and Local Government Secretary

The reality...
“I don’t trust anybody in my community.”
Owner-Occupier, Stoke