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This article is provided courtesy of the news feed at http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news

A major government drive to address concerns in traditional working class communities has been extended to include scores more areas.

The £12m Connecting Communities plan was launched in October to target a variety of pressures caused by unemployment, migration and a rise in antisocial behaviour.

Another 84 areas were this week identified and will now be incorporated into the scheme. They include Elswick in Newcastle, Gipton in Leeds and Bentilee in Stoke-on-Trent.

Communities secretary John Denham said at the time that the pace of change, for some, ‘led to a sense of resentment and a rise in insecurity and threatens to corrode the cohesion of these communities and create tensions’.

The government hopes Connecting Communities will help tackle ‘head on’ potentially divisive issues – both real and perceived – which, if left neglected, they say could prove ‘fertile territory’ for extremism.

‘The package of support will enable local people to influence, shape and change policies on issues which really matter in their community,’ said Mr Denham. ‘It will help to make sure that those people who are feeling the pressure the most are getting a bigger say and a fair deal.

‘And if we fail, the danger is that extremists will try to exploit dissatisfaction and insecurity in ways which will pull communities apart.’

Mr Denham also stressed that many local agencies may need to change the way they work or risk failing to address real issues and problems effectively.

Areas of the country selected for the initial phase included parts of Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham, Lincoln and Swindon.
The 27 neighbourhoods in the first stage of the programme have each drawn up individual plans addressing specific challenges with practical actions.

Progress to date includes:

• Local agencies in Speke, Liverpool, working with young people and single parents on employment opportunities
• Stanney in Ellesmere Port forming the neighbourhood's first ever community group
• Felling in Gateshead has developing a neighbourhood agreement setting out how residents, the council and partners can tackle local concerns
• A Youth Action Group is also being set up New Parks in Leicester as well as a skills project working with young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs)