Community cohesion
Working together for a stronger, safer and more connected Gateshead
At Gateshead Council, we want our communities to be places where everyone feels safe, respected, and connected. Community cohesion is about strengthening those everyday relationships that make Gateshead a great place to live - so everyone feels they belong and can thrive.
What is community cohesion?
Community cohesion means people feeling part of their community, getting along with others, and having the confidence to take part in local life. It's about building trust, reducing barriers, and creating opportunities for everyone to feel included and valued.
What we're doing
We have published Gateshead's Community Cohesion Strategy, which sets out our approach to supporting inclusive, safe, and connected communities across the borough.
Our goal is simple: Gateshead should be a place where everyone feels they belong, can access opportunities, and is treated with respect.
The strategy focuses on strengthening relationships, reducing harm and tensions, and working with communities and partners to respond to local challenges and opportunities.
Why we've developed this strategy
The Community Cohesion Strategy replaces and expands Gateshead's previous Hate Crime Strategy, bringing together a broader focus on belonging, connection, and inclusion alongside preventing and responding to hate crime.
The strategy has been developed in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including the Community Cohesion Unit within the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and the Office of the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.
While aligned with regional and national priorities, the strategy is firmly rooted in Gateshead and reflects the needs, experiences, and strengths of our local communities.
The Community Cohesion Strategy aims to:
The strategy will:
- help reduce harm and tensions so everyone feels safe and respected
- strengthen connections between neighbours, services, and communities
- remove barriers so everyone can access opportunities and support
- engage young people as active partners in shaping the future
- support local leadership so communities have the confidence and power to lead change
Community Cohesion Group
Each month, we bring together representatives from Gateshead Council teams, Northumbria Police, and community and voluntary sector partners to review hate crime reports and trends, discuss community issues, and share updates from partners.
These meetings help identify challenges, explore opportunities for collaboration, and shape actions that make Gateshead safer and more connected for everyone.
If you work in the community, youth, education, health, or voluntary sectors and want to collaborate or share insights, get in touch with our team.
Concerned about hate crime?
A cohesive community is a safe community. If you or someone you know has experienced hate crime, please visit our Hate crime page for help and reporting options.
If you're worried about early signs of community tension - such as rising concerns, misinformation, low‑level hate‑related behaviour, or situations that feel like they could escalate - you can share this information through our Community Tensions reporting route. Reporting concerns early helps us understand what's happening locally and work with partners to prevent issues from escalating.
If you're unsure which route is right, you can still report your concern and we'll make sure it's shared with the appropriate team.
Contact us
For more information or to get involved, email our Community Safety team: [email protected]