Gateshead Community Cohesion Strategy 2026 to 2031

Action plan
A detailed plan outlining specific steps, responsibilities, and timelines for delivering the strategy's priorities.

Angelou Centre
Support service run by and for women from Black and minoritised communities in the North East of England.

Community Cohesion
A state where people from different backgrounds feel a sense of belonging, trust, and mutual respect, and work together to build strong, inclusive communities.

Community Cohesion Group (formerly Hate Crime and Tensions Monitoring Group)
A local partnership group that tracks community tensions and hate crime trends to inform early intervention and work together to improve cohesion.

Community Safety Board
A multi-agency group that oversees strategies and actions to keep communities safe, including crime prevention and cohesion work.

Co-production
A way of working where residents and service providers design and deliver solutions together, sharing power and responsibility.

Digital exclusion
When individuals or communities lack access to digital technology or the skills to use it, limiting their ability to participate fully in society.

Digital inclusion
Ensuring everyone has access to the internet and digital skills so they can participate fully in modern life.

Equity
Providing people with what they need to succeed, recognising that individuals and groups start from different circumstances. It focuses on fairness by addressing specific barriers or disadvantages.

Equality
Giving everyone the same resources or opportunities, assuming everyone starts from the same place and needs the same support.

Gender-based hostility 
Hostility, prejudice, or harmful behaviour directed at someone because of their gender, gender identity, or how they express their gender.

Grassroots initiatives
Community-led projects or activities that start at a local level, often driven by residents themselves.

Hate crime
Any criminal offence perceived by the victim or others to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a protected characteristic. In addition to the five legal categories (race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, transgender identity), Northumbria Police also monitor hate crimes based on sex and age. Gateshead Council additionally recognises care-experienced people as a locally protected characteristic. Where an offence is proven to be motivated by hostility based on a legally recognised protected characteristic, courts can apply an increased sentence.

Hate incident 
Any incident perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a protected characteristic, which may not meet the threshold of a criminal offence. 

Hyper-local approach
Solutions tailored to the specific needs of individual neighbourhoods or communities rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Intersectionality
The way different aspects of a person's identity (such as race, gender, and socio-economic status) combine to create unique experiences of discrimination or privilege.

Misogyny
Hatred, prejudice, or hostility directed at women and girls because of their sex. 

Prevent Duty
A legal requirement for public bodies to take steps to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, focusing on safeguarding and early intervention.

Protected characteristics
Characteristics defined under the Equality Act 2010 that are legally protected from discrimination: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, and marriage/civil partnership. Gateshead Council additionally recognises care-experienced people as a locally protected characteristic.

Pride in Place
A government initiative promoting local identity and community pride through investment in public spaces and neighbourhood projects.

Public consultation
A process where residents and stakeholders are invited to share their views on a proposed policy or strategy before it is finalised.

Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)
A legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 requiring public bodies to consider how their decisions and policies affect people with protected characteristics.

Safer Gateshead Partnership
Gateshead's statutory Community Safety Partnership, bringing together the council, police, health services, and other partners to reduce crime and improve safety.

Thrive Agenda
Gateshead Council's overarching approach to improving wellbeing, reducing inequalities, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live a good life.

VCSE sector
Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations that deliver services and support at a local level.