Government expands Common Ground programme following recent attacks in London.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s £4m Common Ground programme is to receive an extra £1m of government funding to help it tackle antisemitism and strengthen community cohesion in places facing the greatest risk.
Photo by Roman Rezor / Unsplash
The additional funding is a direct response to a rise in antisemitic attacks in north-west London in recent works, as well as to the events in Heaton Park and Bondi Beach last year. As well as the expansion of Common Ground, £500,000 is being allocated to Barnet Council.
This new funding will be used to support local efforts to counter antisemitism, build safer communities and respond to rising tensions. It will help local people, especially those from Jewish communities and organisations who have been hit hardest by recent events, take rapid and visible action. This includes community safety work, targeted youth and schools initiatives, interfaith projects and programmes to challenge antisemitic narratives or hate crime.
Under the expanded programme, councils, faith groups, schools, police, voluntary organisations and local people themselves – especially from Jewish communities – will work together to develop and deliver tailored local action to address the challenges they face.
The new investment comes on top of £25m announced last week to boost police patrols, specialist officers and protective security for Jewish communities. It takes the total funding for such activities to £58m, not including the £7m allocated to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities.
Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing and Communities, says: ‘The horrific rise of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred in Britain and across the world is intolerable. I will not rest until Britain is a place where every Jewish person can live openly, safely and proudly. Our Common Ground programme has already awarded millions of pounds into communities across the country, and today’s expansion of that programme builds on our commitment to tackle hate crime, promote integration and support communities most at risk.
‘While we know there is more to do, we believe that quickly channelling government funding directly to the communities and places facing the greatest risks today will help local partners to take early, practical action to keep people safe, strengthen communities and stand up to hate.’
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