Communities and Local Government

• Corporate
• Newsroom
• Speeches, statements and articles
• Preventing Violent Extremism: Next steps for communities

www.communities.gov.uk

Preventing Violent Extremism: Next steps for communities

Date of speech	18 July 2008
Location	Manchester Town Hall

---

Draft text of the speech - may differ from the delivered version.

It's a pleasure to be here: I'd like to thank everyone for coming, and Manchester City Council for giving us the opportunity to discuss a serious and long-term challenge.

Before I start, let me say a little about the project I visited this morning - the Leading to Respect project in Oldham - a project which helps young people to understand the dangers of extremism and its consequences; which equips them with the skills and confidence to help shape the future of their community.

I was genuinely inspired by the passion, energy and commitment of the people I met. It's places like these which make me confident for the future.

As Communities Secretary, my goal is to make every neighbourhood a place, where people are proud to live, work and raise a family. Where people feel they belong. And where everyone has a chance to play a part in the life of the community.

For generations Britain has been a place a where people of different backgrounds live together in peace and respect. 82 per cent of us feel people of different backgrounds get on well in our area, and I'm proud of that tradition.

"We have to undermine the extremist ideology that says you must choose between being British and being Muslim."

But there are some people who aren't. Some are threatened by the idea of diversity. And very sadly, some are prepared to use violence in the cause of division.

Whether they are motivated by the mindless dogma of the far right, or an ideology that hides behind distorted interpretations of Islam, they have no place in a decent society.

We all owe a debt of thanks to the quick thinking and courage of the police and security services that keep us safe by stopping acts of terror.

But it's clear that in the long term the solution isn't just about arresting people; it's about stopping them from becoming or supporting violent extremists in the first place.

We have to undermine the extremist ideology that says you must choose between being British and being Muslim. We have to make sure there is no hiding place for extremists in public institutions - whether the mosque, prison, or university campus. And we must support the people at risk of being radicalised; help all our communities stand firm against extremist messages; and address the grievances on which extremists play.

In April 2007 the Government set out a series of practical actions to mobilise communities against violent extremists.

These actions were based on the idea that it is ordinary people, with their extraordinary capacity for courage, who are best placed to stand up to terrorism, to make this country a safer place, and to celebrate the common values that bind us together as a society.

Our approach drew on everything we had learnt since the very first visits I made in the wake of the July 7 bombings three years ago, talking to men and women, young and old, from across the country.

First, that there can be no blanket national solution. It is at a local level that people understand how communities work, at a local level that the challenges can best be addressed.

Second, that success lies in working together. Communities cannot do it alone. Nor can government. But working with each other they can bring the expertise, resources and commitment to make a lasting difference.

Third, that this is a challenge that concerns all of us. The victims on 7 July included men and women, young and old, every race and faith. And I believe we all have a role to play - no matter who we are or what our background.

15 months on since we published the action plan, change is happening.

Not theoretical, abstract change, but practical work across the country at a pace and on a scale that we would have found hard to imagine just a year ago.

The document I am publishing today sets out these practical steps in more detail.

They include the fact more and more mosque schools - for example, in Leicester, Rochdale, Redbridge - are interested in taking up citizenship education, helping young people understand how they can be proud to be Muslim, proud to be British.

Or the fact that our £6m fund has helped start 200 projects in 70 areas, supporting local people to take the lead in strengthening their communities, promoting understanding and mutual respect.

I'm impressed by projects like TAG TV in East London, giving young people the opportunity to tell their own stories about the place where they live, and, in the words of one participant, "convey a more positive image of Islam".

Or take the Amateur Boxing Club in Haringey, giving young Muslim lads the chance to learn self-discipline by training with police officers.

Or the 'On Side' project with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, bringing young people together through their shared love of the beautiful game.

The experience so far puts us in an excellent position to make real progress in the next twelve months and beyond.

Where we have begun to move, we need to build on momentum.

Where we have started to talk to new people, and work with new partners, we need to reach out further.

"I want to see real ambition from local authorities about what they can help communities achieve."

If there's one thing I think we need to see now it is that quality - an over-used word, I know - leadership: community, civic and theological leadership, that can make a lasting difference.

First, it is vital unlock the potential of people in the community to take a lead.

We are boosting our support for the Community Leadership Fund to £1.2m, nearly double what it is today.

This will provide leadership training and advocacy courses to enable new people, including women and the young, speak out and shape the future of their communities.

Already we've seen great projects get off the ground - like Common Purpose's training programmes for emerging Muslim leaders. 50 people have now been on the course. One participant welcomed it as a way for new Muslim leaders to;

 
"…begin to understand, trust and most important engage with civil society not as a tolerated minority but a contributing equal".

Or MOSAIC Muslim Mentoring Scheme, encouraging young men and women to aim high for their future in Lancaster, Leicester, London and Yorkshire. I went to the launch event last year - 8 months on I'm pleased to hear stories like Salwa's, who said:

"It is especially encouraging to learn that someone from the same background as me can be really successful and reach the top of their profession by working hard work and being enthusiastic."

I've also met the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group several times now, including earlier this week. They have now formulated a clear idea of what they want to achieve over the next year and I'm looking forward to them: telling the stories of inspirational women; improving the theological understanding of women's role in society: and encouraging more women to get involved in their community as councillors, school governors, or volunteers.

I'm also looking forward to the new Young Muslims' Advisory Group getting up and running later this year. They will speak directly to national policymakers, helping us get a full picture of what is happening on the ground and how it is affecting young people. We are looking for bright, articulate and energetic people with the skills and confidence to shape their communities. The call for nominations closes soon so if you know someone who fits the bill, don't hesitate.

But communities need to know that they have the support of civic leaders too.

Over the next three years we will be providing £45m to support grassroots groups building resilience to violent extremists' messages.

This is a big increase. In two years' time annual funding will reach £18m, triple what it has been this past year.

Now I want to see real ambition from local authorities about what they can help communities achieve.

This isn't an optional add-on for councils, but a core part of what they should be doing for the people they serve.

There are still some local authorities who know there is a problem in their local area but fight shy of it. This kind of challenge won't go away if we stick our head in the sand. It is important for civic representatives to take responsibility, starting with Chief Executive Officers and Leaders. Councillors can champion this work, and I'm impressed by how those I met this morning are committed to delivering for their communities.

It's also encouraging to see many getting all the people and agencies who need to contribute round the table and working together. Here the Greater Manchester Partnership brings together the police, councils, and Government office.

No-one fought harder than me for a funding settlement that gives councils real discretion in how resources are spent. But if ever there was a challenge that called for them to ensure that the investment is made in delivering a change, this is it.

So we will be measuring performance closely: providing support where it's needed, for example by helping councils learn from each other: and looking to learn ourselves from councils' experience of what works. The Local Delivery Advisory Group will be important - helping Whitehall understand better the pressures and successes on the ground. And in due course we will draw on Kamlesh Patel's findings, and our own evaluation of the pathfinders programme so far, to make sure we're really focussing on what matters.

Alongside a boost in civic and community leadership, it's important to support stronger theological leadership.

We know that it is often those people with a weak understanding of their faith who can be most vulnerable to the messages of violent extremists.

To put it another way, faith is not part of the problem. But it could be part of the solution.

Faith leaders have a unique position to influence young people, to knock down the myths and misconceptions that violent extremists promote, to be a voice for the values of peace, tolerance and understanding that are at the heart of Islam.

But faith and community leaders tell us that there are challenges which prevent faith leaders from fulfilling their potential. Imams do not always have strong English language skills, debating techniques, or an understanding of the lives young people lead and the pressures they face. Without these, it is harder for them to engage disaffected young people, to reach the alienated and vulnerable, as is desperately needed.

That's why I am pleased that the first group of more than 40 faith leaders - including Christians and Sikhs as well as Muslims - have completed a Continuous Professional Development programme, learning new skills to communicate effectively with the people they serve.

Based on that experience, we now have a new Faith community development qualification - which we will be piloting and developing further with key groups - young people, women and chaplains - at the same time as promoting take up by colleges across the country.

"It is often those people with a weak understanding of their faith who can be most vulnerable to the messages of violent extremists."

Alongside this, community and faith leaders have made clear that violent extremists seek to abuse theological arguments to mask what are, at root, brutal, cruel and utterly indefensible actions. They have made clear to us that more needs to be done to develop a strong and coherent response to those who seek to sow division by presenting a distorted view of Islam.

Again, this is not an area for Government to opine on. But we can create the space for others to do so, and will provide support where it is requested. So, to respond to a request from Muslim communities, I'm pleased to be awarding a contract to Oxford and Cambridge Universities to coordinate a theology board of Muslim academics and theologians and community representatives, to lead thinking on Islam in a modern context.

The board will look at some of the complex and sensitive questions around what it means to be Muslim in the UK in the 21st century. It won't shy away from some of the most challenging issues around citizenship, identity and gender. And it will help raise awareness of the real, peaceful Islam practiced by the vast majority of Muslims in the UK.

I have focussed today on civic, community and theological leadership, and the vital role of local people and their elected representatives.

This does not mean that central government is giving up or going away. On the contrary we will be here to support community groups, local authorities, and their partners: to advise where they request it: to keep an overview of the picture across the country. And we continue to push to make sure that other government departments are part of plans for the future - given the close links between preventing extremism and topics ranging from sport and art to schools.

But believe we have reached a point where local people and the leaders who represent them need to rise to the challenge, because without that local leadership we simply can't succeed.

If the past year has taught us one thing, it is that the skills, the commitment and the courage to make a difference are there, if only we can unlock them. So I look forward to wider work, deeper dialogue and further progress in the years to come.