Why we need to talk about social conflict

ORACE, wealth and class. Nowhere are they more contentious than in our inner cities.

These have been transformed this century, with increasing diversity of the population, investment in new housing and regeneration activities aplenty.

Neighbourhoods such as Ancoats, Hulme, Hathershaw, Langworthy and many others, once some of the most deprived according to government statistics, are now places where people aspire to live.

But this new affluence borders continuing poverty as, for as many areas that have been transformed, there are those where poverty, poor housing, poor health and other indicators of deprivation persist.

The City of Manchester, in particular, has seen a doughnut effect, with ‘gentrification’ at its centre surrounded by continuing hardship for many in adjoining areas.

The wealth created is not rippling to Miles Platting, Ardwick or Collyhurst, but is hurdling them and heading to the suburbs and beyond.

Alongside this transformation has been a fast changing demographic with increasing diversity.

Manchester went from having 19 per cent of its population from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in 2001 to 33 pc in 2011.

More than 200 languages are now spoken in the City. In early 2016 I completed research on behalf of the Faith Network 4 Manchester showing that 50pc saw these changes as good for the community in general whilst 21pc saw them as bad.

This became more starkly into focus when 35pc said that these changes cause social tension, even though 42pc said they improve social cohesion and 46pc saying it was worsening the quality of services delivered to the community with only 17pc saying it was improving them.

This dichotomy of views was reflected shortly after in the Brexit referendum result.

Social inequality is, on its own, a great threat to the cohesion of our inner cities. When combined with social tensions between different cultures, this can become a toxic mix.

We have seen this boil over in the past in 1981 in Manchester, 2001 in Oldham and on other occasions across the City region. The question asked each time is how to prevent this happening again?

There is, of course, no easy answer. However, there are many trying to offer some. One such initiative comes from the Church Urban Fund, which has been offering seed funding for local groups working to bring together neighbours since 2014. The Big Lottery Fund also has a funding priority to bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities. Funding cohesion initiatives is clearly important but do these projects just mask the underlying causes of division? Is it enough to encourage neighbourliness and togetherness? Is there more to do to build real respect, understanding and, maybe, equality? These are tough questions and one reason why We Stand Together created its Difficult Dialogue series last year.

Tomorrow night we will give the opportunity for anyone in Greater Manchester to meet and discuss ‘The Inner City Divide’ and explore class, race, wealth and other equality conflicts.

We may not find all the answers, but bringing these questions into the open, and involving people from diverse communities, gives us a chance to start finding some of them.

Jonny Wineberg is a consultant for non-profit organisations and director of Operations for #WeStandTogether. You can book for the next Difficult Dialogue, 6.30pm tomorrow night, at www. WSTInnerCityDialogue.eventbrite.com.

Manchester has seen a doughnut effect, with gentrification at its centre surrounded by hardship Jonny Wineberg