Julie Fowlie

Community Cohesion in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

This paper discusses how the critical elements of ‘developing relationships’ and ‘understanding emotions’ within a social marketing framework can be used to influence local government strategy and communications aimed at improving community cohesion and addressing negative myths. Under New Labour, community cohesion became a national and local priority. This is a case study of how one local authority — The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) — has addressed this issue by taking a social marketing approach. The paper also briefly discusses the ‘tone of voice’ adopted by LBBD in response to extensive insight work before outlining an innovative staff training programme. Most frontline staff have now participated in this programme, and the authors are currently evaluating its effectiveness in improving communications and cohesion within the community.

Using community communicators to build trust and understanding between local councils and residents in the United Kingdom

This article is a development of research published by the authors (Wood and Fowlie, 2010) and explores the role of relationships and social networks within a social marketing approach to community communications in the UK. An understanding of their importance and value in delivering cost-effective customer-oriented services has grown significantly in the current political climate of cost cutting and ‘Big Society’. Specifically, it evaluates the effectiveness of using innovative communications channels – with community communicators playing a central role – to increase trust and positive perceptions of local government amongst resident networks in the London Boroughs of Sutton, Havering and Bexley. The article aims to provide practitioners with practical suggestions to address these issues.

How to succeed at university : an essential guide to academic skills and personal development

How to understand yourself and your development How to plan your own personal development How to improve your people skills How to nurture yourself during the developmental process How do you learn and how do you know what is required of you? How to plan, conduct and review your research How to write up and present your work in order to get better results How to develop successful examination techniques How to understand the job, internship or placement search process and what is required for success How to understand the application process in order to get short-listed How to give yourself the best chance of success in the selection process How to continue developing yourself for your future success