Councils have a vital role to play in building community cohesion. The LGA is working with councils, government and partners on resources to support local work and local leadership.
Community cohesion
Councils have a vital role to play in building community cohesion. The LGA is working with councils, government and partners on resources to support local work and local leadership.
Resources
- Disinformation guide: The LGA has produced a disinformation guide for officers, as well as a new guide to disinformation for local councillors.
- The LGA and the Belong Network have published guidance to support councils to build cohesive communities. This guidance includes a clear summary of legal obligations, examples of effective tools and strategies for embedding cohesion in council services and outlines the practical steps required to develop effective cohesion strategies. It also shares good practice examples from councils throughout the guide. This report explores the role of sport, arts and culture in supporting community cohesion.
Special Interest Groups on Countering Emerging threats (SIGCE)
- Officer SIGCE: this is a long-established officer network holding regular roundtables on cohesion-related topics and publishing advice and best practice via a closed knowledge hub group open to all local government officers. Facilitated by academics from Coventry University the SIGCE exists to provide sector mutual support, advice and a space to share best practice.
- Member SIGCE: established earlier this year, this group has been set up to provide a similar service to members, in particular through peer-to-peer support. Its focus so far has been largely on member safety. The group is open to all members but where appropriate this support can be provided on a bespoke and political group basis. It is intended to run the group as a mailing list or webpage as well as having meetings.
- Bespoke support: the SIGCE has provided targeted bespoke support to individual councils who become the focus of extremist activity, often by linking them up with colleagues who have relevant experience. This scan be provided on a one-off or regular basis.
More information including how to join
Tackling misinformation, disinformation and malinformation
The LGA has produced a disinformation guide for officers as well as a guide to disinformation for local councillors:
- Deepfakes and Synthetic Media Unpacked is a short, accessible video series introducing what deepfakes and synthetic media are, why they matter for local government and what practical steps officers and councillors can take to reduce potential risks.
- The Civility in public life programme has a range of resources on Handling abuse and intimidation and Digital citizenship: support and resources for councillors. The LGA maintains an ongoing store of evidence around councillors' experiences of abuse and intimidation which sits within the Debate Not Hate campaign hub.
- Managing online abuse and harassment of staff: The LGA has produced guidance for employers on understanding and countering online intimidation and abuse of staff and on supporting staff.
Training
Training: In early 2026, the LGA and Belong are running a series of training events for elected members, executive and strategic leaders, and lead officers on the ‘Common Ground’ guidance. For further details, please contact [email protected]
Linked work
- Work with government: we continue to work with government to share feedback from councils and the LGA Political Groups on issues around cohesion and community tensions. Please contact your Principal Adviser with any issues and good practice to share.
- LGA resources on asylum and resettlement: the LGA engages with government at the political level and chief executive level through the Asylum and Resettlement Council Senior Engagement Group (ARCSEG) structures, with local government attendees continuing to raise the need for joint approaches to asylum accommodation procurement and for the need for greater cross government join up across all the current asks of councils. Councils can also raise concerns and share practice via Strategic Migration Partnerships.