This was a co-designed and collaborative workshop bringing the Rumourless Cities (RC) and Inclusive Cities (IC)networks together. IC is a network of 12 UK cities sharing ideas around building strategic working and inclusive narratives which is led by the local authorities. Cardiff was the link city- being a member of both networks and brokered and hosted the collaboration and event.

Political Roundtable

The event started with a political roundtable with cabinet members, council leaders and mayors coming together from over 15 cities. Key messages which came out of this session were:

• -Migration is a win-win factor- it is not just a matter of welcoming immigration but cities need immigration.
• It is essential to recognise the growing issues of economic exclusion and widening inequality and it's impacts not only on migrants but many other people.
• Despite years of hard work, progress has been slow and things have for some got worse. This highlights the structural and national political and economic influences beyond the city level.
• Cities face severe financial constraints
• Use of language and it's links to values is important to recognise. Words such as 'cohesion' and 'inclusion' can be a bit abstract but leadership which talks of 'kindness' or 'sharing' for example can be more meaningful to people
• The staffing of local authorities is still not representative or diverse enough
• There is a need for an integrated approach with other sectors and civil society.

Day two

Day two was structured around peer-peer learning and discussion centred around some key questions:

• DEFINITIONS: What do we mean by inclusive communities? Is it possible to define an inclusive community?
• BENCHMARKS: What would be essential benchmarks for an inclusive city?
• REALITY CHECK: To what extent would you consider your city inclusive and what more needs to be done?
• FUTURE SCENARIO: What does an inclusive approach look like in your city and how do you measure progress?

Peer review sessions were led by the cities of Cardiff, Bristol and Amadora.

Jacqui Broadhead of Inclusive Cities presented the Inclusive Cities Network framework and Vanja Pantic-Oflazoglu from Welcoming International an organisation which has grown out of Welcoming America outlined the U.S. Welcoming Standard Framework.

For a full workshop report click here

This was a co-designed and collaborative workshop bringing the Rumourless Cities (RC) and Inclusive Cities (IC)networks together

Jacqui Broadhead of Inclusive Cities presented the  Inclusive Cities Network framework and Vanja Pantic-Oflazoglu from Welcoming International