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A new Joseph Rowntree Foundation report published today, Community cohesion: the views of white working-class communities, reveals that people from some of Britain’s traditional white neighbourhoods feel let down, unfairly treated and ‘last in line’, but reject extremist solutions and want to build better community relations.

The research was undertaken by Harris Beider, University of Coventry, for the York based social policy research and development charity, and gives a voice to white, working-class people in Aston (Birmingham), Canley (Coventry) and Somers Town (London).

The report discusses white working-class views on community cohesion and the impact of social change, an area of society that the report suggests do not feel that they are listened to by politicians and policy makers.

The research also highlights other challenges, issues and opportunities for residents, policy makers and representatives, which overlap between the three locations. It examined what residents thought of community cohesion; whether the ideas behind community cohesion strategies had been effective; as well as asking how community understanding and involvement could improve. The researchers found that:

• People in traditionally white neighbourhoods feel they don’t get a fair deal and are ‘the last in line’.

• Resources, such as social housing, need to be seen to be allocated fairly to counter widespread perceptions of queue jumping or preferential treatment for certain groups.

• Outside agencies had raised hopes through consultation but that residents had felt let down afterwards.

• The concept of ‘community cohesion’ meant little to those interviewed, with initiatives to ensure equality being associated with ‘political correctness’.

• Residents are proud of their working class identity and the values it stands for – working hard, looking after each other, pride in the community.

The research also recognised that most studies of community cohesion, and interventions, had focused on minority communities meaning there was little focus on the types of neighbourhood.

One resident spoke of no one advocating on behalf of white working-class people, who either had their voice muted, or were left to make sense of neighbourhoods where they had become the visible minority: “We are the forgot-about people. You plonked us here and forgot about us. Dumped in the tribal site.” (Aston resident).

Report author Harris Beider said: “The way that people from working class white backgrounds are portrayed is often negative, which doesn’t reflect the reality of the pride most hold in their community, nor their strong work ethic, and collective values.

“It is important to confound the negative stereotypes and understand that people in these communities feel their voices are not listened to, and that they have no stake in their community. They want to be valued, heard and connected to government.”

The report recommends that:

• Allocation of community resources, such as social housing, needs to be done transparently to allow perceptions of unfairness to be challenged. This can help residents who feel their issues aren’t taken seriously see what is happening in reality.

• Opportunities to build informal connections with other communities, whether through street festivals, or places such as pubs, schools and shops, need to be supported and encouraged, helping shared experiences build better community links.

• Changes need to be driven by communities, using already existing local groups and organisations, rather than imposed.

• Initiatives should not be aimed solely at white working-class people, as this is unlikely to deliver successful results.

JRF Chief Executive, Julia Unwin CBE, said: “We know there are real concerns that many people in traditional white working-class areas are becoming increasingly disconnected with the political system and feel their views, experiences and interests are ignored by policy makers. This research highlights the real potential we have to grasp opportunities to engage with and support many of those who feel let down and ‘last in line’.”