Nottingham has been host to a series of More in Common Community Dialogues since 2023. Nottingham is now part of the ever-growing More in Common Network, dedicated to Jo Cox’s message of unity. In October, as a partner organisation, NCVS attended one of these events to hear directly from Nottingham's communities about their experiences.
On Thursday 17 October 2024, Davia Mckoy, Billie Ault, and Jules Sebelin from NCVS attended the fourth Nottingham More in Common Community Dialogue at Nottingham Contemporary. Alongside Nottingham City Council, The Renewal Trust, and Communities Inc, NCVS is actively working towards fostering understanding in Nottingham's diverse communities.
Michael Henry from Communities Inc did a fantastic job facilitating the event. The discussions were engaging, with diverse voices including Cllr Shuguftah Quddoos; Yazdan Kargaran, Refugee Forum; Gemma Poole, The Essential Baby Company; and Cllr Saj Mohammed contributing valuable insights to our table. The real-life experiences shared on our table were humbling and proved how resilient and needed our sector is and how often it is taken for granted. It also worked to highlight the challenges we face that have been exacerbated by recent council cuts to funding, not just through grants but through much missed council services that had been set up to support communities and are now no longer available.
We discussed concerns about recent unrest and its impact on community cohesion, highlighting the resilience and importance of our sector despite funding cuts. Speakers such as Beth Hanna, Migration Operations Manager at Nottingham City Council; Cherry Wells, The Renewal Trust; Cllr Sajid Mohammed, Himmah; Richard Pierce, Stand Up To Racism; and MP Nadia Whittome emphasised respect and human dignity. We also heard from Ahmed Peerbhai, Green Academy and Nottingham Council of Mosques, who shared his experience as a Muslim recently converted to activism: to be seen and heard, you have to get out there and be seen and heard.
A key takeaway was the need for more open communication and shared cultural events to bridge gaps. Meena Jeewa from The Jo Cox Foundation summarised the day with these points:
- Humanity: We are all human first
- Nottingham is a loved city
- Services need investment
- Accountability and commitment to actions
- Keep communicating and bringing people together
She goes on to say,
This was a fantastic event with great energy and genuine interest in working together. There is always something special about getting people together in person; it is impactful and helps build warm relationships.
Nottingham is one of a growing More in Common Network; find a group near you and join the Nottingham Together More In Common Partnership to support a more inclusive future for Nottingham. Share this message and get involved!
If you need support, check out our response to the riots, which includes a series of resources aimed to support organisations and individuals during times of unrest.
