National Social Inclusion Network

Birmingham Declaration

March 2014 Declaration March 2014

We recognise that social inclusion is essential We have therefore agreed to work together. to the future success of this country and all We will continue to pool our collective its citizens, businesses and communities. All knowledge and understanding, developed residents have a right to have access to the through our various social inclusion, poverty opportunities that a modern society brings. and fairness commissions, to share thinking around issues of deep concern and to learn More equal and fairer societies result in better from each other about what we can do to bring wellbeing and improved outcomes for people greater inclusion. and communities, enabling residents to participate fully in civic and economic life. It will require our combined energy, resources By achieving better outcomes, people, families and wisdom to address the fundamental and communities become more resilient and economic and social issues that we face are able to shape their own futures. and to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. However too many residents across the country are still excluded from mainstream This declaration is a symbol of our collective society. There are significant social and commitment to articulate the arguments for material inequalities in all our towns and cities, social inclusion for all of our communities with large gaps in wealth, income, health and across the country. wellbeing. The towns and cities signed up to This is not acceptable. this declaration agree to:

The social inclusion challenge has been • Participate in a national social inclusion made more difficult against a backdrop of network public sector budget cuts and the global economic crisis which has meant that statutory • Share learning and develop joint organisations no longer have the resources campaigning on key issues around social to tackle these issues in the same way that inclusion has been done previously. The task of creating more inclusive cities has moved beyond • Build a strong collective voice to articulate what local or national government can do the arguments for social inclusion for all on their own. our communities across the country

The current economic climate necessitates an • Identify action that can be taken around urgent need to rally resources and expertise issues of shared concern around targeted action that will mitigate further inequality and exclusion. We, the undersigned, declare that we are committed to working together in the National Social Inclusion Network:

Sir Richard Leese, Leader Councillor Simon Letts, Leader Councillor Ron Round, Leader Manchester City Council Councillor Dave Pidduck, Leader Southampton City Council Borough of Barrow in Furness Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Councillor Nick Forbes. Leader Newcastle City Council Councillor Mohammed Pervez, Councillor Sir Albert Bore, Leader Councillor Keith Wakefield, Leader Birmingham City Council Leader Stoke on Trent City Council City Council

Councillor John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Cohesion and Equalities Birmingham City Council

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Community Development Plymouth City Council Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets Peter Soulsby, Tower Hamlets Council City Mayor Leicester City Council

George Ferguson CBE, Mayor of Bristol Bristol City Council

Councillor Julie Dore, Leader Sheffield City Council

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Andy Hull, Liverpool City Council Commission Co-Chair Islington Fairness Commission Islington Council The National Social Inclusion Network and Birmingham Declaration came out of the National Social Inclusion Symposium, funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust and hosted by the Leader of Birmingham City Council and the Bishop of Birmingham, in September 2013.

Giving Hope Changing Lives Birmingham Social Inclusion Process

For more information about the National Social Inclusion Network visit fairnessnetwork.wordpress.com, contact Fairbrum by email to [email protected], or follow @FairBrum #fairplaces on Twitter.