“Migration, Integration and Neighbourhoods: Where’s the Harm?” 
***Conference Announcement***
 
 
Date: 21-22 November 2014
Venue: Cumberland Lodge, The Great Park, Windsor
 
Delegate Rate: £195  (includes all food and accommodation in unique historic surroundings)
 
Partnership:
In partnership with the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity: www.ethnicity.ac.uk
 
Key speakers (to date):          
Dr Robert Arnott Director (Border & Immigration System, Home Office), Professor Simon Burgess (Economics, University of Bristol), Dr Nissa Finney (Hallsworth Fellow, University of Manchester), Dr Robert Ford (Politics, University of Manchester), Phoebe Griffith (Deputy Director, IPPR), Ruth Grove-White (Policy Director, Migrant Rights Network), Sue Lukes, (director of MigrationWork CIC), Dr Therese O’Toole (Sociology, University of Bristol), Professor James Nazroo (Director, Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity, University of Manchester), Trevor Phillips OBE (founding Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission).
 
Register here:
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/migration
 
Introduction:
Migration will be a key policy issue in the 2015 general election: we are already seeing heated political rhetoric about levels of migration to the UK.  But what do we really know about the effect of migration on local communities?
Migrant populations are often thought to be harmful to social cohesion at the local, neighbourhood level. The widely accepted idea is that neighbourhoods with diverse migrant populations lack a sense of community spirit, leading to increased social isolation. The influential sociologist Robert Putnam described this effect as “pull[ing] in like a turtle” (2007: p.149).
Drawing on the latest research from the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity, this conference challenges the notion that diversity is harmful to neighbourhoods. It offers a practical examination of key indicators of social capital and cohesion, such as: whether there is a correlation between educational attainment and prevalence of English as a second language in schools; voting registration rates; access to social housing; fear of crime; trust; levels of health and well-being.
The conference will:
•     evaluate one of the key policy issues of the next general election 
•     give an analysis of the latest thinking on migration and integration 
•     examine up-close the fissures between different kinds of sociological research, 
•     analyse the competing influences of public discourse and research on policy 
The event will be of interest to academic researchers; researchers from think tanks; parliamentary researchers and members of the civil service; representatives from the voluntary sector; and anyone with an interest in social cohesion, population movement and integration.

Venue
The colloquium will be held at the former royal residence of Cumberland Lodge (www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk) which is located in Windsor Park, Berkshire, SL4 2HP.

About Cumberland Lodge:          
Cumberland Lodge is an educational charity dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of ethical discussion.  This is a not-for-profit event.
 
Contact us:
For more information please visit the website:            www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/migration
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