Ted Cantle set up the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) and this became the UK’s leading authority on community cohesion and intercultural relations. He has established the iCoCo Foundation to build on this work and to develop policy and practice on interculturalism and community cohesion. He is also now Chair of a new UK National charity established to build the capacity of this sector, see: The Cohesion and Integration Network
In August 2001, Ted Cantle was appointed by the Home Secretary to Chair the Community Cohesion Review Team and to lead the review the causes of the summer disturbances in a number of northern towns and cities. The ground breaking Report –known as ‘the Cantle Report’ – was produced in December 2001 and made around 70 recommendations. The concept of ‘community cohesion’ was subsequently adopted by the UK Government and many of the interventions which it spawned have been used by local communities in this country and around the world. Community cohesion programmes have succeeded in reducing tension in local communities by promoting cross cultural contact, developing support for diversity and promoting unity. Cohesion also continues to tackle inequality and the prejudice and discrimination which underpins it. (Ted’s book Community Cohesion: a New Framework for Race and Diversity) provides a historical background and review of current policy and practice