By MD Rezaur Rahman, PhD Researcher, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Email: mdrrahman@qmu.ac.uk.
Image supplied by the author.
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Meaningful engagement among people from diverse or unfamiliar backgrounds is crucial for reducing anxieties about the unknown and strengthening mutual trust—key foundations of cohesive societies. This blog summarises findings from Phase One of an ongoing PhD project. In Phase one, three different focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted: one with local service providers, such as Police Scotland, Local authorities, and third sectors; one with White Scottish residents; and a third with residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Three FGDs involved 42 adult participants (23 men, 19 women, with no other gender identities reported) from varied ethnic backgrounds were conducted to explore: (1) their understanding of community, (2) who they considered part of their community and how they perceived relationships with others, (3) barriers and enablers to engagement, and (4) what would help them to connect meaningfully with residents from different backgrounds.
The results from Phase One laid the groundwork for Phase Two, which involved a six-week multicultural cooking workshop with a new participant group to assess the impacts of social mixing activities on promoting connectedness and social cohesion in West Lothian, Scotland. This was followed by Phase Three, which consisted of in-depth interviews with participants from Phase Two to explore the long-term effects of the social mixing activity.
What We Learned About Barriers to Meaningful Interaction
Participants agreed that although West Lothian is generally friendly, interactions often remain superficial. Fear of judgment or rejection—shaped by previous racism, internalised biases, and limited intercultural exposure—discouraged engagement across differences. Cultural misunderstandings, time pressures, childcare, and financial constraints further restricted participation. Experiences of discrimination, misinformation, and divisive politics deepened social distance. Low confidence, social isolation, and reduced face‑to‑face interaction due to social media—especially among youth—were also recurrent themes.
Figure 1: Barriers to meaningful engagement
What Helps People Connect in West Lothian?
Despite the challenges, participants also shared several positive factors that naturally help create connections:
Figure 2: Facilitators of meaningful engagement
Participants from all FDGs agreed that community events, such as lunar year festivals, Diwali celebrations, and Christmas carol events, are vital in fostering community connections. Other activities, like gala days, litter picking, arts and crafts, and music events, offer informal and enjoyable opportunities for people to meet and build relationships. Shared causes—including religious and charitable initiatives—also help strengthen bonds through collective purpose. Additionally, shared spaces and local services—particularly schools, nurseries, and colleges—were highlighted as key environments where cultural understanding and mutual respect originate. Community centres, leisure facilities, sports groups, and local societies further facilitate regular interaction, which is essential for building trust and maintaining engagement across diverse groups.
Activities That Could Strengthen Community Connections
Following the International Organisation for Migration frameworks (IOM, 2021 and 202, participants were presented with multiple potential social mixing activities. They also contributed their own ideas based on lived experience. Participants in all focus groups highlighted the following activities they considered most appropriate for the West Lothian context.
Figure 3: Key activities that can help meaningful engagement in West Lothian
- Cooking sessions (38.5%), viewed as the strongest catalyst for engagement
- Cultural celebrations (30.8%)
- Sports (12.8%),
- Youth‑focused initiatives (7.7%)
- Gardening, films, reading, and economic activities (2.6–7.7%)
Key summary
Phase One identified the barriers and enablers for fostering meaningful engagement and connections in West Lothian. Despite challenges like racism, mistrust, time limitations, and political pressures, there remains a common willingness within communities to forge stronger bonds. In Phase Two, a multicultural cooking event was organised to evaluate its effect on social cohesion and connectivity. The final stage explored personal experiences, focusing on how meaningful interactions across differences can promote enduring social cohesion. Overall, the results indicate that with inclusive and carefully planned initiatives, West Lothian can evolve into a more interconnected and supportive community.
Keywords: Engagement, Meaningful, Social, Cohesion, Activity, Mixing, Communities, Ethnic
For further update- Engagement Hub, Police Scotland
Reference:
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) (2021) The power of “contact”: Designing, facilitating and evaluating social mixing activities to strengthen migrant integration and social cohesion between migrants and local communities – A review of lessons learned. Geneva: International Organization for Migration. Available at: https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/Enabling-Social-Mixing.pdf