The CCRT was set up to identify good practice, key policy issues, and new and innovative thinking in the field of community cohesion. The goal was to obtain the views of local communities representative of multi-ethnic communities, including young people, local authorities, voluntary, and faith organizations, on the issues that need to be addressed in developing confident, active communities and social cohesion. Apart from hearing about what had happened in the past, the team wanted to hear the views of the local residents about what changes they would like to see at a national level. A questionnaire was issued to as many organizations or individuals as possible as an aid to the information and opinion gathering stage of the team’s work. Findings indicated a depth of polarization of towns and cities, characterized by separate educational arrangements, community and voluntary bodies, employment, places of worship, language, and social and cultural networks. Ignorance about each other’s communities can easily grow into fear; especially where this is exploited by extremist groups determined to undermine community harmony and foster divisions. Some agencies were not used to working together or had not even met together previously. There was little evidence of open and honest dialogue but rather a reluctance to confront issues and find solutions. There has been little attempt to develop clear values that focus on what it means to be a citizen of a modern multiracial country. The programs devised to tackle the needs of many disadvantaged and disaffected groups often seemed to institutionalize the problems. A greater knowledge of and contact between the various cultures is needed to make the country a rich and diverse nation. It is essential to establish a greater sense of citizenship based on common principles that are shared and observed by all sections of the community. Recommendations on issues such as political organizations, education, housing, and employment are discussed. 4 appendices