Friday June 5th 2026
Event at Glasgow International Arena
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
More than 100 representatives from a selection of community organisations, faith groups, third-sector partners, public services, and statutory agencies gathered at the Glasgow International Arena this week for a major conference focused on strengthening community cohesion across the city.
The event, Building Resilience: Communities, Cohesion and Shared Responsibility, was organised by Glasgow’s Hate Crime Working Group and explored how partners can work together to build trust, respond to misinformation, and support safer, more inclusive communities.
The conference brought together a wide range of organisations, including faith communities, equality and disability groups, education providers, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Police Scotland, the Scottish Government, COSLA, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Health and Social Care Partnership, and community organisations from across Glasgow.
Opening the event, Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, highlighted the importance of protecting community cohesion and supporting those working directly with communities.
She said: “Glasgow is a city enriched by its diversity, not threatened by it.
“Together we reject the hate and fearmongering seeking a foothold in Glasgow.”
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Mona Siddiqui, who spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing social cohesion in an increasingly complex and fast-changing environment.
Throughout the day, speakers from academia, public services, and community organisations shared insights on community resilience, online harms, partnership working, and public safety. Contributions highlighted the importance of strong relationships between organisations and communities in responding to emerging challenges and building long-term resilience.
In the afternoon, participants took part in interactive workshops, sharing experiences, identifying concerns, and exploring practical actions to strengthen trust, confidence, and inclusion across Glasgow’s communities.
Feedback from the workshops will help shape the future priorities of Glasgow’s Hate Crime Working Group and inform ongoing partnership activity across the city.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment from partners to continue working together to tackle prejudice, challenge misinformation, reduce community tensions, and promote inclusion, resilience, and positive relationships.
The event highlighted the value of bringing organisations together to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and develop collective responses to the challenges facing all our communities across Glasgow.
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