For over a decade, Cohesive Society CIC has quietly yet powerfully transformed the lives of thousands in Northamptonshire and beyond. Founded in 2013, this forward-thinking community interest company has become a model of grassroots action, social innovation, and cultural inclusion. With a mission to promote social integration, support diaspora communities, and empower marginalised groups, Cohesive Society CIC has delivered lasting impact across areas such as education, health, financial advice, skills development, arts and heritage, and mental well-being.
Their story is not just one of projects and partnerships—it’s about people, and the power of community-led change.
Supporting Diaspora Communities Through Tailored Engagement
Cohesive Society CIC is best known for its deeply embedded work with the Bangladeshi, South Asian, and, more recently, Ukrainian diaspora communities in Northamptonshire. Working closely with community leaders, local councils, schools, and faith groups, the organisation has created safe spaces for cultural expression, civic participation, and access to services.
Through direct consultation and one-on-one engagement, it has responded to real community needs: from helping elderly migrants combat isolation, to offering translation services, workshops on benefits and immigration rights, and facilitating dialogue between generations.
Their partnership with groups like the British Bangladeshi Association UK, and organisations such as Stunited.org, exemplifies their collaborative and inclusive approach.
Education, Mentoring, and Youth Empowerment
One of the cornerstones of Cohesive Society CIC’s vision is educational equity. Its youth programs provide mentoring, after-school tutoring, and career guidance, especially for young people from low-income or newly arrived families.
With the support of local mentors and university students, they help young people explore careers, build digital literacy, and overcome language or cultural barriers. Their STEM promotion, literacy projects, and student empowerment workshops have become vital tools for helping youth from BAME and migrant backgrounds integrate successfully into British society.
This includes programmes like:
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MentorConnect: Pairing professionals with young mentees.
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Digital Futures: Teaching coding, data skills, and online safety.
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Homework Clubs: With bilingual support.
Health and Well-being for All
Language, stigma, and a lack of cultural awareness in public health services often exacerbate health inequalities. Cohesive Society CIC has bridged this gap through health awareness campaigns, collaborations with NHS providers, and culturally sensitive outreach.
Their work includes:
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Mental health support groups for Bangladeshi men and women.
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Conferences on autism and learning difficulties in collaboration with Public Health Northamptonshire.
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Walk & Talk sessions, sports clubs, and healthy eating workshops aimed at tackling obesity and inactivity.
Their new project—“Mental Health, Learning Difficulties, and Autism for Bangladeshi Diaspora in Northampton”—is a pioneering model in culturally aware well-being advocacy, which has gained recognition across the East Midlands.
Debt Support and Consumer Advice
Cohesive Society CIC understands that financial stress can significantly affect mental health and family stability. That’s why it provides free, confidential debt and consumer advice, tailored especially for non-English speakers and recent migrants unfamiliar with the UK financial systems.
Key services include:
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Debt counselling and support for navigating loan repayments.
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Workshops on budgeting, saving, and accessing grants.
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Advice on benefit applications, energy bills, and dealing with creditors.
Their impact is amplified through partnerships with local credit unions, legal aid solicitors, and Citizens Advice.
Promoting Arts, Culture, and Heritage
A unique and invaluable part of Cohesive Society’s identity is its commitment to preserving and celebrating heritage, arts, and multicultural expression.
Over the last decade, the organisation has organised:
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Bangladeshi Language and Heritage Days
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Community mural projects featuring multicultural stories
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Traditional music and poetry evenings across Northampton
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Art therapy for refugees and trauma survivors
In 2025, they are launching the groundbreaking visual arts initiative “Empowering Youth and Women Through Visual Arts,” led by renowned artist Abu Jafar. This project—funded by the National Lottery Project Grants—offers sculpting, painting, and mixed-media workshops for women and youth from BAME and mainstream communities in one of Northampton’s most deprived areas.
Through the arts, participants develop new skills and explore their identity, trauma, and resilience.
Bridging Gaps: Social Integration and Community Cohesion
Cohesive Society CIC’s name reflects its mission to build bridges, not walls. Its tireless work in promoting social integration has taken many forms:
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Interfaith dinners and community iftars
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Collaborative events with Ukrainian, Somali, and Polish communities
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Dialogue forums on race, identity, and belonging
Their “Unity in Diversity” community days showcase food, fashion, and stories from around the world, while creating real opportunities for connection and understanding.
One local councillor noted in a recent article in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo:
“Cohesive Society CIC is more than a charity—it’s a heartbeat for our shared future. They bring people together when the world often pulls us apart.”
Awards, Recognition, and Legacy
In 2022, Cohesive Society CIC was shortlisted for the Community Organisation of the Year in Northamptonshire, and its founder, Imran Chowdhury BEM—a war survivor and civic leader—has been recognised nationally for his contribution to community integration and education.
Their projects have been featured in:
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Northampton Chronicle & Echo
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YourWestNorthants.gov.uk News
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Stunited.org’s Community Impact Bulletin
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Local radio interviews and diaspora blogs
Their digital presence on www.cohesivesociety.org has become a key resource hub for community news, events, and downloadable support materials.
The Next Decade: Vision and Commitment
Looking ahead, Cohesive Society CIC plans to expand its youth employment programs, launch a new centre for women’s entrepreneurship, and publish research on diaspora mental health in collaboration with local universities.
Their core philosophy remains rooted in compassion, collaboration, and community voice.
Final Reflections
In a time of rising inequality, social division, and cultural dislocation, Cohesive Society CIC is a beacon of what grassroots resilience, empathy, and inclusive action can achieve. Its model is replicable, its values timeless, and its outcomes are measurable in lives transformed.
As one Ukrainian participant shared at a recent women’s sanctuary gathering:
“This is the first place in England I have felt not like a refugee, but a person.”
That is the power of a cohesive community. And that is the legacy Cohesive Society CIC is building, one story, one project, and one heart at a time.
