What is ‘welcome’? A shared language for the sector

We use the term “welcoming” because it is easy to understand and because it emphasises the connections between people, rather than solely services.

Welcoming is an umbrella term which encompasses many other terms in this area, including integration (broadly, the two-way processes of mutual accommodation between newcomers and longer-standing communities) and community cohesion (the ties that bind communities together and trust in institutions). These terms cover slightly different processes of arrival and inclusion, each with their own strengths and limitations.

We use “welcoming” to reflect a starting point that focuses on the links and connections between people and communities — recognising that welcoming happens both through formal, state-facilitated support and through informal, community-led support. Both are valuable, and infrastructure is essential to ensure welcoming is present across the UK.