South Gloucestershire Council

Community Engagement Forums (CEF), previously known as Safer and Stronger Community Groups, in South Gloucestershire are about listening and responding to local people’s real issues. People in their communities know best what works for them and what their real needs are.

The aims are:

• to promote pride in the local area as a safe, thriving and pleasant place to live, work and play
• to reduce crime, disorder and drug and alcohol misuse in the area
• to empower local people to have a greater voice and influence over local decision making and service delivery by increasing the strength, capacity and engagement of the local community
• to improve the quality of life of people in the local area by identifying community aspirations, needs and local priorities.

CEFs have been developed through working with various partner agencies including the Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue, health, town and parish councils and local organisations. CEFs are also about working in partnership with elected members; we aim to provide a platform for building strong and cohesive communities in which everyone, regardless of background, has a real sense of community involvement.

Within CEFs we also support groups who wish to make a positive difference and improve their own communities. We do this by supporting community engagement initiatives.

There are 14 CEFs who meet three times per year.

Find out when the next meeting is

Please see the map below or download a higher resolution version and the briefing note which outlines the key changes intended.

In the meantime, please feel free to contact us for any further information.