Lessons from the West Bowling Youth Initiative: Then, now and the future.

Debates about community cohesion, citizenship and belonging within policy often fail to address the complexities of male Muslim identities and their everyday experiences. This study is an in-depth exploration of the work of one grassroots organisation in West Bowling, Bradford. It highlights:

• the impact made in building social capital, developing active citizenship and encouraging participation in neighbourhood life;
• the need for sustainability and flexibility in effective engagement with young British Muslim Pakistani men;
• the importance of building trusting relationships with local communities;
• the effectiveness of capitalising on local talent and local networks for meeting community needs; and
• the potential of creative arts informed project work.

The summary shows how young British Muslim Pakistani men in Bradford helped tackle social and economic problems and help strengthen the community.