“Britain is on the whole a well integrated society, but we have been clear that we need to tackle the persistent challenges of integration in some communities across the country,” he said last week.
“The trailblazing projects supported by the fund … will drive forward our work to bring all levels of society together, from business leaders to grassroots charities, to tackle the key causes of poor integration.”
The fund will target key causes of poor integration as set out in the government’s Integrated Communities Strategy green paper.
Sport England is contributing to the fund and will work on projects that promote integration through sport and physical activity.
Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England, said: “We believe sport and physical activity is a powerful way of bringing together people from all backgrounds and strengthening the bonds between them.”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also announced a Cohesion and Integration Network, through which organisations and individuals in local and central government can share ideas, knowledge and experience.