International Partnering

About

Brent is a global, outward-looking borough and is proud of the links our communities hold with places around the world. Our international partnerships reflect the diversity of Brent and the many family, cultural, social and professional connections our residents maintain across borders.

Our twinning ties reflect Brent’s diverse community interests and the enthusiasm of our residents to establish global links. These relationships exist to encourage understanding, learning and people-to-people connection.

Twinning is a proven method of building additional bridges between communities from different countries. It can act as a catalyst for communication links and relationships to develop between people of differing or similar backgrounds and who are geographically distant. Through international partnerships, Brent aims to strengthen dialogue, promote cultural exchange and encourage cooperation between communities.

To take any friendship agreement or twinning forward, there first needs to be clear community drive and support underpinning it, alongside a long-term commitment from a local group of people to deliver it without the resource of the council.

Any such arrangements must:

promote our links to the people of Brent, and enable them to meet people from different cultural groups and societies
promote participation with those groups in activities such as arts, sports and education where possible
support the exchange of knowledge, skills and experience
increase cultural understanding and awareness of partner cities and regions.

There are over 1,500 town twinning arrangements across the UK, reflecting a long-standing tradition of local authorities building international friendships. View map of UK town twinning arrangements.

The council has recently agreed an International Partnering Protocol, which sets out how all international partnerships are assessed, managed and reviewed, and applies to all present and future twinning and friendship agreements.

South Dublin and Brent

Since September 1997 Brent has been twinned with South Dublin County Council. At that time Brent had the largest Irish born population in mainland Britain. South Dublin and the London Borough of Brent therefore agreed to enter into twinning arrangements on the basis of their common geographical, historical, cultural and trading links and to continue to develop links for the mutual benefit of our communities. The objectives were to encourage and assist youth and adult organisations, clubs, companies, groups and organisations in South Dublin and Brent to take part in this twinning agreement.

This relationship is currently dormant. The last mayoral visit from Brent to South Dublin took place in April 2008.

All international partnerships are subject to periodic review under the International Partnering Protocol, and existing agreements will be considered in line with the same criteria as any new arrangements.

Nablus and Brent

Following a full Council decision in November 2024 and again in May 2025, Brent has followed both Sheffield City Council and Dundee City Council in also pursuing a twinning arrangement with Nablus in Palestine.

The agreement was officially signed on the 10 January 2026 with a formal review period of five years and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Brent Council.

A Community Interest Company (CIC) has been established by a group of local residents to deliver projects set out in a plan submitted to the council. All activities connected to the twinning will be undertaken by this group.

Nablus has established international links with a wide range of cities, including Dublin (Ireland), Lille (France), Nazareth (Israel), Como and the Metropolitan City of Florence (Italy), Naples (Italy), Poznań (Poland), Rabat (Morocco), Stavanger (Norway), Khasavyurt (Russia), Dundee (United Kingdom), Sheffield (United Kingdom) and Boulder, Colorado (United States).

The 2021 Census shows Brent has the second-highest Arab population in England and Wales. For many residents, the Middle East forms part of their family history and cultural identity, and international connections reflect this lived experience.

Like Brent, Nablus has a long and rich history of culture, diversity and dynamism, ranging from historical architecture, a lively economy to a youthful population. A growing number of Brent based community and charitable organisations have developed productive relations with Palestinian organisations and diaspora, further strengthening bonds to the city of Nablus.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions about Brent’s international partnerships.

How will the council assess future international partnering links?

Before Brent Council can formalise a twinning or friendship agreement, interested parties should independently establish connections with groups, businesses, or academic institutions, showing evidence of these relationships evolving over time and being driven by the communities themselves.

Opportunities for International Partnering must be sponsored by a councillor, with the backing of the local community.

We will require measured assessment to determine value for the Council and other stakeholders. Using objective criteria set out in our International Partnering Protocol, each new opportunity and each current relationship will be evaluated against a range of tourism, cultural, historical connections, educational, and operational factors before providing recommendations to Council on the merit of any new opportunity.

What form would any future international twinning links take?

When considering new requests, the Council will form a view at the outset as to what form of arrangement it wishes to enter into. The approach outlined in the International Partnering Protocol is for a two-tiered system, whereby initial requests would usually lead to a Friendship Agreement, with the potential that, if the Agreement is continually renewed over a certain period of time and there is clear, sustained and community-driven support for maintaining such links, this could progress to a Twinning Agreement.

Any proposal must be supported by demonstrable evidence of community backing, rather than informal or assumed support. This may include petitions, letters of support, evidence of sustained engagement activity, or other verifiable forms of resident endorsement. Where relevant, proposals should also set out how differing views within the community have been considered and how potential impacts on community cohesion will be managed.

To initiate the international agreement process, a meeting of Full Council must hear a motion sponsored by a councillor in support for this. If the Motion is passed, the group will be asked to complete an assessment template.

The Chief Executive will review the assessment with the outcome reported to Full Council for decision, if required. The report will include a recommendation of whether the Council should enter into an Agreement (and if so the nature and proposed terms of the agreement), and its review date. It should also include a completed Equalities Assessment form.

What is Brent council’s role in the activities of any international twinning arrangements?

Brent Council does not run partnership activity directly. International links are community-led and self-sustaining, supported by local groups, charities and volunteers.

All partnerships must be non-political, non-sectarian and inclusive, and are expected to reflect Brent’s diversity.

How will arrangements be regularly reviewed?

All arrangements will be reviewed at the end of their agreed time period and on an ongoing basis. If there is no longer any benefit to the Council or to Brent at large, the review will consider whether to seek to revive, extend or end the arrangement.

Reviews will be on a case-by-case basis using the same criteria as for an original assessment, including assessing historical benefits derived from the association and considering potential opportunities if the relationship were to be continued or reinvigorated.

This is outlined in the International Partnering Protocol.

What is the cost to Brent Council?

International Partnering Arrangements fall under the remit of the Mayor of Brent, but costs related to International Partnering Arrangements must be met by the organisation leading on this.

This includes costs for entertaining and, gift swaps or costs for printing certificates, for example. There should be no additional financial cost for the Mayor’s Office, or other parts of the council.

Has Brent Council conducted an equalities impact assessment into the twinning links with Nablus?

An Equality Impact Assessment has set out how Twinning with Nablus poses both positive and negative implications around race and religion. However, the Nablus Assessment outlines the range of synergies, benefits and opportunities related to Twinning with Nablus. The potential challenges will be monitored through our existing mechanisms (e.g. complaints and community safety channels).

People across the globe have been both directly and indirectly impacted by the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The conflict has been linked with rises in hate crime within the UK, both Antisemitic and Islamophobic. Brent Council will engage with residents and activity associated with the Twinning in accordance with our enduring public sector equality duty.

The Equality Impact Assessment and Memorandum of Understanding will be published.

How can I get involved with the Brent and Nablus twinning?

The Brent-Nablus Twinning organisation is responsible for planning activities. More information can be found on a website maintained by their organisation: https://brent-nablus.co.uk/

Last updated 12/01/26