Derby is a city of diverse cultures and communities, who respect each others' beliefs and traditions. It is a safe city, and one where people work together to improve their neighbourhoods and local areas, with a good track record of voluntary action.

The Council and its partners work together to regenerate Derby's communities. In Derby's 17 wards there are Neighbourhood Forums, where residents can come and raise local issues with councillors, and with partner agencies like the police. There is a commitment to working in neighbourhoods – Derby has one of the most successful New Deal for Communities programmes, and is developing other neighbourhood partnerships. The Voluntary and Community Sector are active in Derby and supported by funding from the Council, NHS Derby City  and from the Derby City Partnership . Derby's local Compact between the voluntary and community sector and the statutory sector promotes best practice and is now engaging other agencies.

Information about local community groups, clubs, societies and leisure activities can be found on the Life in Derby Network (LIDnet)  website, which also lets community groups add their information.

Part of the Council's vision for the city is one where people live safely. To help us do this, we work alongside other agencies through Derby Community Safety Partnership , involving the Derbyshire Constabulary , NHS Derby City  and the voluntary sector.

Derby has been twinned with the German city of Osnabruck since 1976 and is one of few cities which has envoys to strengthen these links. Derby also has friendship links with Kapurthala in Punjab, India, Haarlem in the Netherlands and Foncquevilliers in France. The city has also joined Derbyshire County Council and South Derbyshire District Council in a link with Toyota City in Japan and in 2004 Derby signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chanzhi City in China.