In 2005, policymakers debated with statisticians and political theorists in an attempt to further define social capital itself, its relevance as a concept and as a policy tool for addressing disadvantage, and its effectiveness in particularising programmes that put race equalities high on the list of expected outcomes. Councillors, network directors and heads of community foundations explain what social capital and civil renewal mean for them in relation to ethnic diversity. Trevor Phillips reflected on the salience of these agenda for the work of the Commission for Racial Equality. Together with introductory papers from Rob Berkeley and Vic McLaren, invited papers by Henry Tam and David Faulkner reappraise the relevance of social capital from a governmental and an independent perspective in the light of the day's proceedings.