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How you will benefit:
This research will enable the Refugee Council and Oxfam to better respond to anti-terrorism measures and to advocate for policies and practices that take your views and experiences into account.

We will seek your feedback on our findings before we produce a report to make your views public (in an anonymous, summary form) and to inform policymakers of your experiences. This is an opportunity for you to voice your opinions and to get your views heard in the national debate on anti-terrorism.

To find out more, please contact:
Dr Anja Rudiger, Research Manager, Refugee Council, 020 7346 6783, anja.rudiger@refugeecouncil.org.uk

Anti-racist organisations campaign for 'race committee' and Black representation on the CEHR

Black organisations including The 1990 Trust, Operation Black Vote (OBV), Black Londoners Forum (BLF) and the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR) working alongside faith groups, have stepped up their campaigning against government plans for the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) after the Equalities Act went through parliament on 16th February. The Act will create the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) which will be established in 2007. In 2009 the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) will cease to exist.

According to the campaigners the CEHR lacks guaranteed BME representation, adequate resources and a statutory race committee, all of which are required to make it an effective body for delivering race equality. The 1990 Trust, NAAR and OBV ask all Black and Minority Ethnic organisations to adopt a motion resolving to make race equality a reality and support the campaign to realise an effective delivery of race equality within the CEHR, by protecting advisory race committees, guaranteed BME representation and ring fenced funding. The motion also states that in order to deliver to BME communities the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) must be retained and reformed. The motion and letter is available from the website of The 1990 Trust, www.blink.org.uk

The campaigners state that they “believe this to be a defining moment in our history. Our parents’ generation campaigned to establish the 1976 Race Relations Act, and the establishment of a statutory Commission. The brutal murder of Stephen Lawrence and many more, before and after him, as well as the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, established the need for the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. These actions hoped to ensure that future generations did not face the gross racism faced by our parents. This was a great legacy. However, the Government proposals will, we believe, have a hugely damaging effect on that legacy. It is our contention that the decision we take now will have an overarching and lasting effect on our communities over the next fifty years.”

Prior to the passing of the bill, on 6th February, the Race Crisis Summit took place which was called by BME organisations to formulate a response to the CEHR. It was attended by over sixty BME organisations. At that meeting organisations all but unanimously, with one abstention, agreed that until the Government agreed to facilitate the establishment of a statutory race committee and the other demands listed below BME organisations would not engage with the CEHR. Furthermore, the decision to abolish the CRE was seen as catastrophic in relation to efforts to reduce racism and improve long-term race relations in the UK. It was therefore agreed that a national campaign would be launched calling for: 1) A statutory Race Committee; 2) Guaranteed BME representation on the full CEHR Commission; 3) Ring-fenced funding for race work; and 4) The retention and reform of the CRE.

Prior to drafting the above mentioned motion, a delegation met up with the Government on the 14^th February. The Government’s response was that a voluntary race committee could be set up, if agreed by the new CEHR Commissioners. The Government refused to consider the establishment of a statutory race committee facilitated by an amendment to the current CEHR Bill. Those in attendance responded by stating that this was entirely unacceptable.

Contrary to many BME organisations, the CRE has always supported the principle of a single equality body. In a statement on the 16^th February the CRE welcomed the act. “The setting and entrenching of basic human rights has been long overdue and the Equalities Act provides for a statutory body to address human rights, and equality and discrimination issues for sexuality, religion or belief and age in addition to the current coverage of race, gender and disability.

Maxine Ayton, CRE chief operating officer, said: “The Equality Act receiving Royal Assent is an important step towards making inequality a distant memory. But there is a long way to go. That is why we are proposing that the Government should help to set up a new independent body to deal with community relations issues and complement the work of the CEHR.” The CRE has published plans for this new body which should lead on community relations, extremism, migration and citizenship issues. For more information please visit www.cre.gov.uk

Summary of the funding guidance from HM Treasury

Guidance to Funders

The cross cutting review of the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Service Delivery recommended that Treasury publish Guidance to Funders, to clarify what is and is not permitted under Government Accounting as it applies to the voluntary and community sector (VCS).

The cross cutting review found that often there is a lack of consistency in the interpretation of Government Accounting Rules, and a widespread perception that so-called “Treasury rules” are inflexible.

The Government realises that getting the funding relationship right is increasingly important if the financial stability of service delivery organisations is to be assured, and if government can look confidently to the voluntary and community sector to deliver services.

For More Information please look at the following website:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/spend_ccr/spend_ccr_guidance.cfm

MEASURING SUCCESS -
The impact of new success measures on adult learners

Thursday 13 July 2006
Novotel Hotel
50 Arundel Gate
Sheffield S1 2PR

The Success for All strategy has now established eight new Measures of Success that will be applied across the Learning and Skills Sector in the coming years. Most of these measures are at an early stage of development, but nearly all will have some impact on adult learners and the process of implementing some of them across the sector is already under way. More recently the White Paper on Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances sets out proposals for a new Framework for Excellence within which these measures will be embedded.

At the conference, participants will have the opportunity to hear about some of the practical work being undertaken to implement the RARPA approach (Recognising And Recording Progress and Achievement in non-accredited learning), and to develop practical applications of these New Measures. As the measures will affect all learners on all LSC-funded provision in the near future, the conference will be relevant a wide range of people working in all parts of the Learning and Skills sector.

In organising this conference, NIACE wishes to:

· Ensure that people working across the sector are aware of these measures and the potential impact they may have on provision for adult learners
· Help people understand the implications of the measures within the new Framework for Excellence following the FE White Paper
· Ensure that the latest developments in RARPA and its extension to 'accredited' provision are known before all providers begin the implementation of this measure in September 2006
· Ensure that people have a chance to contribute to the development of other measures like the adult distance travelled measure and the learner destination and learner satisfaction measures.

Keynote speakers include:

Paul Martinez, Group Manager - New Measures for Success, LSC

Mike Davis, Adult Learning Inspectorate

Karan Green, Chief Executive, National Open College Network

If you would like to reserve a place Online visit: http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/measuringsuccess.htm

Enquiries to: Gurjit Kaur on Tel: 0116 2042833

Email: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

Comprehensive Spending Review - Update for ACD strategic partners

As you will be aware the cabinet office and HM Treasury have launched a review into the future of the third sector. The work will form an element of the comprehensive spending review 2007.

We are working closely with Treasury on the review and are keen that our strategic partners are as fully involved as they wish to be. Treasury have already met with a group of stakeholders to gain informal steers on developing the review and in particular the consultation phase and our thanks go to those who have been involved.

Attached is a list of the regional consultation events which are being put together, co-ordinated directly by Treasury. There will also be a series of sub-regional events which a number of organisations are already seeking to support and get their members involved in. As well as events the Treasury intend to put together an interactive website which will enable organisations and individuals to respond to key questions and feed into the review.

Please feel free to contact me for further information on the review. Please particularly let me know if you would like to be on the informal list of stakeholders who Treasury are liaising with about the consultation.

Isabel Sutcliffe
Active Communities Directorate
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
LONDON
SW1P 4DF

Tel: 0207 0350438

For More information please lokk at these documents:

CSR Briefing Document
CSR regional Events

Seminar: Discrimination advice and the Commission for Equality and Human Rights: how can we make sure people have access to advice and justice?

We are delighted to invite you to the above seminar which we are running in partnership with adviceuk, Citizens Advice Scotland, England and Wales and the Department for Communities and Local Government. A series of three seminars will be held in Wales, England and Scotland during June.

This is an opportunity for independent advice agencies, equality organisations and the CEHR team at the newly formed Department for Communities and Local Government, to explore how we might work together.

Inequality and discrimination have a serious - sometimes devastating - effect on people's lives, and are harmful for the economy and our sense of community. With the expansion of equality legislation, the establishment of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) and the increase in advice deserts, it is essential that people facing unfair treatment and discrimination can access high quality advice.

The locations and dates of the seminars are as follows:

Wales – 19 June, St David’s Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1USunities and Local Government.

England – 23 June, NCVO Conference Suite, Regents Wharf, All Saints St, London N1 9RL

Scotland – 26 June, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George St, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ

A flyer/booking form are attached. Please send the booking form to Nick Hirst at nick.hirst@citizensadvice.org.uk and he will confirm your place in due course. Places are very limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes,

Eira Kedward, Information and Administrative Officer

Equality and Diversity Forum
c/o Third Age Employment Network (TAEN)
207-221 Pentonville Road
London N1 9UZ
Tel: 020-7843 1597
Fax: 020-7843 1599
email: info@edf.org.uk
website: www.edf.org.uk

NCVO News

A Great Place to Work

NCVO is one of the top 50 great places to work in the UK. The list was published in the Financial Times yesterday. Organisations are selected primarily on what their employees say about issues such as the organisation's culture and how well they deal with diversity, fairness and respect.

For more visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk or www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.

Government Reshuffle and Policy Update

May's Public Policy Update includes details of how the government reshuffle affects voluntary and community organisations.

For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ppud.

New Policy Forum

We have launched a new service for policy officers or those who have responsibility for policy work in voluntary and community organisations. The forum will enable people to improve policy skills, network and share ideas. Membership is free for NCVO members.

For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policyforum.

Should the Compact Have a Kitemark?

Ian Mackenzie Consultants are carrying out research for the Compact Working Group on practical options and your input is crucial. Share your ideas, thoughts and any concerns about an accreditation scheme for the Compact and links with Local Compacts so any scheme works for you.

For more visit www.thecompact.org.uk.

NCVO Secures Historic Amendment to National Lottery

We have secured an important commitment following our campaign to amend the National Lottery Bill. The Government have agreed to table an amendment that means lottery distributors will have to report on how their funding to the voluntary sector is free from political interference and distinct from government expenditure.

For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/lotterycampaign.

New Discounted Deal on Video Magnifiers

NCVO members can save 18% on a range of video magnifiers for employees or beneficiaries with low vision who need help reading text. Choose from small, portable, full-colour magnifiers, to larger desktop monitors that can be linked to a computer.

For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/hardware.

(Up to contents)

NCVO Events

2006 PR Conference

12 July
Leeds University
NCVO's Annual PR Conference will be a full day event with plenary, speeches and practical workshop sessions for PR professionals, working in the voluntary sector in England. For further information on the Conference email Cynthia.Akinsanya@ncvo-vol.org.uk.

Publications From NCVO

Save 30% on all our Publications

As an NCVO member you get an exclusive 30% off all our publications and books.

For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications.

A Guide to Procurement for Voluntary and Community Organisations

Developing public services is increasingly becoming one of the options through which voluntary and community organisations can serve the needs of their beneficiaries. The Sustainable Funding Project and Futurebuilders England have produced this guide to help organisations navigate the complex realm of rules, procedures, and practices that constitute the public sector procurement process.

Price £15 (£10.50 NCVO members)

To order copies of this or any other NCVO publication call the NCVO HelpDesk on 0800 2 798 798 or visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications

IPSWICH & SUFFOLK INDIAN ASSOCIATION
in partnership with IP-ART Festival
present the 4th Annual Indian Summer Mela

Sunday 9th July 12 Noon - 6PM

Open AIr Venue:
Christchuch Mansion Lawn,
Christchurch Park,
Ipswich IP4 2BE

Free Admission

For more information vist the following link:

4th Annual Indian Summer Mela

Gypsy Arts Festival

Saturday 15th July
Musem of East Anglian Life - Stowmarket - Suffolk

Night Time
Gypsy World Music Concert
Tickets £10 (12 and under are free with adult supervision)

Daytime
Activities and Events- From 10am

Tickets £6.50 Adult £3.50 Child

Ticket on gate or from Tourist Information Centre, Stowmarket on 01449 676800

For more information

Gypsy arts festival and
www.gypsyartsfestival.co.uk

Running the Gauntlet 2006

Running the gauntlet 2006, the East of England Development Agency's exciting competition exclusively for entrepreneurs in the East of England has launched. It is an investment competition with a comprehensive learning programme attached. There is up to £1 million of investment funding on offer from CREATE and a wealth of learning opportunities for all, aimed at better equipping the region’s entrepreneurs for the challenges of growing a business.

Running the gauntlet is based around The Gauntlet, an online tool that acts like a virtual investor asking the questions an investor would typically ask but providing useful feedback. Access to The Gauntlet normally costs £299 but running the gauntlet entrants can access it free of charge. It features useful content and generates a confidential report card identifying your company's strengths and weaknesses.

As well as CREATE's investment funding, £250k worth of in-kind services from sponsors is available at different stages in the competition via a combination of first come first served masterclasses, one-to-one clinics and services to finalist/winning companies. And early birds registering before 4 June could win a place on the prestigious Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL) summer school worth £1000. All in all, a compelling package of benefits for everyone, irrespective of a company's ability to attract investment funding.

To register go to www.runningthegauntlet.com

Investment and Independance: Joining up Infrastructure - ChangeUp Programme

This event is to celebrate ChangeUp in the Eastern Region, sharing achievements and outcomes of projects funded through the programme. There will be an update from Capacitybuilders agency and an East Midlands perspective on ChangeUp in their region. There will be an opportunity to network with other VCS organisations and statutory sector representatives and an afternoon panel. Discussion will enable delegates to raise questions or issues with representatives from GO-East, Big Lottery, National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service and East of England Development Agency.
For More Information please download the PDF Investment and Independance

EJ News (Exiled Journalist News)

http://www.exiledjournalists.net/

EJNews provides news, comment and analysis on the right to refuge and press freedom around the world. It is written by journalists who have been forced to seek exile after facing persecution in their home countries simply for doing their job. The Pdf version of the newsletter can be dowloaded from:EJNews, Issue Two, May 2006

Please email your comments to Forward at ejn@mediawise.org.uk or 0117 941 5890

1. New editor for EJNews

Amadu Khan has been appointed editor of EJNews. A refugee from Sierra Leone, Amadu is a human rights journalist, poet and community development expert.

2. A victory for EJN - of sorts

When The People published an article (‘Insult to our heroes’, Feb 26) that described a migrant in Calais as ‘asylum seeker’, a ‘bogus asylum seeker’, an ‘illegal immigrant’, a ‘refugee’ – and labelled him a ‘vile toerag’ for good measure – EJN complained to the Press Complaints
Commission.

3. Mansoor steps up asylum campaign

The two year long campaign to stop the deportation of EJN member Mansoor Hassan is reaching a crucial legal stage. Supported by Tony Lloyd MP and Jeremy Dear of the National Union of Journalists, Mansoor is making a fresh application for asylum and human rights protection to the Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

4. Xenophobia rules

The media has, quote properly, devoted extensive coverage to the fact that the Home Office has let hundreds of criminals who should have been deported at the end of their sentences stay in Britain.

5. Anti-deportation protesters cleared

Three protesters who participated in a peaceful dawn protest at the Glasgow office of the Immigration Service have been cleared of charges of breach of the peace.

6. Journalists need help to deal with trauma

There is a pressing need for trauma therapy centres to treat journalists working in trouble-spots around the world, according to delegates at a London meeting about post traumatic stress disorder in the media last month.

7. EJN joins calls to defend free expression
The EJN will join activists and groups around the world that defend freedom of expression at an international conference in Edinburgh. The event, organised by the International Press Institute (IPI) to mark its 55th General Assembly will take place on May 27-30.

8. ’Londons media under scrutiny

Refugee organisations working in London met in the city on April 6 to discuss coverage of refugees and asylumseekers by London-based media.

9. NUJ commits itself to supporting EJN

Tim Lezard, outgoing President of the National Union of Journalists, has sent a strong message of support to the EJN.

10. Gearing up for International Refugee Day

International Refugee Day will take place on June 20 this year, and many organisations are already starting to organise activities.

11. Research reveals extent of racism in media

Two pieces of research commissioned by the Commission for Racial Equality conclude that racism is rife in the UK media.
A Mori poll asking people from ethnic minorities about careers in the print media found that 21 per cent believe there is racism in the profession.

12. Press review - Report rubbishes sex for visas expose

When The Sun exposed what it called a ‘sex for visas’ scam at the immigration office in Croydon, the Government quickly launched an investigation.

13. Press review - Illegal asylum-seekers return!

The tired, old and utterly meaningless phrase ‘illegal asylum-seeker’ has made an unwelcome return to our newspapers. The Stoke Sentinel (‘Baths, lies, strikes and Mr Prescott’, April 3), the Glasgow Herald (‘Dawn-raids row brings changes to asylum system’, March 27) and – somewhat surprisingly – The Guardian (‘In the hysteria over illegal asylum seekers, refugees like my Nepalese friend Tham are being let down by the system’, March 24) all used the phrase in recent weeks.

14.Press freedom roundup

World Press Freedom Day was marked by journalists across the globe on May 3. But just two days before, Uthyan, the largest Tamil-language daily newspaper in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, was attacked by gunmen who killed two media workers. Five armed men entered the paper’s main office and opened fire on editorial staff, killing two staffers and wounding two more.

15. Feature - Asylum: the truth and the lies

MediaWise Director MIKE JEMPSON reveals how the parts of the media distorted a major global report on asylum-seekers and refugees.
There are fewer refugees in the world today than at anytime in the last 25 years, and the number is still falling. That was the positive message of the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonia Guterres, as he launched his new global report in London on April 19.

16. ’Feature - How I started Irelands most popular multicultural newspaper

Abel Ugba is the founding editor of Ireland’s most popular multicultural newspaper, Metro Eireann. As the paper celebrates its six anniversary, he describes how he set it up.

Forward Maisokwadzo
EJN Co-ordinator & RAM Project
Communications Officer
38 Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Bristol,BS5 OHE, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 117 941 5890
Fax: +44 (0) 117 941 5848

ejn@mediawise.org.uk
www.exiledjournalists.net
www.ramproject.org.uk

Adult Education and Mental Health:

Supporting social inclusion through adult learning

Monday 26 June 2006
East Midland Conference Centre
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RJ

Adult education can play a crucial role in promoting social inclusion for people who experience mental health difficulties.

This second annual conference celebrates the work of the NIACE, NIMHE & LSC Partnership Project in supporting social inclusion by promoting access to learning for people with mental health difficulties. It will be an opportunity to hear how the LSC intend to implement the 'proposals to improve services for people with mental health difficulties', to find out about individual projects and work being developed by the Regional Networks and to have your say in how we continue to take forward this important area of work.

The conference will also launch a new CD Rom and publication of Learners' Voices. Delegates at the conference will receive a free copy of the CD Rom and publication.

This conference will be of interest to practitioners, managers and learners/service managers who want to:

· Find out about the current policy developments driving this agenda;
· Hear about some of the positive practice in supporting adults with mental health difficulties to access learning; and
· Discuss how we can take this agenda forward.

For further information on Conference Ref C12-89 visit the NIACE website http://www.niace.org.uk/Conferences/MentalHealth06.htm

Or contact Gurjit Kaur on Tel: 0116 2042833

Email: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

The ICT Hub HelpDesk

The ICT Hub are pleased to announce that their new HelpDesk is now live. The ICT Hub HelpDesk enables access to free information, advice and guidance on strategic ICT issues. The HelpDesk can tell you more about the ICT Hub including events, how to obtain our free resources and we can signpost to local suppliers when technical support is required. To call the HelpDesk, use our free phone number, 0800 652 4737 or email helpdesk@icthub.org.uk

Your telephony needs:

The ICT hub are keen to find out what sort of support they could offer voluntary and community organisations in England with their telephone systems and facilities and have asked the Telephone Helplines Association (THA) to find out about the needs of the sector. THA have put together a short survey which can be completed and submitted by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=535822014858 The survey will be available until early June. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the survey by email, please contact Mark McLean at THA on 0151 641 9746 or mark.mclean@helplines.org.uk

Case studies needed:

Summit Collaborative are sourcing organisations to volunteer to be case studies of ICT planning, implementation and use. This will require just a 15-30 minute phone interview. The case studies will be used in the How to Cost and Fund publication they are writing for the ICT Hub. If you are interested in taking part and having your organisation feature in this publication, please fill out the form at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=694432012678

Events:

For information about current events, see our interim website http://www.ictconsortium.org.uk/events.htm

Louise Brown
Administration and Outcomes Officer
020 7520 2509
www.icthub.org.uk

ICT Hub, NCVO, Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL

The ICT Hub is a consortium of voluntary sector organisations who have come together to plan and deliver a co-ordinated framework of ICT guidance, good practice, advice and support for voluntary and community organisations, accessible at a local level.

For further information about the ICT Hub, please visit our website at www.icthub.org.uk to read about free events in your area, news and resources. Alternatively, please ring our HelpDesk on 0800 652 4737

BME Businesses: Get involved

MENTER is exploring a Regional BME business network. Please e-mail your details to office@menter.org.uk with BME business network in the subject line, if you are interested. Below is information about two existing local networks.

Minority Business Sector (Peterborough)

The Minority Business Sector is run by the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce. It was launched in March 2005 and is sponsored by Business Link. The sector aims to work with BME businesses in the Cambridgeshire area and provide a forum to deal with business issues, lobby on behalf of members and organise events specific to the sector. It will become a conduit of information for all BME businesses and will offer help and support to ensure they succeed in the mainstream.

The Steering Committee, chaired by Ravi Pathak of PowerWeb, meets regularly to discuss and take forward issues relevant to BME Businesses in the Cambridgeshire area and plan events.

The next event is entitled Finance for Business and takes place on 23rd March 2006. This seminar will highlight alternative ways in which you can raise finance for your business. Presentations will be given by Thinc Destini - a raising finance generalist and Alun Williams, Islamic Bank. Pep Serrano of Business Link for Cambridgeshire will give an insight into what grants and assistance is on offer through Business Link.

For information on how to join please visit www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk or contact Alistair Turner or Helen Bosett on 01733 393333.

Queens Park, Bedford Business Networking

The Queens Park Business Networking Club, which is mainly aimed at BME businesses, held its inaugural meeting on 13th December 2005 at the community centre. The meeting was attended by over 30 people. Local BME businessmen and others, such as the chair of Queens Park Mosque, Asif Nadim, were excited about the potential of the network and have taken it upon themselves to spread the word.

Most importantly business was done at the meeting. A human resource consultant was offered work, a Shefford business specialising in the care of dark skins was offered shelf space by the local Chemist and several found a source of help with the English language.

The next event will be held on 14^th March when speaker Iain Berry of Emergency Planning will give a presentation entitled 'Survival is Not Compulsory'. This event is hosted by Bedfordshire and Luton Resilience Forum

For more information please visit www.businessclubs.biz/queenspark.asp or contact Pam Woods on pam@businessclubs.biz

Review of ethnicity in the East of England

The MENTER review of ethnicity in the East of England has now been published. The review, which uses census data, focuses largely on health and housing but also covers older people, experiences and fear of crime and pattern of employment and economic activity.

The research looks at the health of BME groups in terms of disproportionate rates of mental ill-health, long-term illness and poor health and life expectancy amongst BME groups. It also looks at tenure and links between housing, racial incidences and other issues such as overcrowding.

The report includes a useful route map that has links to websites and existing reports and data on ethnicity. The route map is a live document. The intention is that the user adds new reports or useful links to the route map as they become known.

Both the research and the route map are available to download

Final Research Report

Route Map

BME Arts survey

MENTER, in partnership with the Arts Council England East, has taken on a new research project to identify and examine a range of issues relating to participation in arts and cultural activity by BME communities in the Eastern region. One important aspect of the work is to undertake a ‘mapping’ exercise to enable the project to identify where gaps in provision exist and to make recommendations on tackling the issues identified. For this purpose two questionnaires have been distributed. The results of these are currently analysed.

If you would like further information on the research project, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Results published of survey of BME groups

The results of a survey of Black and minority ethnic (BME) voluntary groups in the East of England have recently been published. The research was carried out on behalf of MENTER by BMG Research in 2004. 397 organisations were initially mailed the questionnaire and in all, 90 organisations responded, which represents a response rate of 23%.

The overall picture of the sector is one of many small organisations operating with few staff, with a bias towards unpaid voluntary staff (44% have no paid staff). These organisations provide a variety of services from health to community development and advice on race discrimination/ harassment. Three-quarters of respondent organisations are membership organisations. Most organisations have a predominant BME group among their trustees – only 11% have no majority group. In addition to services provided, staffing and trustees, the 12 page report can be also covers funding, organisational status, sector support and planning for the future.

To download the report, click here

Along with the survey MENTER also commissioned a series of in depth interviews across the East of England. Six BME target groups were identified: young people aged 16-24, women, Travellers, refugees, people from newer communities and those living in rural areas. This report is available here.

International Development: You are probably already actively involved

Connections for Development is a UK, BME led, membership-based organisation committed to ensuring that the many Black & minority ethnic communities that are here in the UK are involved in shaping and delivering policy and projects that affect our world.Others refer to this as international development, but for us, the people and communities in the UK who reflect all of that developing world, it is simply ‘our world’.

CfD does not undertake international development or overseas projects. Our role is to help BME civil society in the UK become actively involved in delivering, funding and determining the work that makes a difference to our world. BME people must be confident that we work for them, they work for our world. We are:

establishing a network of like minded people and organisations
undertaking research within, and with, BME communities informing our membership about all aspects of development
ensuring that BME participation is guaranteed in all policy making
supporting our membership, helping them to be strong enough for the task
connecting our communities to our world.

CfD feels that many in our communities do not understand that they are already actively involved in international development. Some examples are religious establishments that collect thousands for a particular issue, such as the London Black Church building a school in Montserrat, groups contributing to home, such as the Manchester Somali group that collected £25,000 and built a school back home, the women funding a midwife in a war zone and the millions of pounds people send home; remittances that for many countries drive the economy.

Everyone knows about the terrible disaster caused by the Asian Tsunami, but we know that this follows floods in Bangladesh, hurricanes in the Caribbean and other crises during the last 12 months. Remember this is also the year in which the British Government acknowledged that Africa is poorer today than it was 25 years ago. For CfD the issue is, how does UK BME society express its perspective, how can we be involved in rebuilding our countries of origin, and how can we ensure that the British Government hears and has the opportunity to act upon our views and knowledge. CfD hopes that it can help people to be involved, to deliver projects and affect policy.

As part of that, with our partner MENTER, we shall soon be arranging a Conference in Cambridge, please come along, it is your world and your voice needs to be heard.

Jim Baker
Director Connections for Development

If you would like to receive an information leaflet about the CfD’s Network, a membership application form and/or their publication entitled The Rough Guide to a Better World, please contact CfD on:

E-mail: info@cfdnetwork.co.uk
Tel.: 020 537 7369
Website: www.cfdnetwork.co.uk

Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites
An article by the East Anglian Gypsy Council

We at the East Anglian Gypsy Council have been campaigning for recognition of the accommodation needs of the Gypsy/Traveller Community for the past thirty years now, with successive Governments seeing the lifestyle as a law and order issue rather than one of accommodation, until now that is.

Last December (2004) the ODPM published a Consultation Document entitled ‘Planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites’, The content of which is a new circular to replace DoE Circular 1/94 “Gypsy Sites and Planning”. The new circular is the result of the Governments commitment to review circular 1/94 made during the passage of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

DoE circular 1/94 provides advice on the procedures to be followed in ensuring that the planning system recognises, protects and facilitates the traditional lifestyle of Gypsies and Travellers by identifying and making provision in development plans for their land and accommodation requirements.

The new circular updates and supersedes this advice in the light of the new act and puts into place advice on what procedures now need to be followed.

The main changes compared to circular 1/94 are:

A change in the definition of Gypsy (paragraph 13 ’People of nomadic habit regardless of race or religion’). The new definition recognises that Gypsies may stop travelling, either permanently or temporarily for health or educational reasons or because of caring responsibilities.

In the new Circular “Gypsies and Travellers” are defined as meaning

“A person or persons who have a traditional cultural preference for living in caravans and who either pursue a nomadic habit of life or have pursued such a habit and have ceased travelling, whether permanently or temporarily, because of the education needs of their dependant children, or ill health, old age, or caring responsibilities (whether of themselves, their dependants living with them , or the widows and widowers of such dependants), but does not include members of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people, travelling together as such”.

A requirement that local authorities identify suitable sites for Gypsies and Travellers in their development plans and documents. Only exceptionally will it be acceptable to meet needs by criteria for the identification of sites without identifying any specific sites.
Improved guidance on drafting the criteria in development plans against which applications for sites not allocated in the plan will be judged. Circular 1/94 said that criteria should be clear and realistic. The new guidance strengthens this advice saying that they should be fair, reasonable, realistic and effective in delivering sites. This should result in positive criteria offering greater certainty to applicants and local residents
An explanation of how local housing assessments will assist local authorities to quantify the level of need and how the new planning system and the involvement of Regional Planning boards will help to translate that need into allocations in the planning process.
A section on the Local Authorities responsibilities under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
The inclusion of advice on how Local Authorities should seek to engage with Gypsies and Traveller and build trust.The inclusion of advice to Gypsies and Travellers, and their Representatives, as to how they should engage with the planning system

The full document can be obtained by contacting the following webpage: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_planning/documents/page/odpm_plan_03359 8.pdf. Respondents have until the 18th March to respond.

Here are some of our thoughts on the paper.

The document is encouraging and well balanced and the advice is more likely to produce sites than hitherto with a complete turnaround in government policy towards Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

Indeed the statement in paragraph 1 of the circular represents a commitment that will protect the lifestyle of the Gypsy/Traveller community, by providing the sites the community requires to pursue the traditional lifestyle, whilst also recognising the need for some sections of the community to settle but maintain their cultural traditions. This policy goes a long way towards providing grounds for improvement in relations between the Gypsy/Traveller and mainstream communities, relationships that have been tested severely by previous policy, as such the East Anglian Gypsy Council welcome this statement.

“The Government is committed to ensuring that members of the Gypsy and Traveller communities should have the same access to decent and appropriate accommodation as every other citizen and that there are sufficient sites available to meet their needs”.
We are pleased to see a regional as well as local perspective to the system, which will go a long way in avoiding the situation where authorities that are providing sites are swamped with people from neighbouring non-providing authorities. A regional perspective will also provide a more balanced geographic and planed provision, however the advice contained in the new circular and the requirements in the New Planning and Compulsory Purchase act will need to be better enforced and monitored than previously if provision is to meet the objectives.
One of our concerns is that Gypsy and Travellers are not ghettoised with provision restricted to one small part of an authorities area, this was a problem with provision under the 1968 Caravan sites act and has caused those living on sites provided prior to 1994 some problems with discrimination and racism at what are seen as Gypsy enclaves.
The East Anglian Gypsy Council believe that if any piece of land is suitable for any other development then it should be suitable for development as a caravan site.
We are pleased to see a change in the definition of Gypsy: although the new definition still does not recognise the true ethnic status of the Romany (Gypsy) people it does change the emphasis from mobility to a cultural emphasis. Unfortunately it still attempts to exclude by specifying the situations that Gypsies and Travellers may settle, it must be inclusive, and would be much a much better statement if no attempt was made to specify, the example below is an edited version that is much less descriptive and more inclusive
A person or persons who have a traditional cultural preference for living in caravans and who either pursue a nomadic habit of life or have pursued such a habit but have ceased travelling, whether permanently or temporarily for social or economic reasons, but does not include members of an organised group of travelling show people or circus people, travelling together as such.

All in all the new Circular is a well thought out and much fairer document, however by itself it will do no more to increase provision than that of circular 1/94, the real work will be in the enforcement of the advice in the light of the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

We must be diligent in making sure that the terms of this act are indeed adhered to when the needs of the community are assessed and provision planned.

John Day. Assistant General Secretary. East Anglian Gypsy Council
www.eagc.org.uk

1City project recruits over 15 community champions

Fifteen local ‘ambassadors’ have been selected to spearhead an open and honest discussion on the asylum issue in Peterborough in a pioneering scheme designed to overcome barriers to good community relations in the city.

The 1City project aims to raise awareness of refugee and asylum seeker issues within Peterborough’s communities. It wants to tell the truth about these issues which are usually overshadowed by incorrect media coverage. Qamer Nisa, co-ordinator of the project is now meeting up with all the community champions individually to set out their programme.

Programme of awareness raising workshops
The 1City Project is an exciting and unique opportunity for Peterborough’s communities. The project will develop and facilitate a programme of awareness raising workshops and events about refugees and asylum seekers. The events and workshops will be developed by involving well respected members of the community, who are willing to support the project. The role of these community champions will be to have an open and honest discussion with the members of the communities i.e. to find out their fears and respond to their needs. Community champions will thus also challenge misconception and myths about refugees/asylum seekers.

First of its kind in the UK
This special initiative, which is the first of its kind in the UK, aims to help communities get on well and break down barriers which hinder understanding between different cultures. The project will also promote volunteering to the city’s residents and it has already recruited fifteen volunteers as community champions.

A recent report entitled ‘Understanding prejudice’ (Stonewall 2004) showed that it is socially acceptable to express blatant prejudice against refugees and asylum seekers. This prejudice is always explained in economic terms, such as receiving preferential treatment in terms of housing, consumers goods, benefits and health care.

In reality, refugees do not come here for economic reasons. Refugees are ordinary people who are forced to flee their home because of real threat of persecution. They are forced to leave everything behind, including jobs, friends and families.

10% contribution to the economy
Home Office statistics show that people born outside the UK, including refugees, contribute 10% more to the economy in taxes and national insurance than they consume in benefits and public services.

Refugees bring with them a wealth of experiences. According to recent research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, 53% of refugees have academic qualification, 23-33% of parents of asylum-seeking/refugee children have a first or postgraduate degree and most have the relevant work experience to pursue careers in their field.

Genuine questions
Host communities, however, have the right to ask genuine questions and receive an accurate and true response. Community champions will be crucial in providing accurate facts about asylum seekers and refugees.

The 1City Project is funded by the Home Office Challenge Fund and is managed by a partnership of MENTER, Peterborough City Council, the Refugee Council, the East of England Regional Assembly Consortium for Asylum Seeker and Refugee Integration and the Voluntary Sector Refugee Network East of England.

Anyone interested in the project or in becoming a community champion themselves should contact me on 07717 2202089 or 01733 7428152 or Qamer@menter.org.uk

Booklet on partnership working published

The Partnership Development Project (MENTER), along with The Refugee Council and Greengage Consulting Ltd., has produced the “Building better partnership” booklet. This booklet is a part of the resource pack that is being developed for the Multi-Agency Asylum and Refugee Forums in the East of England.

The booklet offers guidance on how to develop effective and inclusive multi-agency partnerships to meet the needs of the whole community. The Partnership Development project is also organising one-day training seminars for the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Multi-Agency Forums in the Region to help them to make better use of the booklet. These seminars have already taken place in among others, Peterborough and Ipswich.

Information about the Partnership Development project is now available on-line on www.partnershipdevelopmentproject.org.uk

Database of projects
Along with regional news, resources, and information on events and training, the web site will soon host an on-line database of projects and initiatives. The database will mainly focus on the regional projects but will also include examples of successful initiatives from outside of the region. We hope the database will encourage effective information exchange and will help to spread successful initiatives across the Region. We have started collecting entries for this database and invite you to provide information about your project and to nominate any other initiatives or projects which you know about.

Please contact Anna Allen for a copy of “Building better partnerships” or more information.

BMET (Black and Minority Ethnic Trainers) Directory

During the year you may have read articles on the progress of the BMET project. MENTER worked in partnership with the project initiator, Jim Thakoordin, CRNe, Go-East, the Refugee Council and other partners to promote the work of BME Trainers and Consultants. It was felt that there is a pool of expertise that is under-utilised, usually because training and consultancy contracts are awarded through invisible, informal networks that do not include BME people. Where contracts are awarded these are often related only to equalities work, even though BME trainers have other useful skills e.g. in project management, community development, voluntary sector development and regeneration. The lead organisation for the project was Community Renewal Network East (CRNe). The project team was advised throughout by Jim Thakoordin. The promotion of the project took two routes: (1) Consultation events in Bedford and Luton (2) work with agencies in the region to assess training and consultancy requirements and to highlight the publication of the directory.

The final copy of the BMET Directory includes “good practice” guidelines on writing a brief, contracts and appointing a trainer or consultant. It also includes relevant legislation referring to appointing trainers or consultants and finally the bulk of the directory is focused on details of BME trainers and consultants from the Region. We are pleased to confirm that the directory is available to down load by clicking on the link below:

BMET directory

Although this project was heavily advertised we are aware that some consultants and trainers might not be included. Therefore they can download a questionnaire and include their details in the directory which will be updated quarterly. We would like to thank all those who have supported this project and hope you enjoy using the directory.

For further information please contact:

Shaila Bibi or CRNe (01842 754 101)

Disclaimer: Whilst MENTER have sought to provide advice in this Directory on appropriate and transparent contracting processes, MENTER or any of the partners involved in this project are not responsible for any action or inaction by providers at any stage in the process of recruiting and/or supporting trainers and consultants from any background.

Global Youth Work

GLOBAL YOUTH ACTION!!!

If you work with young people and want to get them more engaged in taking action locally and globally then this is the course for you! 'An Introduction to Global Youth Work' enables youth workers to understand how global issues affect young people, gives practical ideas for activities to inspire and motivate action, and suggests techniques for supporting this action. The training is also accredited through the Open College Network.

Two places on this course are available free of charge, joint funded by the Harambee Centre and Cambridgeshire County Council Youth Service . As part of this opportunity the Harambee Centre can offer follow up support, working with you and the young people you work with on Global Youth Action Projects. Harambee can provide advice, training and resources, run activities with young people, and provide support for the development of your OCN portfolio - all as part of the package!

To apply for one of the spaces please complete and return the attached form to the address at the bottom.

Application Form

For more information please look at the following documents:

Refugee Training;
Introduction to Global Yoth Work
Application for funding

Claire Bennett
The Harambee Centre for Development and Environment Education
Emmanual URC
Trumpington Street
Cambridge
CB2 1RR
'Learning partnerships for global justice and equality'

Tel:01223 358116

claire.bennett@harambeecentre.org.uk
www.harambeecentre.org.uk

'Harambee' is a Swahili word meaning working together in partnership

Registered Charity No: 299274


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