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Background
The Equality Review (2007) shows BME account for a greater proportion of the prison population in comparison to the general population in the UK. The taxpayer pays up to 50K per year for each prison place, which makes race equality an economic priority.
Following on from a project to promote the welfare of BME communities in the criminal justice system (CJS), MENTER is to develop a REACH consortium. During 2006-2008 MENTER made links with the regional prison service and Cambridgeshire probation area diversity group to look at equality schemes and impact assessment processes. From June 2008 to June 2009, MENTER developed further links with the Regional Offender Management Service (ROMS) and GO East Safer Communities team to form a review group to look at over-representation of BME communities in the CJS with the RRECP. The group provided anecdotal evidence which indicates there are a high number of young people in the criminal justice system and a high number of BME communities. The MENTER Equalities Team and Development Officers carried out wider consultation with member organisations via visits and with BME young men via organising REACH engagement meetings and a regional event on 25th April 2009.
The findings show that the CJS focus on reducing re-offending and the BME community focus on tackling racism is a sticking point taking partnership work on two paths. The paths rejoin when focusing on equality and reducing the over-representation of Black young people in prison or on probation. The Home Affairs Select Committees report on Black young people and the CJS (2008) had 61 recommendations about how to do this. MENTER particularly supports the recommendations to expand mentoring support to young people, and strengthening equality work in schools to develop teaching practices to assist and inspire Black young people. Further recommendations to reduce school exclusions, to address gaps in curriculum and working in partnership with the BME sector are also useful. This said, it is not clear how these recommendations are being taken forward as noted in CLINKS Race for Justice research, which highlights there is no “national or regional data to show what proportion of the sector are delivering services to the CJS” (2008).
In the East of England ROMS Regional Commissioning Plan (RCP) drives work with third sector organisations in the delivery of CJS services, and aims to embed equality in practices. The Offender Management National Standards also insist on quality assurance. The Home Office guidance around Prolific & Priority Offender (PPO) Schemes require CDRPs to broker partnerships to support effective interventions with PPO's in the community and CDRPs also allocate local Neighbourhood Renewal Funds. There are changes in local management of the Home Office initiative under the Prevent & Deter strand of the PPO Scheme, and the Youth Crime Action Plan makes further reference to the development of prevention strategies. The government is investing millions in preventing young people from entering a life of crime, and third sector organisations are encouraged to make contracts with YOSs, YOTs or other local authority departments to meet these targets. In the East of England it is unclear to what extent the BME sector is able to contribute to prevention strategies, due to lack of funds and lack of focused action plans to address BME needs. MENTER with the RRECP will map the level and areas of work of the RRECP partners across the region by 2010, to assess CJS partnerships with the BME sector.
To this end MENTER recognises there is a body of research and work being delivered by the infrastructure organisation CLINKS on a national level and MENTER supports the CLINKS Race for Justice Campaign and coalition group. Click here for more information about Race for Justice.
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Overview
“REACH is one of a series of project groups set up as successors to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group (LSG) and the Race Equality Advisory Panel (REAP). It was established in February 2006, has been chaired by Clive Lewis, and its focus has been on raising the aspirations and achievement among Black boys and young Black men, enabling them to achieve their potential” (2007). This programme is supported by the Communities & Local Government (CLG) department.
In August 2007, the national REACH report was published. This indicated that disproportional numbers of Black young men were being excluded from schools; being stopped & searched by police, and imprisoned. This evidence is also reflected in the Equality Review and regional prison statistics. The REACH report concludes there is a need for showcasing Black male role models, and developing Black-led consortia to lead delivery of the REACH Programme at a local level – driven by the CLG task force. The REACH Programme target areas are work with Black boys and young men, developing field challenge to support delivery of race equality schemes and practices. This is to promote race equality duty in particular with schools & young peoples provisions, and develop work with OfSted to monitor equalities and to develop partnerships between families and schools. From a wider perspective, this programme has potential to benefit Black young women also as girls and women have significant roles in the lives of Black boys and young men.
The national REACH programme was launched during 2008, after a Black youth-led panel appointed 20 national role models. The delivery partners; Windsor Fellowship, Black Training & Enterprise Group (BTEG) and Seventh Day Adventist Church are championing the recommendations of the REACH report. Since then role models have driven the national programme from strength to strength. Of the 20, Obi Nwofor, Clive Lewis and Adrian Rollins are East of England based. For details about the role models, click here.
Useful links for REACH Programme
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REACH regional consortia
MENTER aims to drive the REACH recommendations forward by carrying out work that inspires and assists Black young people. MENTER has developed partnership work with the BTEG and the Windsor Fellowship. MENTER have carried out the first national REACH youth-led event in Cambridge on the 25th of April 2009. Click here for details on the event. MENTER has also supported other REACH engagement events and from this work, has developed a regional network of BME youth organisations and projects. The aims of the network will be to do the following:
Develop & engage Black children and young people in youth led participation Deliver training and promote workforce development opportunities around Black heritage & history for work with children & young people Further develop & support a regional network of local Black male role models Widen mentoring for those without consistent father figures, i.e. children & young people in the care system MENTER is developing a core strategy to further enhance this work and will launch this in the autumn of 2009. The strategy will tackle social exclusion and also inform EERAs Social Strategy
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Key Issues and Developments
The landscape of the children and young peoples sector is in a regular state of flux and the most recent drivers are workforce development, Integrated Young Peoples Services (IYPS), Childrens Trusts and safeguarding. MENTER is involved in these changes at different levels, via membership on two regional networks: YIPPEE and CME, and via membership on the national PWNE steering group as the East of England representative. MENTER provides particular advice on race equality in participation and delivery of services to children and young people.
Useful regional reference groups
Useful national reference groups
For further information, please contact Anna Burgess on 07774 969577 or anna”at”menter.org.uk (replace “at” with @)
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