The Third Sector reports Crunch time for future of regional BME networks!

Serious questions about the future of the English regional Black and Minority Ethnic infrastructure and the Government's aspiration to involve BME communities in its work are raised in a position paper – The Continuing Need for Government Support for the Black and Minority Ethnic Regional Voluntary and Community Sector Networks in England - released today by Voice4Change England, the national policy voice for the BME Third Sector.

Abdul Khan, Chief Executive Officer of north east BME regional network BECON.
'One consequence of the establishment of the EHRC is that anti-racism has disappeared from the public policy agenda, with the emergence of cohesion as a replacement for antiracism is creating a default position to fund generic organisations rather specialist services.
At the same time the economic climate threatens the funding from local councils that a large part of the BME Third Sector depends upon. The BME Third Sector is responding to these challenges by improving its evidence gathering to demonstrate its worth, but the Sector needs to be more active in promoting itself to politicians in particular.'

For the full article please click here (External Link)
For the Pres Release please click here (PDF)

Date for Your Diary
BECON AGM/Celebration Event
Soccer World Hall, Centre for Sport, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9LG
Friday 12th December 2008
5.30pm till late

This year BECON will be holding its AGM on the 12th December, it will be an evening event starting at 5.30pm.
It is envisaged that the business function of the AGM will be completed by 6.30pm.

The business will be followed by an informal networking event whereby attendees can listen to music from around the globe, watch a diversity of performances from local artists as well as dine on locally prepared ethnic dishes.

R.S.V.P To book your place please contact BECON head office 

BECON seeks Trustee Board Nominations
Closing date for nominations Friday 28th November 12 noon

BECON is seeking nominations from BECON network members to sit on BECON’s Trustee Board. If you feel that you have particular skills, experience and knowledge that would be of benefit to BECON please complete one of our nomination forms.

Please click here to download the nomination application form

All nominations need to be sent to BECON’s Newcastle Office, 182 Portland Road, Sandyford, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1DJ.


Learning Skills Council
Role model programme and BME focus groups
“Fully Funded”

The LSC North East is offering Black and Minority Ethnic individuals the opportunity to take part in a role models programme for BME learners in Further Education, in order to encourage progression beyond Level 1.

In addition, a number of focus groups are being organised across the North East region to find out about the barriers BME learners face in progressing in Further Education beyond Level 1, and any possible solutions to these issues.
Those BME organisations able to organise a focus group of up to eight learners would be paid a recruitment fee per respondent, and respondent would be paid to take part in a two hour workshop.
There is also funding available to cover room hire and refreshments. The focus groups must take place before mid November.

To find out more about how you can get involved by organising a focus group or being a role model, please contact Clare Galland at Wood Holmes Group, who are delivering the programme, on (0191) 2112999, email clareg@woodholmes.co.uk

 

 

The Right to Work for Asylum Seekers

In July 2002 the Government withdrew the right to work for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their case. This year the British Refugee Council and the national TUC (Trades Union Congress) have launched a national campaign to restore the right to work for asylum seekers in the UK. The Regional Refugee Forum North East is working in partnership with them and the Northern TUC to make our contribution to this campaign.

Sign the petition Please find 10 people to sign their support to it, and return to us at the address shown at the bottom of the petition. For more information please click here

 
To assess the extent of discrimination, two enquiries have been launched. London Mayor Boris Johnson has asked MPA independent member Cindy Butts to lead an enquiry into racism in the Metropolitan Police. Similarly, the Home Minister Jacqui Smith has asked for a nationwide assessment of how black minority communities are treated by police. The Police Minister, Vernon Coaker, is leading the enquiry to assess recruitment and promotion prospects of people from black minority communities.
 
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/07/police.race

 

The Public Administration Select Committee recently released reports on involement of the voluntary and community sector in public services. The reports do not find 'compelling evidence' to support the claim that the voluntary and community sector provides public services any differently.

Please click here for more information (press release)
Public Service and VCS Vol 1
Public Service and VCS Vol 2


In 2007 the LSC commissioned the Wood Holmes Group to carry out research and identify recommended approaches to address two of their 2007 Regional Equality and Diversity Impact Measures (EDIMs):

EDIM 1: Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) learners in the North East are far less likely to be learning towards a full Level 2 qualification or above than White learners. More than double the proportion of BME learners in the North East (47%) were taking entry level and Level 1 courses in 2006/7 than the proportion of White learners taking these levels of courses (23%).

EDIM 3: Male learners are less likely to achieve in full Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications than female learners. 86% of female learners taking full Level 2 and 3 qualifications achieved in 2005/6, versus 83% of male learners.

The Wood Holmes Group has submitted their final report to the LSC which includes an Executive Summary and a section on Recommended Approaches. The LSC will be using the findings in their Regional Equality & Diversity planning for 2008.


 


Equalities and Human Rights Commission has released a briefing on the proposed counter-terrorism bill to be debated this week in the parliament. Commenting upon the leagal merit of the bill, the Commission has announced that it would consider judicial review of the proposed bill if enacted by the Parliament. The bill seeks to extend the pre-charge detention of individuals allegedly invovled in terrorism activities from 28 days to 42 days. Further information is available on the Commission's website.