BNRRN Policy E-Bulletin 3rd April 09

Policy Updates & Briefing

Tackling Race Inequalities an invitation to send in views and comments

The Government has produced a discussion document, ‘Tackling Race Inequalities’ to seek views and comments on its priorities for tackling race inequalities. Government has said that the views and comments received will enable it determine where to concentrate resources. Comments are being sought from charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, local authorities, businesses, schools, universities and more.

The discussion document and its responses will enable government look afresh at its strategy for tackling race inequality however it is not intended to identify a single approach to tackling race inequality. Government hopes to start up a wide ranging discussion about the ways in which it’s approach to race equality might develop.

The discussion document aims to investigate the following:
What should a government race equality strategy look like?
How does tackling inequality fit with a broader equality and fairness agenda?
And how to strengthen the society to tackle race inequalities?
The discussion document states that the impact of the economic downturn holds challenges for particular ethnic groups as a result of their specific circumstances. The Government wants to take action to address this situation to ensure that these communities are not excluded from any recovery.

Some of the questions which government seeks views on include:
• How to make race equality maintain a distinct profile within a wider
programme of work to address multiple disadvantages?
• Which are the priority areas for government action on race equality?
• What practical measures should be taken to address disadvantage experienced
by different Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups?
• What role does the voluntary and community sector play in prioritising race
equality at a local level?

The discussion document available at http://my.dotmailer.com/CmpDoc/2008/697/1616_discussion-document.pdf?dm_i=JD,QQ9,52G1J,1MLF,1
The document will be closed for comments on 18 May 2009


‘A Duty to Involve’
From 1st April this year, Local Authorities will have a duty to involve representatives of local people in decisions and functions that affect them. The Duty to Involve is contained in the Community Empowerment White Paper 2008(but before that in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill) and government has now produced the accompanying guidance. See: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/strongsafeprosperous
With the ‘Duty to involve,’ Government aims to mainstream and embed community empowerment in all the functions of the authority and involve, ‘representatives of local persons’ meaning those likely to be affected by, or interested in the given issue in the authority. This group will include, those that work, study or live in the area, businesses, voluntary and community groups. In addition, Local Authorities are expected to actively seek the engagement of groups that are typically excluded from mainstream empowerment activity which includes BAMER communities.
Local Authorities are also expected to consider the most appropriate way of involving ‘representatives of local persons’ and to actively engage these by providing information, consulting and involving in other ways.
The Guidance recommends that authorities consider directly involving communities in:
• influencing or directly participating in decision making
• providing feedback on decisions, services, policies and outcomes
• co-designing/working with the authority in designing policies and
services (for instance they can be involved in the commissioning of services)
• co-producing/carring out some aspects of services for themselves
• working with the authority in assessing services

BAMER communities have historically experienced exclusion from decision making and the ‘Duty to Involve’ places a responsibility on Local Councils to actively seek to engage them. The ‘Duty to Involve’ also means that more avenues for representation and engagement have opened up for BAMER communities to engage in local decision making.

A case is also being put forward for councils and their Local Strategic Partners (LSPs) to put together Comprehensive Community Engagement Strategies as a means of streamlining and co-ordinating and 'joining up' the range of engagement practices undertaken by different partners and services in the local area. More information about Comprehensive Community Engagement Strategies can be found at http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/handy-guides/a-practical-guide-to-developing-your-comprehensive-community-engagement-strategy

Involve which is a not-for-profit public participation specialist organisation are offering free mentoring sessions across England and Wales to help identify key issues around involvement, and help build the best possible involvement strategy. If you would like to register for a session please contact: duty2involve@involve.org.uk.
In addition and to further support the case for Local Authorities working actively, to seek involvement from the diverse communities within their local area, research by the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning has shown that involving communities more in the design and delivery of public services achieves better value for money.

See more information at http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6583598#contents-1e

The London Assembly has produced a response to the Mayor's draft Equalities Framework

The response is intended to offer a constructive contribution to the development and implementation of the framework. Overall the response welcomes the production of the draft equalities framework and supports many of the aspirations for instance to increase purchasing from smaller organisations led by people from under-represented groups. In addition the response contains 12 recommendations, including:

• that the next draft of the framework usefully identify the evidence on what
has been achieved to date and what the key priorities and opportunities are
for further interventions.
• that GLA should direct its resources and efforts to those areas where it has
the potential to make a real difference, and that the draft framework should
be focused and targeted towards those areas.
• that final version of the framework should categorise the desired outcomes
into short, medium and long term outcomes, which could then inform plans for
short, medium and long term interventions and initiatives.
• equalities impact assessments for draft mayoral strategies be published
alongside the strategies.
• the framework should set out clearly the actions to be taken and the targets
to be achieved by each organisation within the GLA group.
• the information showing the representation of minority groups within the GLA
and functional bodies be included in the quarterly monitoring information
provided to the Budget and Performance Committee.
• the final version of the draft framework should set out who the key external
partners are in the delivery of the Mayor’s vision, and what the
arrangements will be for them to be fully involved in the implementation of
the framework.

See the full response at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/general/bmac-equalities-response.pdf

London Development Agency (LDA) Investment Strategy
In line with Government requirements, the LDA is producing an Investment Strategy and Business Plan. This Investment Strategy will outline the LDA’s goals from April 2009 to March 2013. The public consultation for the Investment Strategy and Business Plan has now closed (on 26th January 2009) and a full consultation report will be produced and made publicly available in Spring 2009.

However London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC) is doing around Investment Strategy, LVSC would like to hear from organisations working on employment and skills issues. This will enable LVSC in their strategic work in this area – both in relation to LDA commissioning itself, and also in relation to strategic policy work.

BAMER organisations working within the employment and skills area can use this opportunity to inform LVSC of their priorities and the issues for their communities and as LVSC already works in partnership with the LDA and the London Skills and Employment Board, these ideas will be fed into both of these strategic bodies.
If you would like to be involved in this, please e-mail policy@lvsc.org.uk.



News & Information Roundup

New Compact in November
The Compact is to be revised. Sir Bert Massie, the Commissioner for the Compact, will lead on the redraft of the Compact at the request of third sector minister Kevin Brennan. A new version of the national Compact will be published in November.

The Compact has not been revised since former Prime Minister Tony Blair established it in 1998 to outline how the voluntary and public sectors should behave towards each other.

The approach will be to take what is best from the existing documents rather than start from scratch. This will ensure that the new version takes into account recent developments in law, policy and practice. The Office of the Third Sector and Compact Voice are also establishing a cross-sector advisory panel to oversee the issues the new version should cover. Commissioning is expected to feature prominently.

£70 Million Migrants Impact Fund Announced
Government had announced details of a new £70 million fund to support communities in managing local pressures from migration which can place pressures on local public services including councils, schools, the NHS and the police.

Although all regions of England will receive a proportion of the funding, the amount each receives will be weighted towards the areas where international migration has had the greatest short-term impact.

Funding will be allocated to local projects from Government Offices working closely with local partners, and will be particularly targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration-related pressures - where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services.

To be considered for funding, projects must be able to demonstrate that they bring benefits to the settled, as well as the migrant community in an area. For example, additional English language provision for migrants will mean reducing the cost to public services from translation and interpretation.

In addition, ‘economic migrants’ and students coming to the UK from outside the EU will be charged a levy in addition to their normal visa application fee. The revenue will form the Migrants Impact Fund. The Fund will mean that migrants are being asked to pay an additional contribution to that which they already make through taxes, to support the communities in which they live. The funding amounts to £35 million in the first year and subject to a review in the autumn of the migrant fees being received, a similar amount in 2010/11.

Migrant and refugee community organisations influencing policy
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a report entitled 'Change from Experience' on a partnership which explored how migrant and refugee community organisations influence policies and practices crucial to the lives of their communities. Read the report http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/migrant-refugee-community-organisations-influence


Events

Understanding & Resolving Conflict
17th April 2009, 10:00am – 4:30pm
Stratford Town Hall, London E15 4BQ

• How does conflict appear in our lives?
• What methods of dealing with conflict do refugees and migrants bring from
their countries of origin?
• What practical tools can we use to resolve conflict in our lives and in the
workplace?

The Evelyn Oldfield Unit invites you to explore these issues at this FREE introductory training session, in association with Conflict and Change. This event is open to representatives of refugee and migrant community organisations and second tier organisations who work closely with these groups.

Attached is a leaflet about the course, and a booking form which you can fill in and return to request a place. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please speak to a member of the Development Team on 020 7700 8213.


Women: your Local Council needs you!
Interested in local issues? Have you got the commitment and drive to make change and champion issues in your area?

Find out more about how you can get involved and make a difference in your community at a FREE event on Friday 24 April 2009 from 10.00am 2.00pm at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE.

Community representatives and local councillors play a vital role in their communities and women are being encouraged to become councillors especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

At the event you will hear from Baroness Uddin, Chair of the ‘Women Councillors Taskforce’, Councillor Maya de Souza, Taskforce Member, and other councillors speak about how they got involved in public life.

To register please go to: www.livegroup.co.uk/BAME or telephone 020 8481 3375 or Email: BAME@livegroup.co.uk For more information visit www.equalities.gov.uk

Young People and Violent Crime National Conference: Innovative Solutions through Multi-Agency Working
Date: Thursday 30th April 2009, Time: 10:00am – 4:15pm (followed by networking reception), Venue: One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London

The perceived escalation of knife-possession and gang-related violence has prompted the Government to launch new measures to tackle youth crime; particularly to address the growing street weapon culture that is destroying so many young lives. In 2008, three major action plans were unveiled with the aim of sending out a strong and clear message that violent crime and disorder in all its forms will no longer be tolerated:
• Saving Lives. Reducing Harm. Protecting the Public: An Action Plan for
Tackling Violence 2008-11
• The Youth Crime Action Plan
• The Youth Alcohol Action Plan

With a recent report estimating that up to 50,000 teenagers are involved in gang culture, the drive to seek innovative and joined-up solutions has never been more paramount.

This major one-day national conference, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, provides an opportunity for local practitioners to assess the progress of the action plans in relation to tackling youth violence. Delegates will consider how the ‘triple track’ approach of prevention, enforcement and punishment and can be implemented fully and effectively at the local level, bringing closer together the work of police, probation, local authorities, health services and education authorities.

You can register at http://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/register.php
For further details, please call 0845 606 1535.

Introduction to Sustainable Funding
Tuesday 12 May 2009, 10am - 5pm, Venue: HCVS, 84 Springfield House,
5 Tyssen Street London E8 2LY

Are you reliant on one grants source and looking to find alternative sources of funding? NCVO’s Sustainable Funding Project encourages and enables voluntary and community organisations to explore and exploit a full range of funding and financing options to develop a sustainable funding mix.

Development Advisor, Maneesha Sharma is hosting this free workshop led by NCVO to give you the awareness, understanding, enthusiasm and information to think further and different avenues to funding.

Issues covered include:
• Income diversification – exploring a sustainable and diverse funding mix of
income sources
• An introduction to planning Full cost recovery - being aware of both project
costs and overhead costs
• Earning – generating income through public service delivery and trading
goods and services
• Loan Finance – an introduction to the use of loans and other forms of
finance.

Contact Zelina at zelina@hcvs.org.uk or call 020 7923 1962 to book. A £25 deposit is required.


Get Funding!

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
This is a scheme for projects addressing mental health issues for prisoners and ex offenders.

A funding round is expected to begin in June and last for three years. Groups working in this field can contact the foundation for an initial discussion and will be sent further details closer to the time. You can contact the Grants Officer, by phoning, 020 7264 4990, or visit www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk/guide.pdf for more information

The LankellyChase Foundation
The foundation gives small grants of £500, to support Summer Activities. Schemes must benefit children between 5-17 years old. In 2009, the Foundation is keen to support activities for children and young people living in refuges, and for young carers. It also wants to see projects with strong volunteer support. Approximately 120 grants will be made throughout the UK.

Deadline: 8 May 2009. More info available at www.lankellychase.org.uk

Macmillan - funding for self-help cancer support groups
Macmillan Small Grants is a grants programme available to cancer self help and support groups across the UK. Up to £500 is available for new groups to help with their initial development and promotion, and up to £3,000 is available to existing groups for continuing development. Grants have been awarded for group activities and events, and purchase of resources such as computers and materials for use at information days. Please go to http://digbig.com/4xrrj or http://www.macmillan.org.uk for further information.

Funding for Hackney Groups
Voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations can apply for funding to deliver projects that support children and their families with the transition process from Key Stage 2 (8 to 11 year olds) to Key Stage 3 (11 to 14 year olds) under the Believe to Achieve grants programme This means children who are leaving primary schools to attend secondary schools.

You can apply for: Between £15,000 and £30,000

Closing date: 12 noon, Tuesday, 5 May 2009

There is an application support workshop: 10am - 3pm, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 (see more information below)

Who can apply?
Voluntary and Community Sector organisations working with children or with parents or carers of children who are currently in this transition process.

Organisations must have a governing document, a bank account in their own name, an annual turnover of less than £1million and a management committee made up of volunteers.

How do I apply?
Please contact Nadia Capogrosso on 020 7923 1962 or email nadia@hcvs.org.uk You can download an application pack from the website: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/en/pages/funding-grants/b2a.aspx

Need help with your application?
The CVS at Hackney is holding an application support workshop on Tuesday, 7 April from 10am to 3pm at HCVS. To book your place, please download a booking form: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/EN/store/grants06-07/LT%20Clusters%202009/b2A_workshops.doc

Hackney Council for Voluntary Service (HCVS) has been commissioned by The Learning Trust to deliver the ‘Believe to Achieve’ Grants Programme with funding allocated by Team Hackney.

Apply for funding for community projects in Hackney
Grants of £5,000 and £50,000 available through Team Hackney Community Grants
2009/10: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/en/pages/funding-grants/thch09.aspx


Vacancies, Volunteering & Training

Training - LVSC: Community Leaders Development Programme: Ready Steady Start
Are you starting a new community group?
Has your voluntary organisation been established recently?
Ready Steady Start is an interactive training course for anyone involved in setting up a new organisation. It will equip you with the basic skills needed to set up a sustainable organisation. It will also encourage you to consider whether setting up an organisation is the right path for your group. It is a FREE interactive training course consisting of one full day and three half day sessions:

Step 1 - 5th May 09 Setting up a sustainable organisation
Step 2 - 6th May 09 Project Development
Step 3 – 12th May 09 Governance
Step 4 - 13th May 09 New to Fundraising

Participants are expected to attend the full course and will receive a certificate from LVSC. Call 020 7700 8110 or email karin@lvsc.org.uk for more information on how to apply for your free place.


Influencing Planning Decisions in your Borough - FREE Training 8th May 2009
If you want to know:
• How to influence planning decisions in your borough
• How the Local Development Framework and Sustainable Community Strategy can
be used for your advantage

Then this 1 day FREE training event is for you.

The East London CVS Network is holding a FREE 1 day Training that will cover:
 How planning policy is made
 How to get involved and influence planning decisions locally
 Demystifying Section 106 and the new Community Levy
 Social return and how to use it as a tool in asset transfer negotiations

This training has been designed for infrastructure organisations across the East
London sub region and is aimed at managers and senior officers of infrastructure organisations who want to learn how their organisations can influence planning decisions.

[An infrastructure organisation is one that provides support to frontline voluntary and community organisations - Anyone representing their local Changeup Consortium or another consortium of organisations]

Please note: places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Also Notes: a refundable deposit of £50 is required to secure your place. This will be returned to you on the day of the course. Should you fail to attend or fail to send an alternative delegate in your place the £50 deposit WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
To reserve a place please Email josephine.mason@elcvsnetwork.org.uk

MiNet Co-ordinator: £29,963 - £31,524 (NJC scale SO2 point 32 - 34), 5% pension
Race on the Agenda (ROTA) a social policy think-tank focusing on issues affecting Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and the Third Sector that serves them, is looking to appoint a co-ordinator for MiNet, which is the London focused BAME network of networks, which joined ROTA in 2002 to strengthen the voice for London's BAME Third Sector in the development of regional policy.

This post offers the opportunity to lead on the development and delivery of the network, provide information on policy and provide a voice on the BAME implications of policy developments. You will need to have demonstradable experience in developing and supporting networks, knowledge of issues affecting the BAME Third Sector in London and some experience of management and income generation.
Closing Date for applications is Wednesday 22nd April 2009 10:00am (by post or email). Successful candidates will be notified on Friday 24th April 2009 to attend an interview on Wednesday 29nd April 2009. ROTA would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible.

Volunteering- A Community Volunteer Panel Member (CVPM)

A Community Volunteer Panel Member (CVPM) is required for the Hackney Youth Offending Team. Please contact: Sherma Charles, Referral Order Support Worker, Hackney Youth Offending Team on 020 8356 1031 / 1090 or sherma_charles@hackney.gov.uk for more information.

Hackney Voluntary Action (HVA) is the Volunteer Centre for Hackney offering support to organisations in volunteer recruitment, retention, recognition and appreciation. Contact Hackney Voluntary Action on 020 7241 4443 or info@hackneyvoluntaryaction.org.uk for more information on volunteering in Hackney.

BNRRN Profiles & Member Notices
Black and Ethnic Minority Working Group (BEMWG)
Black and Ethnic Minority Working Group (BEMWG) is a Health Forum set up with the purpose of improving the quality of health and social services for black and ethnic minority communities in City and Hackney.

BEMWG works both independently and proactively to reduce inequalities in health and social services for black and ethnic minority communities and to ensure that black and ethnic minority communities receive the type of services that are accessible and culturally appropriate to their needs.

BEMWG works mainly with black and ethnic minority community groups interested in health and social care issues, and those who are refugees and asylum seekers experiencing discrimination and disadvantage.

The scale of inequalities and deprivation within the locality of The City and Hackney amongst black and ethnic minority communities has underlined the need for BEMWG.

BEMWG has a membership questionnaire out to find out information about the needs, partnership work intentions and barriers of organisations working in hackney. If you are an organization working in hackney and would like to participate in the brief survey, please contact For more information ring 020 7923 2229 or 020 7275 9875 or E-mail post@bemwg.org.uk or visit the website www.bemwg.org.uk


Questions & Answers

What is the Compact?
From www.thecompact.org.uk
The Compact is about better partnership working and creating better outcomes for individuals and local communities.
Established in 1998, the Compact is an agreement between Government and the voluntary and community sector in England. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together.
Although the Compact is not legally binding and is built on trust and mutual goodwill, its authority is derived from its endorsement by government and by the voluntary and community sector itself through its consultation process.

Five Codes of Practice underpin the Compact. They cover:
• Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Voluntary and Community Organisations
• Community Groups
• Consultation and Policy Appraisal
• Funding and Procurement
• Volunteering

The Compact and its Codes apply to:
• Central Government Departments, including Government Offices for the Regions
• Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies, which have a relationship with the
voluntary and community sector
• A range of organisations in the voluntary and community sector

For more information please see http://www.thecompact.org.uk/


BNRRN Project Updates

BNRRN's Engagement Project, which is aimed at enabling BAMER organisations engage better with their local structures (like the council and the Primary Care Trust, and other local initiatives), continues, with work in the boroughs of Hackney and Ealing. BNRRN will work in these boroughs for the next six months (from February). If you are an organisation local to Hackney and Ealing and would like to find out more about this project, please contact Abul Helal or Gloria Oham on 0208 981 3003.

RESCOURCES
Green office guide for charities
A new guide to help third sector organisations 'green' their offices has been released as part of the government-sponsored environmental initiative Every Action Counts.

Changing the Way We Work, aimed specifically at voluntary sector groups, gives advice on how to save energy and resources, source ethically and travel wisely.
Every Action Counts is an initiative from a consortium of environmental and community groups, led by the Community Development Foundation and supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The guide is available from the Every Action Counts website
http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/