2007 06 26 MENTER

Slide1: 

East of England Black and Minority Ethnic Network

What MENTER is: 

What MENTER is Regional network for Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) voluntary organisations and community groups in the East of England. Funded by the Government’s Active Communities Directorate , GO-East (Government Office for the East of England), EEDA (East of England Development Agency), Sports England East, Connecting Communities Plus (DCLG), Change Up /Capacity Builders programme Managed by a voluntary management board of 20 trustees from member groups including Race Equality Councils, and advisors from GO-East, EEDA & COVER (the general voluntary sector regional network)

Staff: 

Staff Chief Officer Support Services Co-ordinator Administrator Regional Sports Equality Manager Partnership Officer (Equalities) Strategic Development Officers covering Bedfordshire & Luton; Hertfordshire; Cambridgeshire, Essex, Thurrock, Southend & Peterborough; and Norfolk & Suffolk. Regional Partnership Development Officer plus Administrator refugee, asylum seeker and migrant workers project

Aims: 

Aims MENTER has three strategic aims: To develop the BME sector in the East of England To promote race equality and advocate for the BME sector To build a strong and “fit for purpose” regional BME network able to co-ordinate BME voice

BME Communities: 

BME Communities The region has four distinct groups, each with distinct needs: BME communities from over 50 different countries of origin, including newer Eastern European communities Asylum seekers & refugees Migrant workers Gypsies & Travellers – the largest number in the UK The 2001 Census shows: 7% of the non-white UK British population live in the Eastern Region. This is the fifth largest population of non-white residents in the UK. There is a wide variation in the proportion of BME groups across the Region, e.g. 35% in Luton to 3.7% in Norfolk. There is no single large BME community in the East of England. The largest ethnic group is White Other. This includes (Eastern) European, Middle Eastern and Gypsies & Traveller groups. BME groups in the region come from over 50 countries of origin. This has a great impact on the diversity of service provision required e.g. translation / interpretation. Peterborough now has at least 32 languages

Ethnicity in the region: 

Ethnicity in the region

Mobility in the region – the need to develop new ways of engagement: 

Mobility in the region – the need to develop new ways of engagement Changes in the occupational and industrial profile of employment have been dominated by changes in the ethnic profile of the workforce and the population. EEDA estimates over 80,000 migrant workers in the region. Around 7% of workers in the East of England were born outside the UK in 2004, up from around 5% in 1994. The greatest concentration of migrants is amongst those aged 25-34, where over 10% of the employed workforce were from outside the UK. This is significant when the ageing profile of this region is reviewed There is a heavy concentration of migrant workers in hotels & catering, health & social work, and food & drink. There has been a marked increase in the number of workers in construction in the East of England from outside the UK. Given the three growth areas in the region, this is significant. Around 10% of all jobs in professional occupations in the East of England are filled by migrants. A recent report quoted in the Guardian this month, marked the East of England as the region likely to have the biggest problem with community cohesion

Issues for BME communities: 

Issues for BME communities 2004 OSEP report on multiple disadvantage in the region concluded that “the different forms of disadvantage are generally lower in the East of England than in the comparable other non-metropolitan counties. The exception is the rate of disadvantaged ethnic minorities, which is on average slightly higher in the East of England.” This is true even for minorities considered on a par with the average e.g. Chinese men have an economic activity rate of 62.8% as compared to a rate of just under 80% for white men. With women it is even higher – 37.8% as compared to a general rate of 24.7%. 6.8% of BME are unemployed as compared to a rate of 3.6% of all white people. 68% of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities were identified in the 2001 census as living in poverty after the inclusion of housing costs. In this region 18% of Black men are in psychiatric homes as compared to an average of 2%. Again, in the East of England, age standardised “not good health” ratios show double the rate in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. (2005 Cambridgeshire County Council research for MENTER) Inclusion research for MENTER in 2006 showed an ethnic penalty e.g. a differential employment rate of 15% that was as true for those born and brought up here as for first generation immigrants

Issues for BME communities – slide 2: 

Issues for BME communities – slide 2 Hostile media and other coverage following the war on terror and reporting of immigration and refugees: rise in racism and extreme right activity in the region The devolution agenda may concentrate more on geographical communities rather than communities of interest Poverty in BME communities: 2007 Equalities Review conclusion that a child born in poverty in the 90s has less chance of escaping this than a child born in poverty in the 60s. 2006 Joseph Rowntree report: 4 out of 10 Bangladeshi children in poverty Failure of organisations to link with and benefit with BME entrepreneurial spirit. Barclays Bank 2005 research estimated that BME business start ups have increased by one third from 2000 to 2004 accounting for 11% of all start ups. People in Pakistani and Chinese communities are more likely to be self employed with rates of 23% and 18% respectively as compared with a 12% rate in white British communities The Home Office predicts that half the growth in the working age population over the next ten years will be from BME communities and failure to tackle the inequalities of labour market underachievement will have serious economic consequences for all

Reasons to use the BME Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in the development of community strategies: 

Reasons to use the BME Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in the development of community strategies A 1990 Trust report in 2004 showed how BME organisations are essential to enable BME communities participation in public life. They are a key factor in the alleviation of poverty and social exclusion as well as developing advocacy on community needs. A Home Office report in 1998 acknowledged the need for the BME VCS sector if the Government wished to engage with “some of the most socially excluded people and communities.” The 1990 Trust report quotes key indicators showing disproportionate levels of poverty and exclusion experienced by BME people. MENTER research in 2004 shows little connection between the BME VCS and generic VCS. If the VCS is represented by one or two people the partnership does need to show how BME views are given and how consultation is carried out to reach these communities

East of England Faiths Council: 

East of England Faiths Council Brings together 9 major faiths Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Judaism, Sikh, Zoroastrian Facilitates the faiths of the region in making input to regional strategy and issues Acts as a contact point for regional governance and other public bodies Hosts FaithsNetEast – an information and learning hub for faith communities in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University

East of England Faiths Agency: 

East of England Faiths Agency A regional network of faiths and inter-faith groups To facilitate consultations with and between faith and inter-faith groups To disseminate information on policies and strategies from key regional agencies to network members To identify matters of particular and or common concern to these groups and to communicate these concerns and any other recommendations to the key regional agencies.

Faith communities in the region: 

Faith communities in the region Faith Regional % National % Christian 72.1 71.6 Muslim 1.5 2.7 Hindu 0.6 1.0 Jewish 0.6 0.5 Sikh 0.3 0.6 Buddhist 0.2 0.3 Other 0.3 0.3 Not stated 7.7 7.3 None 16.7 15.5 76% of people are connected with a faith community. 188,895 through faiths other than Christianity. 2005 Faith in the East of England Report by the East of England Faiths Council (EEFC) in conjunction with the University of Cambridge, commissioned by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

Knowledge of faith communities: 

Knowledge of faith communities Social involvement is widely seen as very important to people’s faith. 80% do not limit their work to people of their own faith and the study indicates that 180,000 people benefit regionally every week from the work of faith groups. 20% of respondents work with homeless people 32% undertake food distribution 16% provide assistance to those abusing alcohol 11% provide assistance to those on drugs 26% of faith groups are involved in community liaison of various types. 30% run projects for unemployed adults and 22% run projects to develop skills

Involving faith communities: 

Involving faith communities It would be hard to replace the knowledge that faith communities have in understanding their communities and reaching to the excluded It is important to recognise that faith leaders can speak both on behalf of their faith and for the people they work for. Lead partners must clearly define both terms of engagement

Sustainable Communities: 

Sustainable Communities Sustainable communities are: Active, inclusive and safe with tolerance and respect and engagement with people from different cultures, background and beliefs Well run with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership Fair for everyone including those in other communities, now and in the future ODPM, January 2005

Community Participation: 

Community Participation What is Community Participation? As the Community Development Exchange recently highlighted “terms such as 'community participation' usually refer to attempts to encourage communities to get involved in the work of an outside agency or organization. This type of work is more likely to start with the needs or targets of the agency, rather than the needs of the community.” ‘Community Participation is about enabling people to become active partners in the regeneration of communities by contributing and sharing in the decisions that affect their lives. Participation should enable people to have a degree of power and control in the processes with which they are involved.’ (Strategic Framework for Community Development – Standing Council for Community Development, 2001)

Active Partners Benchmarks developed for Yorkshire Forward (Yorkshire RDA) : 

Active Partners Benchmarks developed for Yorkshire Forward (Yorkshire RDA) Influence How partnerships involve communities in the ‘shaping’ of plans / activities and in all decision making. Inclusivity How partnerships ensure all groups and interests in the community can participate, and the ways in which inequality is addressed. Communication How partnerships develop effective ways of sharing information with communities and clear procedures that maximise community participation. Capacity How partnerships provide the resources required by communities to participate and support both local people and those from partner agencies to develop their understanding, knowledge and skills. (Benchmarking Community Participation, Mandy Wilson and Pete Wilde, 2003)

Legislative requirements on equality impact assessments: 

Legislative requirements on equality impact assessments In order to do any Equality Impact Assessments of policy, the following should be in place: knowledge of a baseline of reach to different communities of interest ability to monitor the effect of the policy on different communities of interest i.e. good understanding of these

CONTACTS: 

CONTACTS Ila Chandavarkar, Chief Officer; Liesbeth ten Ham, Support Services Co-ordinator; Joella Hazel, Equalities Partnership Officer; Aruna Sharma, Regional Equality Sports Manager; Leona Randell, Administrator 62 – 64 Victoria Road, Cambridge CB4 3DU; tel: 01223 355034 e-mail: office@menter.org.uk John Day, Strategic Development Officer for Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Essex, Southend and Thurrock c/o Peterborough REC, 34 Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough PE1 2RX tel: 01733 341061; mobile: 07717220209; e-mail: john@menter.org.uk Shaila Bibi, Strategic Development Officer for Bedfordshire & Luton c/o Bedfordshire REC, 36 Mill Street, Bedford MK40 3HD tel: 01234 219481; mobile: 07717220207; e-mail: shaila@menter.org.uk Graciano Masauso, Strategic Development Officer for Norfolk & Suffolk c/o Ipswich & Suffolk CRE, 46a St Matthews Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3EP, tel. 01473 406557; mobile: 07717220205; e-mail: graciano@menter.org.uk Moreen Pascal, Strategic Development Consultant for Hertfordshire c/o Bill Salmon Centre, 88 Town Centre Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 0JW tel. 01707260088; mobile: 07717223545, e-mail: moreen@menter.org.uk Finbarr Carter, Regional Partnership Development Officer, e-mail: finbarr@menter.org.uk Pa Musa Jobarteh, Project Administrator, mobile: 07717220209; e-mail: pamusa@menter.org.uk

www.menter.org.uk: 

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