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Local and sub-regional BME infrastructure |
Over recent months a number of BME local and sub-regional infrastructure partners across the UK, have been communicating, supporting each other and developing a mutually beneficial relationship with a view to addressing common concerns and sharing strategies.
These are primarily around the:
- challenges currently being presented through what appears to be a regression of support for effectively addressing race equality
- move around commissioning of single infrastructure contracts at a local level leading to serious threats to funding existing BME infrastructure provision
- the weakening of the BME and equalities thread within the Refreshed Compact
- and ambiguity surrounding the Single Equality Bill
These ‘in progress’/existing policies coupled with the economic downturn pose potentially serious issues for the BME Voluntary and Community Sector at all levels. Let alone the disadvantaged communities they serve!
Last year was a challenging year for us all, from public services, residents, Third Sector organisations, and most certainly for the BME VCS. 2009 started with deepening financial crisis locally & nationally that resulted in job loses throughout communities. This has a greater negative impact on BME communities. As BME voluntary and community organisations, this means that there is more demand for services and less money available to fund them!
Beam East Midlands and partners feel that a wider discussion needs to take place around this to build up a case for the need and value of local BME infrastructure nationally to support local lobbying. This is critical ito consider survival strategies, solutions and support that can be given to each other in providing crucial support and advocacy for frontline groups that we work with.
They would like to invite you to a meeting specifically targeted at local BME infrastructure bodies to discuss:
- What are the key issues currently being experienced? A mapping exercise of the nature and extent of the challenges
- What support do we require from BME Regional and National infrastructure partners?
- How can we best organise mutual support and sharing strategies for survival?
- Making a strong case for the need and value of local BME infrastructure
They are therefore calling a Summit for BME local infrastructure organisations to come together and discuss the above issues. More details about the event can be found at here.
The event is called by BDA and BEAM with support from Voice4Change England, BTEG and ROTA. Special thanks to the Leicestershire Ethnic Community Partnership as our hosts.
Please see the attached flyer for further information.
Attachment: BME Summit.pdf
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01 February 2010
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