The below was printed in the Bolton News on Saturday 17th May 2008
Lend your voice to our campaign
THE Government's proposed Cohesion Guidance for Funders has alarmed race and equality groups because of the very serious impact it could have on the continued survival of the vital services they provide.
This concern is genuine because a government commissioned report recommended that "single groups be the exception and not the rule", and only recently has Hazel Blears emphasised again that the guidance is "a move away from the funding of single groups".
Our concerns about the guidance are based on several factors. Firstly, the method used to describe single group funding focuses overly on ethnic, cultural and/or faith based community organisations, thus encapsulating, among others, all black and minority ethnic (BME) community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Secondly, if such guidance was to be policy, this method could provide opportunities for a discriminatory approach to be adopted on the provision of support and services.
Thirdly, such a definition of a single group is narrowly focusing on ethnicity, religion and culture, and the guidance, if used in this form, may cause more tension in our communities.
If you share these concerns then please consider joining with Voice4Change England and many other national and local groups in responding to the Department of Communities & Local Government consultation.
We have created an online survey for individuals and groups to inform our official response. The lobby for more positive policy will continue until the Government recognises the vital contribution BME third sector groups are making to society.
If you would like to learn more about the issues then voice4change-england.co.uk has further details.
Arjumand Kazmi
Head of Policy Voice4Change