The role of the BME Third Sector in Shaping Government Policy
Leeds Regional Policy Seminar, 18th December 2007
In partnership with the Yorkshire and Humber BME Regional Panel, Voice4Change England held a regional seminar in Leeds to engage the Black and Minority Ethnic Third Sector organisations (BME TSOs) in Yorkshire and Humber in discussions about the role of the Compact and Public Law in effective partnership working between the Third Sector organisations and Government bodies. The seminar also provided the opportunity to discuss the ‘Principles of Representation Discussion Paper’ currently being consulted with third sector organisations by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
Over 50 attendees from BME Third Sector organisations from across the region were present. Proceedings began with informal networking over a buffet lunch. Below (left) is Ila Chandavarkar, from Voice4Change England Partner organsation MENTER, chatting with one of the guests.
Following a welcome by Caryl Agard, Chair Voice4Change England, Naheed Arshad-Mather, Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber BME Regional Panel, spoke about the importance of engagement of the BME Third Sector in shaping regional and local policies for better outcomes for BME communities. Then, Vandna Gohil, Director Voice4Change England, presented an overview of the aims and activities that it has undertaken since its operation in April 2008. Gohil stressed that in bridging the understanding gap that exists in government’s policy making and needs of BME communities, regional and national BME infrastructure support organisations’ contribution in policy analysis and dialogue with the government bodies is imperative. Voice4Change England is a national partnership of BME regional and national organisations to influence government policies and to act as a voice of the BME Third Sector.
Neil Cleeveley from the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) presented the ‘Principles of Representation Discussion Paper’, currently being consulted by the DCLG. He encouraged the participants to respond to the consultation on this paper to inform the government on how best the participation of BME TSOs could be secured on Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs). Further details from principles of representation presentation. He is pictured below (left) chatting with Voice4Change England's Head of Policy Arjumand Kazmi.
Ingela Andersson, a Compact Advocate from the Compact Advocacy Project based at NCVO, spoke about the importance of using the Compact principles and its codes to achieve an equal and effective funding relationship between the third sector organisations and statutory funding agencies. Further details from Compact Advocacy presentation. Ingela is pictured below.
Finally, Terry Perkins from the Public Law Project at NAVCA presented on the relevance and significance of using the Public Law in securing the rights of third sector organisations in their funding relationships with statutory funding agencies. Further details about his work from empowering the voluntart sector.
Ingela (left) and Terry (right) are pictured below with Naheed Arshad-Mather, Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber BME Regional Panel.
The Q&A, workshops and discussion session brought forward concerns of BME TSOs with regards to Local Area Agreements (LAA), Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the Compact. The key question was about the scope of LSPs; whether or not they are public bodies. The presenters responded that the scope of LSPs as public bodies is not clear as yet, but LSPs are undertaking public functions in deciding priorities for local people which theoretically makes them public bodies. If this is so, duty of Race Equality Impact Assessment applies to LSPs. This was a major point of concern for BME TSOs as often Local Authorities as accountable bodies for LSPs do not prefer to consider it even if desired by the local third sector in relation to its involvement in LAAs.
On the ‘Principles of Representation Discussion Paper’ participants stressed on the importance of resourcing the BME Third Sector networks to better engage and improve the participation of BME TSOs on LSPs. The role of third sector organisations to increase and encourage the ‘participation’ of local communities was seen as more important than ensuring ‘representation’ in numerical terms.
At the end, the participants were encouraged to respond to the DCLG on its consultation and to get involved with the Yorkshire and Humber BME Regional Panel. Third sector organisations were also invited to visit Voice4Change England’s website for regular updates and information about policy matters that effect the BME Third Sector.