Released; 13th June 2008.
Successful BME project showcased to Third Sector Minister
National BME policy partnership Voice4Change England facilitated a visit by Office for the Third Sector Minister Phil Hope MP to Newham’s Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum.
The visit, on Tuesday 10th June, was part of V4CE’s programme of activities to showcase the vital contribution that Black and Minority Ethnic Third Sector organisations are making in providing support to marginalised communities.
“We are showing to politicians and funders at all levels what is being achieved by BME Third Sector organisations. The Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum in Newham is an outstanding example of what is possible. Sadly, many other BME organisations can’t achieve their potential because of a lack of support,” said V4CE Director Vandna Gohil.
She added: “Our programme of getting decision-makers to engage with BME service delivery groups will continue so that they get to hear first hand the views of those who live with the impact of policy.”
Phil Hope, the Minister for the Third Sector, said of the visit: “I act as a champion for the third sector inside government, so it is vital that I get to hear the views of those working at the grassroots level. My meeting with the Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum was very informative and will certainly be taking their comments back to my officials to follow-up."
“I want the third sector to thrive, which is why the new Local Area Agreement performance indicators will mean that for the first time, local authorities are judged on how they help the sector to achieve this. I look forward to seeing the coverage of two key indicators on volunteering and on a thriving third sector when the current negotiating process comes to an end on 30th June.”
The Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum’s Director Sahdia Warraich commented: “We were honoured that the Minister came to visit and I know that the people he chatted with were pleased to be able to share with him their experiences of delivering services to diverse communities. I told him of our concerns that the commissioning process is generally discriminating against smaller BME groups, and also that the government must continue to provide grants to organisations that are supporting particular sections of the communities to access services and be involved in shaping the future of their locality.”
The Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum was set up 17 years ago, and today is recognised as Newham’s health and social care infrastructure body. Recently it was awarded a £318k grant from the LDA to provide a Confident Leaders programme for African community people to give them confidence in representing and leading their communities.
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For further information please contact Martin Ball on 020-7843 6131.
Photographs from the visit of the Minister chatting with representatives of Newham BME projects are available on request.