There has been a fantastic response to the recruitment campaign to establish a national group of Black male role models - with over 250 applications from across the length and breadth of the country from successful Black men from a wide range of careers and industries. A major national search to recruit Black male role models got underway this summer with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears calling for motivational Black and mixed heritage men to take a lead in inspiring the next generation of Black boys to achieve and succeed. Communities and Local Government will now work with a group of approximately 40 Black Boys and Young black men to make an initial sift of the applications, selecting a shortlist of at least 40 of the most dynamic and inspiring of the candidates.

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17 September 2008
© Communities and Local Government

As previously announced in a statement to Parliament on 8 July, the Department for Transport (DfT) has today begun a consultation on how airport development at Heathrow might affect different demographic groups living near to the airport. The Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) forms part of the Impact Assessment underpinning the ‘Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport’ consultation document and seeks to establish the impact of airport development on different groups in terms of race, disability, age and social deprivation. Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “Aviation contributes over £11bn to the economy and Heathrow alone supports over 100,000 jobs. While Heathrow is vital to the UK’s economy, we have always made clear that expansion will only go ahead if strict local environmental conditions on air quality and noise can be met and improvements made to public transport access to the airport.The EqIA will ensure we fully understand how airport development might affect different groups around Heathrow by reason of their race, disability, age or level of income.”

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15 September 2008
© Department for Transport

Responding to the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommended list of skilled workers today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘While the Migration Advisory Committee has undoubtedly faced a tough job in developing a recommended list of ’skilled’ workers, some of the choices are disappointing. There are practical issues about particular groups of workers, often where wages don’t reflect their true value or the funding structure of the industry. Particularly where employers and unions are working well together, such as in relation to senior care workers, these decisions are unhelpful. In that sector, many dedicated staff will be ineligible to work in the UK, which will also be upsetting to many of the vulnerable people they care for. The Government should take account of the relationship between wages and skills when deciding whether or not to accept the MAC’s recommendations.’

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10 September 2008
© TUC

A strict new list of shortage jobs which targets migration better at the needs of British businesses, while reinforcing the selective approach of the new Australian-style points based system, was presented to the Home Office today by independent advisors. The recommended shortage occupation list would bring in a more flexible, larger set of work categories but would see the number of individual positions open to migrants reduced by 30 per cent. The Home Office tasked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent panel of economists, with overhauling the current shortage occupation list and will now pressure test their recommendations carefully before publishing the final list in October.

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9 September 2008
© Home Office (National)

Ramadhan is a time when many community organisations and Mosques benefit from the generosity of Muslim people. Many organisations don’t realise that by registering with the Charity Commission the money they are given could go even further, helping them to make an even greater impact on their communities. This Ramadhan the Charity Commission, the independent regulator of Charities in England and Wales, is encouraging organisations that think they might have charitable status to contact them on 0845 300 0218 to find out how they can register.

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29 August 2008
© Charities Commission

The Government recognises that increasing the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women starting up social enterprises will potentially enable many groups of ethnic minority women, such as Pakistani and Bangladeshi women who are under represented in the workplace and in society, to become more economically independent and participate more fully in communities. There are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK which contribute £8.4 billion pounds to the UK economy, but evidence suggests that BAME women are underrepresented as social enterprise owners. A report published today, Social Enterprise: Making it Work for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women identifies new ways to progress forward in encouraging and supporting BAME women into starting social enterprises.

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© Policy Dialogue International 2005-08

22 August 2008

Young people across the country are to experience adventure, arts, media projects and residential summer camps, thanks to a £4.5 million cash injection, outlined today by the Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes. Some of the extra funding will give young people particularly those in deprived areas, the chance to attend community cohesion themed camps which start this autumn as well as mainstream summer camps. These camps will encourage young people to develop their social and emotional skills and build understanding and appreciation of others from different backgrounds. The funding will also provide activities and projects young people want, at the times they need them, all year round. These will bring together young people from different backgrounds, gender, race, ethnicity and religion and will aim to help promote positive community relations. The projects will help to occupy vulnerable young people who may otherwise get involved in antisocial behaviour.

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20 August 2008
© DCLG

Social enterprise, a form of business with primarily social or environmental objectives, can be a useful tool to alleviate poverty amongst the most marginalised in society and has a role to play in regenerating neighbourhoods and increasing community cohesion. The Government recognises that increasing the representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women starting up social enterprises will potentially enable many groups of ethnic minority women, such as Pakistani and Bangladeshi women who are under represented in the workplace and in society, to become more economically independent and participate more fully in communities. There are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK which contribute £8.4 billion pounds to the UK economy, but evidence suggests that BAME women are underrepresented as social enterprise owners.

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20 August 2008
© Cabinet Office

A major search in Manchester to recruit Black male role models gets underway today as Government calls for motivational Black and mixed heritage men to take a lead in inspiring the next generation of Black boys to achieve and succeed. The creation of the first ever Black Boys’ National Role Model programme was announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears earlier this month and is part of a package of measures to help raise the aspirations and attainment of some of today’s young Black men. The launch event in Manchester today has been organised by Business in the Community; a business led movement which mobilises business for good by inspiring, engaging, supporting and challenging companies on responsible business. Hazel Blears wants the Manchester Black community to encourage Black and mixed heritage men from all walks of life to come forward and play a part in lifting the sights of young Black boys.

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7 August 2008
© Communities and Local Government

A London charity that supports victims of domestic violence is celebrating a High Court victory that resulted in its local council reversing a decision to cut its £100,000 funding. Southall Black Sisters , which helps people from black and minority ethnic communities, was told by Ealing Council last July that its £100,000 annual grant would not be renewed. The council wanted to use the money to commission a domestic violence support service for all women in the borough.

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23 July 2008
© Third Sector Online