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

This research draws on original material gathered from six UK sites with different experiences of migration and post-industrial transformations, and comprising different populations of long-term residents and new immigrants. Between them, they illustrate various contexts of social cohesion in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most people felt that social cohesion was about negotiating the right balance in expressing difference and unity in local areas, rather than expecting complete consensus on values and priorities. Some majority ethnic long-term residents experienced government concerns with immigration as prioritising the interests of private business, while neglecting their specific needs. The arrival of new immigrants could highlight the resilience of some communities, or the profound disconnections between people, groups and institutions in others. Many long-term residents and new arrivals valued the UK for being multi-ethnic and multicultural. Communities which thought of a locality as belonging to them in particular were more likely to blame new arrivals for problems that often already existed. Communities which thought of a locality as belonging to everyone tended to be more open to new arrivals. When the arrival of new immigrants brought about improvements in infrastructure support and opportunities for new arrivals and long-term residents, these shared circumstances were welcomed and valued by all. The researchers conclude that the limited opportunities and multiple deprivations of the long-term settled population in parts of UK towns and cities undermine social cohesion. To ensure cohesion, the impact of social and economic changes needs to be addressed as well as how people relate to each other. The full report, Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK: The rhythms and realities of everyday life: http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2230-deprivation-cohesion-immigration.pdf

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20 July 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Foreign nationals who make no effort to integrate will have their citizenship applications slowed down, ministers have announced. An action plan published this week alongside the draft immigration and citizenship bill said those working towards full British citizenship would be rewarded for becoming active citizens, for example by volunteering for a recognised charity, and penalised for making no effort to integrate. A working group involving voluntary groups and local authorities will be set up to advise the government on how to speed up the citizenship applications of those who become active citizens. It will look at what kind of work qualifies, how the government can ensure it is being carried out and how to minimise any negative impacts on voluntary groups responsible for finding opportunities. Qualifying activity is likely to include work to improve the environment, participation in community projects, and assisting old and disabled people. However, it is unclear how much the citizenship process will be speeded up by volunteering. Ministers believe such work will reinforce shared values and increase community cohesion. The plan explained: ‘It is not compulsory. It is simply incentivising an outlook and attitude which we think is positive for Britain. Just as we do today encourage our young people to become active citizens, so too should we encourage our migrants.’ Home secretary Jacqui Smith added: ‘We are making the biggest changes to our immigration system for a generation, and part of that is making sure those who stay in the UK make a positive impact on their local community.’

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17 July 2008
© NewStart

This research explores the impact of new migration on established communities in south-east Wales, in particular on the issues of community, integration and cohesion. It documents everyday life for both migrants and receiving communities. It explores the views and experiences of people from a range of ethnically diverse geographical areas, and different kinds of migrants.

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14 July 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation

More should be done to protect migrant workers coming to Britain, Oxfam has said. Kate Wareing, Oxfam’s UK Poverty Director, told BBC One’s News at One that in a survey produced by the charity ten percent of the 312 domestic migrant workers questioned had suffered sexual abuse, 26 percent physical abuse and 72 percent psychological abuse from employers. She said that their lack of language skills, social networks and knowledge of their rights puts such workers in more danger than British citizens. Ms Wareing recommended: “The first vital thing is that they should have full information about what rights they have and we think that’s an incredibly important role of foreign embassies at the point people are entering the UK.” The report found that just 20 percent of those questioned had been given such information and none of them had received it in their own language. According to migrantworker.co.uk, such employees make up ten percent of the UK working population and seven percent of the population as a whole.

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7 July 2008
© CAF

New Local Immigration Teams are being introduced across the UK, alongside Local Crime Partnerships with police, as part of a major refocus of the work of the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced today.  Around 7,500 UKBA officers and staff up and down the UK will be reorganised into 70-80 Local Immigration Teams and given a clear mission to focus on local immigration crime. The Government’s plans, set out in ‘Enforcing the Deal’ published today, set a clear focus for the UKBA’s work in Britain to target the removal from the UK of the most harmful people first. This will be achieved through a raft of measures including; automatic deportation for serious offenders, over 1,000 extra immigration staff focused on enforcement duties, action against employers who break the law and new partnerships with local authorities and enforcement agencies to shut down the privileges of the UK to those breaking the rules. Launching the new strategy, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “When newcomers come here they enter into a deal with the UK - to work hard, play by the rules and earn their right to stay. To ensure that deal is delivered we have already increased resources by putting 1,000 additional immigration staff on enforcement duties and are on-track to double our enforcement resources by 2009/10, and deliver Immigration Crime Partnerships in every part of the UK. Central to this plan will also be the creation of Local Immigration Teams, bringing our staff closer to the communities we serve. They will have the local knowledge to tackle a community’s specific needs - tracking down illegal migrants, targeting those companies that flout the rules, or gathering intelligence by working with a range of local agencies. The UK’s immigration system is undergoing the biggest shake-up for a generation, and these changes will ensure our frontline officers can continue to implement these reforms, and meet the tough targets we have set the UK Border Agency.” Each local team will enforce the full range of immigration laws, concentrating on intelligence gathering, the disruption of illegal activity, tracking down and detaining immigration offenders and failed asylum seekers, and tackling illegal working. The new teams will work shoulder-to-shoulder with police, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and local partner agencies, in a new series of partnerships announced today. Staff in Birmingham, Croydon, Glasgow, Liverpool and Sheffield will also fingerprint foreign nationals applying for their ID cards from November this year.

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18 June 2008
© Home Office