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Birmingham
Partnership Autumn 2000. Volume 1, Issue 5 Releasing
Change!
Contents Inside this issue:
Briefing By Doreen Foster, Chief Executive At the beginning of November, BPC achieved Investors In People (IIP) re-recognition. I would like to encourage any organisation currently recognised or considering IIP to adopt the new standards. This is not because it is easier, but because, in my view, it is a more effective measure of the impact of your people development practices. The new standard places more importance on employee feedback than the paper chase. How people feel and their perceptions are both far more telling than the contents of your personnel files. Well Done Staff and Directors! In October, I had the privilege of being invited to by Mike Parsley, Birmingham Rathbone, to propose the Toast to the Lord Mayor at the annual Rathbone Lunch. The event offered me the opportunity to share Birmingham Partnership for Change's views on the individual and collective responsibility of ensuring that we create the opportunity for all people to participate in the successes and benefit from the rewards gained from living in an international city. A city of summits and tourism, loft living and Christian Lacroix must develop and implement strategies to ensure that it takes all of the population with it, and be cognisance of the fact that the diversity of the population is more than a sales pitch. Many of you will have heard about the Big Idea, indeed you might even have submitted your Big Idea to the Futures Panel. The City Council, Equalities Division, organised an event for black and minority ethnic organisations to ensure that the aspirations of these communities were taken into consideration. As facilitator of one of the workshops, I believe it to have been a worthwhile event, but would like to make an observation. The Futures Panel, as the name suggests, is forward thinking and positive, a way of encouraging people to think about potential and opportunity. Whilst many people came forward with practical ideas, the capacity of many to project themselves onto that blank landscape was hindered by the overwhelming fear that their ideas would be appropriated and the belief that there were unmet needs and aspirations for the present which have yet to be satisfied. Addressing existing concerns in the present is as vital as planning for the future. Finally, Birmingham Partnership for Change has continued its involvement in SRB6 as a member of a topic group and the Executive Steering Group. I have received countless calls from organisations anxious to get involved in the programme. Don"t panic! The open bidding process for projects commencing 1 April 2000 is yet to be developed, and at the time of writing I have no information on the timescale for this. Watch this space for further information.
Left to right, Colin Birchall, Managing Director of Pertemps Employment Alliance, Mak Ghattaura, Chairman of the IAB; Cllr Theresa Stewart, Lord Mayor of Birmingham; Christine Braddock, Principal of Matthew Boulton College and BCI Council member; Doreen Foster, CEO, Birmingham Partnership for Change, and Shantose Kaur, Trustee of Birmingham Rathbone and Adviser for DHP Enterprise. Photographer: Steve Fisher How
I intend to deliver my brief over By Sandra Oliver, Education Officer (job share) I plan to undertake a number of initiatives to support our education strategies, some of which have already commenced. These initiatives will impact on the achievement of and raise standards among the African Caribbean communities. I will:
Attend meetings of the African Caribbean Achievement group in order to influence policy and practice;
Establish parent support groups to raise issues that may be precursors
to underachievement;
Support mainstream schools in raising standards by reducing the number of exclusions by the encouragement of closer parental partnership with schools and facilitate workshops/seminars that will provide information to parents on policies, rights and responsibilities. Work has already commenced in one Birmingham primary school to improve the capacity of parents to support their children's education by encouraging them to become more pro-active in the education of their children.
Facilitate the development of the Supplementary schools network by:
Capacity building through training and development programmes;
Work with African Caribbean parents to:
My vision for the future
I hope to see a new wave of thinking and practice where African Caribbean people amalgamate their expertise and resources, in order to break the cycle of deprivation, exclusion, inequality and injustice in this society. African Caribbean people can and do achieve but our families and community must always provide continuing support, thereby enhancing our endeavours to achieve. We must not be diverted from the key issue that we need to labour to produce effective learning. This educational labour will be intensive but the outcome highly rewarding. I strongly believe that learning starts in the womb and the home. Parents are the most powerful educators and strategies should be put in place that will provide support pre and post birth. Early mentoring and training is essential. Our mentoring schemes should now use their success as a sound basis for the development and training of more mentors to support schools in raising standards and encouraging inclusion. We should all work together to celebrate success, disseminate good practice, whilst harnessing and maintaining a spirit of unity. A
Conference on the Education By Suraj Masson, Education Officer (job share) Birmingham Partnership for Change held a conference on the education of African Caribbean children on 9 October 2000. A good event, it was attended by 60 to 70 people from Birmingham and other places. The two key themes of the conference were raising standards and reducing exclusions. A variety of speakers addressed the audience. These included:
Whereas Professor Brighouse outlined the importance of raising self-esteem and expectations, Dr. Sewell spoke about peer pressures on children. Margaret Holland talked about strategies to reduce exclusions. A primary and a secondary school from Birmingham also made inputs on successful strategies to raise standards of achievement. Establishing good relationships with children, making teaching meaningful and relevant, additional support, and mentoring were mentioned as the key strategies. Ann-Marie Howell, a social worker from London, stated how important it was to get to the heart of the problem in dealing with exclusions. It was important to communicate to children that you were interested in their well-being and studies. Temporary exclusions at her school had reduced by a third. The afternoon was devoted mainly to workshop sessions. Two workshops were held on using resources appropriate to African Caribbean children. One of these workshops was led by Verna Wilkins, a black publisher, and the other by the Schools Library Service in Birmingham. In both workshops, speakers provided examples of resources that teachers could use in teaching African Caribbean children. These resources acknowledged the contribution of African Caribbean people and were important in engaging children's interest in the learning process. The third workshop led by Charley Griffiths was on raising standards of literacy in primary schools. She outlined her experience in London schools and demonstrated how parental involvement, use of hand-held computers by children at home and school, and additional staff working with children can boost their reading and spelling ages. The last workshop by Dr. Sewell was an extension of his lecture on improving pupil behaviour. Personal
and Academic Development By Suraj Masson, Education Officer (job share) Birmingham Partnership for Change has set up a project in association with Windsor Fellowship to promote the personal and academic development of Year 11 African Caribbean children. Thirty children from four secondary schools will meet at Camp Lane Training Centre in Handsworth on eight Saturdays between October 2000 and March 2001. They will come from Four Dwellings High School, Lordswood Boys School, Cardinal Newman Secondary School and College High School and receive tuition in English, mathematics and science from qualified teachers. Mentors will support them in setting and achieving personal goals. This unique programme will also develop pupils' independent study skills, provide them with guidance on time management and on the careers open to them after GCSE. At a parents' evening held on 10 October, parents were made aware of the programme and their questions answered by Suraj Masson, Education Officer, Birmingham Partnership for Change, Carson Yarde, Director of Schools Programme, Windsor Fellowship, and Fitzroy Jaffers, Facilitator, Windsor Fellowship. All being well, the programme should improve children's attainment and develop their personal and social skills. We also hope that our efforts will go some way in creating tomorrow's leaders. Job Route - Destination Employed By Heloise Shervington, Employment Development Officer The Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) is a programme of activities designed to support unemployed people in to employment, especially those who have difficulty in accessing the labour market, such as long-termed unemployed and those without up-to-date qualifications or work experience. Participants are provided with supported employment and training so that they can acquire and develop new skills and update older skills. ILMs are usually established in community and voluntary organisations and the employment opportunities offered are based upon the unmet economic and social needs of the local community. An Intermediate Labour Market with a difference is Job Route - Destination Employed. This initiative seeks to place unemployed people with small to medium employers (those employing 250 people or less) within the private sector as full-time employees for an initial period of 22 weeks. During this time, the new employee benefits from on-the-job training, works towards a nationally recognised qualification and gains valuable work experience. Support is given to both the employee and employer so that any problems that either may have are resolved. At the end of this time, the employee can join the company as a permanent member (provided that they have demonstrated an interest in the job and willingness to acquire and develop the appropriate skills). With the aim of Job Route - Destination Employed being to assist those who are particularly disadvantaged in the labour market in to employment, only unemployed people living in certain postcode areas are eligible to apply. These areas have higher than average rates of unemployment amongst black and ethnic minority people. In order to promote Job Route - Destination Employed I made contact with over 60 black employers about this initiative, raising their awareness to the benefits of Job Route - Destination Employed to unemployed people and how they (employers) can be instrumental in providing black people with much needed and valuable work experience and training. During my visits to employers, I have come across a variety of black businesses such as Fire Protection Services - a company that services fire extinguishers and delivers training to Fire Protection Engineers, Dove Musical Productions - a promoter of high profile events and publisher of a Christian lifestyle magazine and New Beginnings - Birmingham first black-owned private nursery. In addition to those mentioned are businesses in catering, hairdressing and retail. The response from black employers has been very positive with six employers offering supported employment opportunities to unemployed people and several others who want to come on board later in the year. It is very encouraging that black business people are offering services in a variety of diverse areas, all expressing an interest in this initiative and a keen desire to participate in Job Route - Destination Employed. Not all employers with whom I met are able to employ an unemployed person immediately, but there is certainly a willingness to become involved in this initiative. Black employers cannot solve the unemployment problems of the African Caribbean community - if only because there are just not enough black businesses to do so. The fact, however, that so many are willing to get involved in Job Route - Destination Employed and other employment initiatives demonstrates a sense of community involvement. By Advantage West Midlands, 1 September 00 West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum Tony Sealey, a prominent Birmingham Entrepreneur and campaigner for minority ethnic businesses, has been appointed the first Chair of the West Midland Minority Ethnic Business Forum. The Forum, which has been formed with the help of Advantage West Midlands, the development agency for the region, will act as an independent advisory body representing the interests of Minority Ethnic Businesses. It will also help to promote Minority Ethnic businesses across the West Midlands. Sukvinder Stubbs, Board member of Advantage West Midlands said The West Midlands Economic Strategy clearly outlined the need to focus on promoting equal opportunity. Our role as an Agency is to enable and support initiatives and organisations that help people achieve and succeed. Representatives from minority ethnic businesses will form the Board of the new Forum, which will meet bi-monthly. There will also be open meetings that will enable other local companies and community organisations to attend and raise issues. Tony Sealey, Chairman of the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum, said It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to serve the region's minority ethnic business community in this new and important role. The Forum will represent the interests of minority ethnic businesses across the region, ensuring that we can assist the commercial success of the region's minority ethnic entrepreneurs. Among the issues likely to feature prominently will be how businesses can access finance for growth and opportunities presented the new Small Business Service (SBS) for greater inclusion. Pat Laughlin, Business Growth Director at Advantage West Midlands said Ethnic communities make up 9.5% of our region. Entrepreneurs from these communities have founded some of the most dynamic companies trading today. By members of the Forum identifying the key issues facing minority ethnic businesses, Advantage West Midlands and support agencies inn the West Midlands will be better informed and able to tailor their strategies and policies to ensure even more businesses succeed and grow. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Forum should contact Monica Coke at Advantage West Midlands on 0121 380 3500. For press information please contact Jackie Alderson at Advantage West Midlands on 0121 380 3533. Editors notes The first meeting of the West Midlands Ethnic Business Forum will be held on the 28th of September 2000. The Forum will focus on;
The posts of Chair and Forum members are unpaid. The appointments will be initially for a three-year term. Mr Athelston 'Tony' Sealey
Mr Sealey is a Business franchise operator with McDonalds Restaurants
Ltd. His other business interests include Commercial Property Services,
Global Trading Ltd and AMTS Management Consultancy. He has chaired the
Local Enterprise Agency Black Business in Birmingham (3b) since 1989.
Tony also holds directorships with Birmingham Partnership for Change
(BPC), the Black Business and Executive Forum (BBEF), Birmingham Carnival
2000, the African Caribbean Westminster Initiative (ACWI) and the Chairmanship
of Sandwell African Caribbean Development Agency (SACDA). Joe Aldred, Chairman, Birmingham Partnership for Change Black and White Christian Partnership, a national/international interdenominational and intercultural Christian organization that works through Education, Information and Research, interchurch Relations and Racism Awareness. The Center works in partnership with other units in Selly Oak Colleges, the University of Birmingham, Bournville College of Further Education, and other agencies in The Centre's areas of interest.
Academic Life:
Ecclesiastical Life:
Ecumenical Life;
Voluntary Work Life:
Publications/Writing:
Jessica Forrester
Sandra Oliver |
