[WiLT] Summit for BME Local Infrastructure Organisations, Networks and Forums

[WiL Admin]

(many apologies for late notice of this meeting - we are still dealing with a
backlog of emails from the start of the year! deborah)

----- Original Message ----- 

Please forward to others you believe will benefit from receiving the information

Summit for BME Local Infrastructure Organisations, Networks and Forums
12 February 2010 (Leicester)

Over recent months a number of BME local and sub-regional infrastructure
partners across the UK, have been communicating, supporting each other and
developing a mutually beneficial relationship with a view to addressing common
concerns and sharing strategies.

The BME Summit http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/bme-summit.html will build
up a case for the need and value of local BME infrastructure nationally to
support local lobbying. This is critical if we are to consider our survival
strategies, solutions and support we can give each other in providing crucial
support and advocacy for frontline groups that we work with.

We would like to invite you to a meeting specifically targeted at local BME
infrastructure bodies to discuss:

1. What are the key issues currently being experienced? A mapping exercise of
the nature and extent of the challenges

2. What support do we require from BME Regional and National infrastructure
partners?

3. How can we best organise mutual support and sharing strategies for survival?

4. Making a strong case for the need and value of local BME infrastructure

Please tell your partners and colleagues about the BME Summit. To confirm your
place please contact the Black Development Agency by phone 0117 9396645 or email
beam.em01 at googlemail.com

Download the Flyer http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/assets/files/Flyer.pdf
Read the Critical Points for BME Local Infrastructure
http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/assets/files/CriticalpointforBMElocalinfrastructurefinal.doc



Dialogue on a BME Third Sector Manifesto

In December 2009 Voice4Change England published Agenda4Change: Guide to Policy
Makers http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/agenda4change.html setting out 17
key asks to policy makers to support a thriving BME Third Sector.  Building on
Agenda4Change, we are now launching a dialogue with the BME Third Sector to
develop a BME Third Sector Manifesto.

In the run up to the election and with a possible change of government, it is
important that politicians across the parties understand the value and needs of
the BME third sector and understand what actions they can take to ensure a
strong and thriving sector that can meet the needs of disadvantaged communities.

In the next few weeks we will be sending BME third sector organisations (TSOs) a
questionnaire to invite views on the 17 asks in Agenda4Change.  We will invite
BME TSOs to tell us about their aspirations for the future of the BME Third
Sector.  We want to know what the most pressing problems facing BME communities
are and how the BME third sector can help solve them.  In setting out key asks
for politicians we want to know what BME TSOs think the next government should
prioritise.

For more information about the Manifesto and to access the questionnaire, please
visit Voice4Change England website
http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/agenda4change.html in coming weeks to Have
Your Say or contact Arjumand Kazmi Arjumand at voice4change-england.co.uk