ROTA (Race On The Agenda)have produced a policy briefing about the Single Equality Bill and what it means for the BAME Third Sector. You can access the briefing at http://www.rota.org.uk/Downloads/22%20ROTA%20Equality%20Bill%20BME.pdf

ROTA works with London's Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and others interested in race equality, towards achieving social justice by the elimination of discrimination and promotion of human rights, diversity and equality of opportunity. We achieve these aims by informing London's strategic decision-makers about the issues affecting the BAME third sector and the communities it serves and by making government policy more accessible to London's BAME organisations.
For more information about ROTA, visit http://www.rota.org.uk/pages/default.aspx

The Commission on Integration and Cohesion is wrong to call for a presumption against the awarding of Single Group Funding and the Government should reject the proposal, says Black and Minority Ethnic Third Sector partnership organisation Voice4Change England (V4CE).

The proposal, contained in Annex D of the Commission’s recent report Our Shared Future, is for funding bodies to adopt a policy of ‘Single Group Funding as the exception and not the rule’ and is supported by several recommendations on how it should be implemented.

V4CE is concerned at the likely adverse impact of such a development on the BME Third Sector and has written to the Secretary of State at the Department of Communities & Local Government to urge that it should not be implemented because it is discriminatory to BME groups, doesn’t recognise the specific needs of diverse communities, and would have a negative effect on community cohesion.

In the letter, V4CE has stated its fundamental opposition to the Report’s recommendation of the development of guidance to assist grant making bodies in deciding about the appropriateness of Single Group Funding. It believes such guidance isn’t justified and instead suggests guidance promoting cohesive communities be produced.

The Commission on Integration and Cohesion is wrong to call for a presumption against the awarding of Single Group Funding and the Government should reject the proposal, says Black and Minority Ethnic Third Sector partnership organisation Voice4Change England (V4CE).

The proposal, contained in Annex D of the Commission’s recent report Our Shared Future, is for funding bodies to adopt a policy of ‘Single Group Funding as the exception and not the rule’ and is supported by several recommendations on how it should be implemented.

V4CE is concerned at the likely adverse impact of such a development on the BME Third Sector and has written to the Secretary of State at the Department of Communities & Local Government to urge that it should not be implemented because it is discriminatory to BME groups, doesn’t recognise the specific needs of diverse communities, and would have a negative effect on community cohesion.

In the letter, V4CE has stated its fundamental opposition to the Report’s recommendation of the development of guidance to assist grant making bodies in deciding about the appropriateness of Single Group Funding. It believes such guidance isn’t justified and instead suggests guidance promoting cohesive communities be produced.

Purpose:
The Caryl Phillips Literary Prize aims to develop and encourage young people’s interest in writing and improve their creativity. Caryl Phiilips was educated in Leeds, now lives in America and visits regularly. His most recent work, “Distant Shores” was published in May 2007.

This prize will serve as a logical step towards encouraging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aspire to greater heights as Caryl Phillips himself serves as an ideal role model.

Young people will be invited to write on the theme “Leeds...My City” from a personal perspective but content can be factual or fictional.

The Literary Prize will be delivered in a competition model with publicised rules and guidelines. The competition will be open to Key Stage 2 to Post-16 Learners. For the Poetry entries, KS2 and KS3 Students will submit up to 15 lines; KS4 and Post-16 Students will submit up to 30 lines. For the Prose entries, KS3 to Post-16 Students will submit 250 – 1000 words. All entries must be previously unpublished.

HOME OFFICE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY DIRECTORATE

NEW ASYLUM MODEL

What is it?

The Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate is introducing end-to-end case management of asylum claims. Under this New Asylum Model a single Case Owner sees the case through to conclusion – integration, voluntary return or removal.

The Case Owner is responsible for all the key aspects of the process – interview, decision, any appeal, support issues, contact management, documentation, and integration, voluntary return or removal. The Case Owner is also a single point of contact on the progress of the case for the claimant and their advisers.