DirectGov is creating the first-ever national role model programme for Black boys and young Black men, called REACH.
REACH is a programme for Black boys and young Black men, supporting and inspiring them to raise their aspirations, attainment and achievement.
REACH are looking for inspirational Black men who will be champions for the next generation. An independent panel of Black adults, young Black men and boys are helping recruit at least 20 role models.
For more information visit http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/reach/

Many organisations spent weeks and months planning to host the Palestinian Under 19 football team in a 3 week visit to the UK in September. This visit is no longer going to take place as the British Consulate in Jerusalem has refused to grant visas to the entire team and coaches.

The British Government, in a decision apparently taken at a senior level, have refused entry visas to the entire team. Although they will not provide reasons in writing, they say the decision was taken because the economic situation in Gaza, where the majority of the team are based, is so bad that they do not believe that the Palestinians will return home again. They deny taking the decision for any politically motivated reason, although they did say at one point that it was because the Israelis would not allow them to return - and so would create a refugee issue, but they have since denied this.

The team posed no threat and the tour was intended to provide support to a team of boys and young men who would have no other opportunity to play in real football stadiums. Britain is now directly aiding Israel in punishing the Palestinians by denying them freedom of movement on no legitimate grounds.

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.

As part of our AGM in November we are considering how the voluntary and community sector links up to get voices heard. I want to use issues for both asylum seekers and refugees to create a case study and hope you will help. If you are from a voluntary or community organisation that hears issues and tells others about issues then I'd love to hear from you.

Could you please email me back your answers to the following two questions.

1) What are the 2 or 3 key issues for your organisation regarding Asylum Seekers and Refugees? (e.g. housing, language, legal services, emplyment, education, health)
2) For each issue - who tells you about it and who do you tell? (which organisations)

For example,
Issue 1: housing: We hear issues from RGG Housing Association and FHY Housing, we tell LHAC and LSSS

Thank you for your help,

Peter Richardson
Deputy Director
Y&H Regional Forum
Suite D10, Joseph’s Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds, LS3 1AB
0113 394 2300
peter.richardson@regionalforum.org.uk