Following the Launch & Publication of the Report “Looking Beyond the Veil”, a Research Project into people’s perception of the Muslim Veil in Kirklees, North Kirklees Interfaith Council is initiating discussion forums in local communities across Kirklees. The aim of these discussion forums is to provide safe spaces where people from all communities can come together to openly discuss the findings of the report. These forums will also provide opportunities to build trust and understanding between all sections of the community. It would also increase awareness and education of common issues. For further information please call: 07794217487

The Commission for the Compact is hosting this one-day conference to debate the status and future of the Compact. Speakers include Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector. For more information and to book your free place, visit http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/101614/

A two day conference providing academics, researchers and practitioners with the space and opportunity to share ideas and debate issues. Subjects on the agenda range from rural issues to the voluntary sector's relationship with the government. For more information visit http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/latest/?id=8516

A two day conference providing academics, researchers and practitioners with the space and opportunity to share ideas and debate issues. Subjects on the agenda range from rural issues to the voluntary sector's relationship with the government. For more information visit http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/latest/?id=8516

Alice Tligui Training Women from Abroad and Domestic Violence This one day course: · Discusses the barriers faced by women from abroad in accessing support services. · Explores and explains different forms of domestic violence that specifically relate to women from abroad i.e. honour crimes, female genital mutilation and forced marriage. · Looks in detail at the immigration rules as they apply to women who have suffered domestic violence. · Works through a number of cases and scenarios. · Examines what individuals and organisations can do to help. For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

Alice Tligui Training Working with Asylum Seekers & Refugees This one day course: · Identifies who is an asylum seeker & refugee in the UK · Examines asylum seeker and refugee rights from a historical perspective · Explains the current asylum process and recent developments · Gives an overview of the support and welfare entitlements · Looks at destitution, detention and removal · Discusses personal, community and integration issues For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

Charity and not-for-profit fundraising has become highly specialised. Managing relationships with different types of donor calls for different skills. Whether you are reaching out to private foundations, wealthy individuals or your own members, you need to understand who they give to, and why. The Summit offers a unique format to help you accomplish the following: -Build relationships: to ensure maximum exposure to the experts and other not-for-profit managers each seminar offers structured networking before the session starts -Hear different perspectives: the experts are drawn from different sectors of the to ensure cross-pollination of ideas and practices -Get a global view: speakers give an overview of key issues so that you can quickly get to grips with any unfamiliar subjects -Get down to specifics: speakers will also focus on giving specific answers to real-world questions that apply to most attendees Come away with information you can really use: the sessions are built around practical tools and techniques that not-for-profit managers can actually use rather than theoretical discussions.

Alice Tligui Training New Migrants: Rights & Entitlements This information packed one day course will help those who work with new migrants to better understand the diversity of this group The course help participants to gain an understanding of the complexity of the current systems of welfare, health and education entitlements for new migrant groups including : · Eastern European migrants, · Refugees, · Workers and work seekers from Europe and beyond, · International students, · Those who have come to the UK to join family members. For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

Acevo and NAVCA are running the third and final year of their Full Cost Recovery programme, and are holding courses across England. The course gives the knowledge, skills and tools to offer sustainable support in Full Cost Recovery to smaller third sector organisations operating at local level. For a full programme and to book, visit http://www.acevo.org.uk/events

Research identifying the key factors behind successful Local Compacts and positive local partnership relationships will be explored at five regional seminars this September and October 2008. Organised by the Commission for the Compact, the seminars follow on from research carried out earlier this year with the Institute of Voluntary Action Research (IVAR). The seminars are free of charge and will take place in: Birmingham (22 September 2008) Exeter (23 September 2008) London (26 September 2008) Liverpool (29 September 2008) Newcastle (1 October 2008). For more information visit www.thecompact.org.uk

In honour of Black History Month, the Fawcett Society will be holding free events bringing politics to ethnic minority women. If you are an ethnic minority women not yet registered to vote come along to: Hear inspiring talks by ethnic minority women political activists Speak to local Councillors about their role Explore the relevance of politics to you Learn how Birmingham City Council & the Greater London Authority works Find out who to contact on issues that affect you. Thursday 2nd October & Thursday 23rd October, Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham B16 8SZ Wednesday 15th October, Central London http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=391

This ippr event will present new research on migration into rural areas. The research has been conducted by the Migration and Equalities Team at ippr, supported by the Commission for Rural Communities. The event aims to: present new research on the impact of migration on public services in rural areas examine ways in which public services might become more responsive to migrants present new research on the risk to rural economies caused by changing migration flows, and look at how these risks can be managed. For more information visit http://www.ippr.org/events/?id=3235

As part of its 'Planning for BME Communities' project, Yorkshire Planning Aid has developed this free one-day event to help groups and individuals to understand what is involved in making a Planning Application. For anyone thinking of extending their home, changing business premises, or developing new community buildings it is likely that Planning Permission will be needed. This FREE event will help you to understand when you need to apply for Planning Permission and what is involved: ~ Information about the planning application process and how to get it right ~ Planning Application workshops and activities ~ An opportunity to speak to planners about your own application The session is being piloted in Kirklees and will run from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 8th October at the Hudawi Centre in Huddersfield and on Saturday 18th October at the Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley. If successful it will be repeated in other Local Authority areas. Places need to be booked in advance via Lynsey Brownnutt on 0113 237 8425.

To celebrate the Community Development Journal’s 40th Year Anniversary, the Journal has commissioned an International Reader of articles featured in the Journal during this period, which represent the richness and diversity in community development theory and practice, and its changing focus. The Reader's launch will be celebrated with a free seminar, to be followed by refreshments. All are welcome, including students, practitioners, academics, policy-makers and anybody interested in the politics of community. Friday 10 October 2008 2 – 4 pm London South Bank University Manor Lecture Theatre, London Road Building 110 London Road, SE1 6LN For more information, see attached documents.

Alice Tligui Training Women from Abroad and Domestic Violence This one day course: · Discusses the barriers faced by women from abroad in accessing support services. · Explores and explains different forms of domestic violence that specifically relate to women from abroad i.e. honour crimes, female genital mutilation and forced marriage · Looks in detail at the immigration rules as they apply to women who have suffered domestic violence. · Works through a number of cases and scenarios. · Examines what individuals and organisations can do to help. For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

The conference will: • Present the findings of research commissioned by Future Years on the needs and challenges faced by older people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in the region; • Provide an opportunity to explore equalities issues in relation to age and race; • Identify priorities for regional policy and service development for older people from BME communities • Include workshops focusing on mental health; safeguarding adults; social isolation and accessibility and appropriateness of services Key speakers include Len Shillingford, former Chair of the National BME Elders Forum, plus others, to be confirmed. The conference is particularly for service users and carers, equality leads, policy makers, Older People’s Champions, service providers – voluntary and community organisations, statutory agencies.

In honour of Black History Month, the Fawcett Society will be holding free events bringing politics to ethnic minority women. If you are an ethnic minority women not yet registered to vote come along to: Hear inspiring talks by ethnic minority women political activists Speak to local Councillors about their role Explore the relevance of politics to you Learn how Birmingham City Council & the Greater London Authority works Find out who to contact on issues that affect you. Thursday 2nd October & Thursday 23rd October, Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham B16 8SZ Wednesday 15th October, Central London

As part of its 'Planning for BME Communities' project, Yorkshire Planning Aid has developed this free one-day event to help groups and individuals to understand what is involved in making a Planning Application. For anyone thinking of extending their home, changing business premises, or developing new community buildings it is likely that Planning Permission will be needed. This FREE event will help you to understand when you need to apply for Planning Permission and what is involved: ~ Information about the planning application process and how to get it right ~ Planning Application workshops and activities ~ An opportunity to speak to planners about your own application The session is being piloted in Kirklees and will run from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 8th October at the Hudawi Centre in Huddersfield and on Saturday 18th October at the Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley. If successful it will be repeated in other Local Authority areas. Places need to be booked in advance via Lynsey Brownnutt on 0113 237 8425.

Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN) together with Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds are holding a national workshop in Leeds on 18th October 2008, 10.00 – 5.00. This one-day workshop will explore the asylum system in the UK from political, practical and academic view-points to see how the existing UK system could become fair and just. Asylum is a contentious issue, with views ranging from “there should be no asylum” to “there should be no borders and consequently no need for asylum”. The workshop organisers believe that the UK should have a fair and just asylum process, and we want to know what a good asylum process would be like This one-day workshop will explore the asylum system in the UK from political, practical and academic view-points to see how the existing UK system could become fair and just. The workshop will include a mixture of key speakers, workshops, displays and discussion opportunities. Throughout the day we will have a focus on “how things could be” and the aim of each workshop will be to describe what a good asylum system could be like and pragmatically how it could be achieved.

The Lawrence Batley Theatre is proud to support Neev, a theatre company from Calcutta, who will be presenting a satire based on contemporary Indian history and the Marathi play ‘Party’ written by Mahesh Elkunchwar. They will explore the hypocrisies within the intellectual and social elite through the context of a high society party and contrast this with the genocide inflicted by the state in a remote village of eastern India. Throughout the performance you will hear live India classical music on the Sarod, the singing styles of Thumri’s, Ghazals and also poetry. 6-9pm £14/£12/£10 £2 off for concessions on all prices The Lawrence Batley Theatre,Queen's Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield,HD1 2SP 01484 430 528, www.lawrencebatleytheatre.co.uk

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE “Reflections on Faith” – Past, Present and Future, Connecting Cultures Open Days 2008 Ours City has a wonderful climate, breathtaking landscapes, caring human beings and immense reserves of talent, rooted largely in our cultural diversity. We hope to share personal stories and perspectives; within an open space environment and compare perceptions, ponder implications, and consider new possibilities. There will be opportunities to listen and learn, share best practice, engage in discussions, make connections, network and perhaps most importantly of all – laugh and enjoy mouth watering south Asian cuisine. Past (history of Bradford in a faith context people/ culture/art/society) Dean of Bradford Cathedral The Very Revd David Ison Present (Life as a Muslim - Reflections on Bradford and the UK) Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa Future - (future plans and progress for faith communities in Bradford)

Alice Tligui Training Getting to Grips with Community Cohesion - NEW COURSE This course will consider what policy makers mean by cohesion and integration and look at how workers can practically encourage cohesive communities. This one day course will: · Help participants to understand the concepts of community cohesion, integration and poly-culturalism · Identify factors that encourage and discourage community cohesion · Consider different perspectives · Look at different initiatives that encourage community cohesion · Develop a list of ‘positive features’ to help practitioners plan pro-cohesion initiatives

For more details please contact Kuldeep Bajwa / Howard Beck, Equality Development Unit, 2nd Floor East, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8QB. Tel: 0113 2476957 . e-mail: howard.beck@leeds.gov.uk

In honour of Black History Month, the Fawcett Society will be holding free events bringing politics to ethnic minority women. If you are an ethnic minority women not yet registered to vote come along to: Hear inspiring talks by ethnic minority women political activists Speak to local Councillors about their role Explore the relevance of politics to you Learn how Birmingham City Council & the Greater London Authority works Find out who to contact on issues that affect you. Thursday 2nd October & Thursday 23rd October, Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham B16 8SZ Wednesday 15th October, Central London

The new Regional Citizenship Learning Alliance (RCLA) is holding its first meeting next week on Monday 27th at Northern College to seek contributions that will help shape the content and direction of the newly confirmed Take Part Pathfinder (TPP) for South Yorkshire. Both of these developments and the draft agenda are described in the attachment.

The Annual BME Social Housing Awards is a major event in the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) social housing calendar that brings together representatives from diverse housing and housing related organisations across the country and provides an unrivalled opportunity for individuals and organisations to showcase good practice, share learning, and promote business and networking. The Annual Awards is the only event to honour the efforts of the many organisations and individuals who have contributed to the development of BME social housing in this sector. Winning an FBHO Award rewards excellence, acknowledges achievements, convinces your board/team your decision was right, motivates your team, creates great PR opportunities. Call for Entries for 2008, the closing date for submission of all entries is 29th September 2008. Award Categories: Outstanding Commitment to Vulnerable Communities Award Outstanding Commitment to Health Care in the Community Outstanding Community Project for Young People

FATIMA Women’s Network are pleased to offer 30 Muslim women the opportunity to be trained for free in negotiating skills by a world renowned Consultant in order to: · Develop effective negotiation skills and strategies to enable improved participation and leadership in mainstream society · Identify different negotiating styles and develop new ways of working within your communities and the workplace · Increase your confidence and interpersonal skills particularly in challenging situations Booking by 20th October. For more details email Qudos@fatima-network.com

A conference on the fight against racism - past and future - to mark 50 years of the Institute of Race Relations. Saturday 1 November 2008, 1-6pm,National Union of Teachers, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD For more information and to book, visit http://www.irr.org.uk/2008/november/ha000001.html

York Council for Voluntary Service are running their Funding Fair on 3rd November. This year it's bigger and better than ever! It promises to be a great day out, with opportunities to: * meet funders face to face * chat to other fundraisers and swap ideas, and * take part in one or more of the seven free worshops The event runs from 10am to 2pm on Monday 3 November, at the Priory Street Centre - and is free to attend. Just drop in at any time to see the exhibition area with stands from funders and support organisations. If you would like to take part in one of the workshops, please complete and return the attached booking form. Places are limited and will be allocated on a strictly 'first come, first served' basis.

An informal session to share experiences of living or working in North Yorkshire as someone who is a minority. Organised by the North Yorkshire Black & Minority Ethnic Strategy Board, which is the only black-led group in North Yorkshire.

'Successful Commissioning: Preparing Children's Service Tenders' is a two-day training course designed to enable VCS organisations to enter the new commissioning process with confidence, equipped with the tools to understand what commissioners want and how to deliver services within the Every Child Matters (ECM) framework. The training course will be taking place at the Best Western Merrion Hotel in Leeds on 4 - 5 November. There are free places available to small voluntary organisations, who have a turnover of less than £200,000 and no more than 5 paid employees (grant funded under the VCS Engage programme). Please book your place online by visiting www.vcsengage.org.uk or email vcstraining@ncb.org.uk

'Successful Commissioning: Preparing Children's Service Tenders' is a two-day training course designed to enable VCS organisations to enter the new commissioning process with confidence, equipped with the tools to understand what commissioners want and how to deliver services within the Every Child Matters (ECM) framework. The training course will be taking place at the Best Western Merrion Hotel in Leeds on 4 - 5 November. There are free places available to small voluntary organisations, who have a turnover of less than £200,000 and no more than 5 paid employees (grant funded under the VCS Engage programme). Please book your place online by visiting www.vcsengage.org.uk or email vcstraining@ncb.org.uk

In preparation for the publication of the new NHS contracts for Mental Health and Community Services, each SHA is holding a contract implementation support workshop in October/November for their commissioners and providers to introduce the emerging contractual requirements and processes in advance of the publication of the NHS Operating Framework and new NHS out-of-hospital contracts. All PCT commissioners, NHS Trusts, NHS Foundation Trusts, independent sector providers and third sector providers from Mental Health, including Learning Disability, and Community services are invited to attend these workshops. http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/events/

Alice Tligui Training New Migrants: Rights & Entitlements This information packed one day course will help those who work with new migrants to better understand the diversity of this group The course help participants to gain an understanding of the complexity of the current systems of welfare, health and education entitlements for new migrant groups including : · Eastern European migrants, · Refugees, · Workers and work seekers from Europe and beyond, · International students, · Those who have come to the UK to join family members.

2nd Annual Celebration Event of Touchstone’s Community Development Service for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities The aims of the day will be:-  To bring all our Partners together, share a meal with them, and say “Thank you” for their support  To put our Partners centre stage – and let them tell you about the progress we have made.  To get your feedback on what we’ve been doing  To help us plan our future work.

Participatory Budgeting is a proven method of giving local people a direct say in how part of a public budget is spent in their communities. Interest in the adoption of PB as a way of making empowerment meaningful is growing in the UK and features strongly in the recent “Communities In Control” White Paper. The seminar is aimed at public bodies and community groups with an interest in PB. It will: • provide an overview of the background to PB • explore the policy and practice of PB in the UK • help delegates to consider the benefits for public agencies and communities, and to consider approaches to implementation

FREE Awareness raising/consultation events organised by The British Humanist Association,Funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Information about “religion or belief” equality legislation, employment practices, humanrights, community cohesion, education, conflict of equality strands and more! London 10th November 2008, Birmingham 22 January 2009 and Cardiff 17th February

The Leeds BME Strategy Group invites you to the first of a series of events, which will look at how to help to improve the lives of people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities. The first event (in partnership with the Leeds BME Network and NHS Leeds) is focused on HEALTH, and how BME communities can influence and be involved in decision making.

Alice Tligui Training Getting to Grips with Community Cohesion - NEW COURSE This course will consider what policy makers mean by cohesion and integration and look at how workers can practically encourage cohesive communities. This one day course will: · Help participants to understand the concepts of community cohesion, integration and poly-culturalism · Identify factors that encourage and discourage community cohesion · Consider different perspectives · Look at different initiatives that encourage community cohesion · Develop a list of ‘positive features’ to help practitioners plan pro-cohesion initiatives For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

An introductory, whole-day, workshop looking at the place of faith in every aspect of life, by Faith Matters (a joint project of CRC and the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths forum). http://www.faithmatters.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=12&Itemid=98

The Westminster Briefing Third Sector Conference - A Thriving and Independent Third Sector: New Opportunities and New Challenges" will be hosted by The House Magazine in Westminster. With the Third Sector Review having set out a new relationship between charities and the Government, and the CSR spending round now well under way with £515million being invested into the sector, there has never been a greater opportunity for the Third Sector to develop and thrive. This Westminster Briefing Conference will give delegates the opportunity to be informed on the Government’s vision for the future of the Third Sector, and consider charities in the context of their multiple identities as campaigners for change, deliverers of public services and champions of communities. For more information and to book, visit http://www.eventsforce.net/DODS/media/uploaded/EVDODS/event_719/Third%20Sector%20Conference.pdf

The aim of the one-day conference is to bring policymakers, practitioners and academics together to hear and discuss the latest research on issues of cohesion, diversity and extremism. For more information, see attached flyer.

Invizible Circle Education presents real opportunities for the communities of Chapeltown and Harehills to shape the services delivered in your communities. Come along to Community Edutainment, featuring live music and performances, presentations, consultations, workshops, information stands and much more. Areas include: housing, education, health, jobs, training, enterprise, advice, area management. Free entry, free parking, free food and refreshments.

Many local authorities across the region have developed community engagement strategies. The 4 South Yorkshire authorities have formed a community engagement ‘community of practice’ to share ways of working, to pilot new ways of working and to learn from each other. This is an opportunity to share their learning across the whole region.

Invizible Circle Education and ATL (Yorkshire) present a free session of support, advice and real case studies on running and growing a new business in the social, community and creative sectors.

Westminster Briefing all day Conference entitled “Equality Conference 2008 – Achieving a Fairer and More Equal Society for All” will be hosted by The House Magazine on Tuesday, 25th November 2008 to be held in Westminster. The newly launched Framework for a Fairer Future – The Equality Bill sets a new direction in achieving a fairer and more equal society for all. It aims to strengthen equality protection, advance diversity amongst all sections of society and ensure more harmonised and effective equality legislation. This Westminster Briefing Conference will provide delegates with an opportunity to consider the Bill and examine its implications with key stakeholders, and discuss the way ahead to ensure that a fairer and more equal society is achieved. For more information visit http://www.westminster-briefing.co.uk/equality08.html

Leeds Connecting Communities is holding a BME networking event-for more information see attached flyer.

Alice Tligui Training Extending Cultural Awareness What is cultural awareness and how do we acquire it? This one day course: · Helps participants to appreciate the process of cultural identification · Demonstrates how to read and understand cultural rules · Explores different cultural rules about such topics as food, marriage, hospitality….. · Looks at the phenomena of culture shock and how this affects behaviour For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk

Series of three seminars on understanding the skills and knowledge of people working with refugee and asylum seeker families. The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), working with Northumbria University’s Disaster and Development Centre (DDC) and National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) has set up a series of three seminars which aim to understand the skills and knowledge of people working with refugee and asylum seeker families. The long term aim of this project is to provide training for individuals or groups to fill skill or knowledge gaps in relation to their work in this area. Who’s Invited Individuals working with refugee and asylum seeking children including local authority staff and those from voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprise and cooperatives. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. There will be a limited number of places for individuals from the same organisation. Discussions will be documented and a report capturing the three events will be produced detailing lessons to inform the practice of others working in this area.

Alice Tligui Training Workshop – Gender, Violence and Honour - NEW This workshop is a follow-up to the Women from Abroad course. The workshop will explore different cultural gender experiences and perspectives on violence i.e. Gender and Persecution, Gender and Sex/Marriage and Gender and Violence and how participants can adapt their professional practice to better respond to these phenomena. N.B. This workshop is ONLY open to participants who have attended the Women from Abroad and Domestic Violence course. For further information and booking forms please email Val Kay Course Co-ordinator: val_virgo1@yahoo.co.uk or go to website: www.alicetliguitraining.co.uk