About the SBMEN

Developing a bidding consortium

The Network is developing a consortium of black and minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations that will be in a postion to bid to deliver public services.  Conditional support has been received from Awards for All to take the consortium forward.  Any members interested in hearing more should contact the office (0191 565 7315).

BME Employment Access Project
The Sunderland BME Employment Access Project has now finished.  It targeted black and minority ethnic adults in Sunderland who had not had contact with core employment services.  A successful event around BME women employment was held in Sunderland. 

The project was successful in working with 41 black and minority ethnic clients.  It supported them in their engagement with core services provision. A project report will be uploaded shortly.

In working with some of its members, the Network also helped to strengthen the work that they have always done in supporting their users in job search and other employment related activities.

The Project gained a Tyne and Wear Good award in clent engagement and case management.

The Network’s partners in this project were:

Jambo Africa provided an unaccredited training programme making use of drumming. The confidence of participants was enhanced by their work with Jambo Africa.  The mentoring support provided also helped to highlight the fact that marginalised clients need the kind of all round support that many statutory organisations are not in a position to offer.

Sangini organised an employment event for women from Sunderland. This event successfully highlighted the specific barriers to women’s employment - such as caring responsibilities, the impact of stereotyping, attitudes towards women working.  A report on the event will be uploaded shortly.

Sunderland Bangladeshi Community Centre delivered several popular unaccredited training programmes for clients during the project, with one being targeted at women.

Young Asian Voices provided an accredited training programme. The training provided by YAV included youth work, coaching, running youth work sessions in other languages and sports leaders training. The areas covered included child protection issues, health and safety, and recording, monitoring and evaluating youth work.

To find out more about the project please contact

Dean T Huggins

Development Officer

Sunderland BME Network Ltd  

Phone: 0191 565 7315

Email: dthuggins@sbmen.org.uk

Awayday February 11th 2010

SBMEN enjoyed their third Awayday at Georges Community Café, North Bridge Street. There were representatives from Sunderland Bangladeshi Community Centre, Young Asian Voices, ICOS, Keeelifat Majeesh, United Community Action, New Horizon, City of Sunderland Council, BECON and Continuum CIC as well as three members of staff. The morning was spent looking at the new business plan and assessing the effectiveness of the network. The members were joined at lunchtime by members of the council and the afternoon was spent looking at the benefits of being a member of SBMEN and evaluating the day. Janice Whyte (Continuum CIC) led the discussion on the business plan.

Attendees split into small groups to discuss points raised during the recent evaluation. Outcomes of the discussion can be found in the Awayday Report which is nearing completion and should be available soon.

Dean T Huggins took over as Chair for the second session of the morning which looked at Membership review. It was agreed that the group would again split into small groups to discuss the relevant points such as.

• Who are the members?
• Who else should / could be members?
• Should there be a subscription charge?
• How does the Network expand?

Cllr Lee Martin and a Conservative Party Colleague joined the members for lunch. Lee Martin leader of opposition introduced himself as Councillor for Barnes which he noted is one of most diverse wards in the City. He has been Councillor for that ward for the past six years. He is keen to work with network. Lee expressed regret that the Conservative Councillors have not been as visible as they should have been in recent times. Choose issues, here to help and facilitate, happy to help, happy to keep a low profile too. He stated that within the Council there is a large independent group who are supportive of SBMEN. Councillor Alan Wright introduced himself as Councillor for St Chad’s Ward since 2008. He supported what Lee martin said and reiterated he was happy to support Sunderland BME Network and the BME Community.

The Afternoon Session was facilitated by Wajid Hussain (BECON). This looked at Member Benefits, Marketing and Promotion, Priorities and Partnership Working.