Development News Continued

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CECF Introduction

CECF and MENTER together opened their doors to the public during an Open Day event on the 24th of October 2012. The event was hosted with the intent of reinforcing our relationships with the local businesses and communities, to inform them of our move to the new premises and to encourage them to keep using our services. The afternoon event was very well attended, some of the eminent guests who visited our office included the Mayor of Cambridge, officials from the Cambridge City Council, CECF trustees, representatives from our member organisations, local business owners, some of our old, new and current clients and even some curious but friendly neighbours and a few members of the public. The event kicked-off with a brief speech from the Mayor of Cambridge, followed by short speeches by the Chair and Chief Officer of CECF, the Development Coordinator of MENTER and Manager of CHESS. The event also offered an excellent opportunity to local organisations such as The Mill Road History Project to talk about and showcase their projects. In the end everyone agreed that the Open Day had been a successful event. Not only was it an excellent announcement of our relocation to Sturton Street but it also allowed those present to network, share ideas and consider possible ways to move forward in their work over nibbles and drinks.

Reported by CECF Project Assistant, Hena Haque.

Development News

The Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum have been working in partnership with MENTER (East Of England Black And Minority Ethnic Network) to provide free training opportunities to the BME communities in Cambridge. This is for volunteers in a community group, on a committee, or those are unemployed and looking to gain new skills or improve on their existing ones. There is training on offer in office administration, event planning, project management, customer care and telephone skills.

CAMBRIDGE ETHNIC COMMUNITY FORUM

Funded by:

Contents

Introduction

Development News

CHESS

Community Focus

Community Health

Education & Training

Events

On-site Services

Drop-ins on CECF site

CECF Staff &

CECF Trustees

“The Courtyard”21 B Sturton Street

CambridgeCB1 2SN

Tel: 01223 655 241Fax: 01223 655 393

E-mail: cecfenquiries@cecf.co.uk

Website: www.cecf.co.uk

Charity No. 1086241Company No. 04175678

Supported by:

Newsletter: Issue Twenty — December 2012

CECF Project Assistant, Hena Haque, Mayor, Councillor Sheila Stuart, CECF and CHESS Finance Officer, Toshie Kono

Development News Continued

On Friday the 26th Of October we participated in ‘Seeing is Believing Day’. This is a national event and an opportunity for business leaders to see charities in action. This was facilitated by ProHelp a network of professional firms who are committed to making a difference in their community by offering their services for free to community organisations in need of support. We were one of three organisations fortunate enough to be visited in Cambridge that day.

We had a very successful Annual General Meeting, on November 7th, at the Orchard Park Community Centre. It was well attended. Whilst it was sad to see so many familiar faces step down as trustees, it was equally good to see a new Board of Trustees nominated with representation from a diverse group of BME communities.

After the normal business we had a fascinating presentation by Shadida Rahman on the background to her Novel ‘Lascar’. This was followed by some delicious food.

We have had a very busy year and are now finally settled at our new premises. Whilst funding is always an issue we feel that we are in a good location now to move the work of the Forum forward. I have just completed a funding advisers course and hope to develop what I have learned into training courses for the BME communities in the coming year.

Reported by Eddie Stadnik, Chief Officer

Cambridgeshire Human Rights and Equality Support Service (CHESS)

CHESS supported a client to gain access to £4k of benefits (that they were entitled to)

CHESS were involved with advocating for a client who applied for Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) in April 2011 after suffering from an accident whilst employed in September 2010. Unfortunately the client had to leave their employment in April 2011 as they had been under medical supervision (due to medical complications) at a regional hospital since the time of the accident and had been unable to return to work.

Both the Job Centre and the local council respectively refused access to welfare benefits on the basis that the client did not qualify as a ‘worker’ and failed the habitual residency test. A request for a revised decision was launched and in December 2012 we received the news that the Client had been awarded ESA (IR) and it was backdated to April 2011.

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Cambridgeshire Human-Rights and Equality Support Service (CHESS) Continued

This client received approximately £4,000 and is now entitled to make an appeal against the council’s decision in relation to housing and council tax benefit. This decision has come at a great time of year for the client and is another example that shows with the right information, determination and tenacity CHESS can achieve successful outcomes for our clients.

CHESS Development

Due to funding restrictions the CHESS team will be working fewer hours from January 2013. We will be open for clients all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with the advice surgeries continuing on a Tuesday and Thursday evening 5pm – 8pm. If we identify the need to open on the Wednesday evening to aid clients we will commence that from February 2013. I will continue to work with our Cambridgeshire outreach partners to ensure that we continue to provide access to our services in Ely, Huntingdon and Wisbech from mid-January 2013.

Funding

We continue to apply for funding with seven new applications submitted in December and a partnership bid to be submitted in January 2013. I hope that we achieve some funding as our current funding restricted and unrestricted allows CHESS to continue until March 2013. If you would like to help with a fund raising strategy or assist with funding applications, please get in touch with us and ask to speak to Tony Lindsay.

Clients

CHESS has registered and assisted 70 clients since April 2012 with many of the issues surrounding employment. If you know of anyone suffering from equalities discrimination or infringements to their human rights please send them to us, we will be pleased to help as much as we can. Our service is free and confidential see our webpage www.cecf.co.uk/chess

Volunteers

We have recruited three new volunteers recently, if you are reading this newsletter and want to find out more please contact us on ChessEnquiries@Cecf.Co.Uk we have roles in administration and casework. Descriptions of the roles can be emailed to you if you are interested in volunteering.

Training

We will deliver the last of this year’s arranged training sessions in Equality and Human Rights, we have received a very positive response from the participants and over 95% enjoyed the training that we have delivered. If you are reading this and belong to a community group and would like some free training on the equality act, human rights act and diversity with refreshments provided, please contact us on ChessEnquiries@Cecf.Co.Uk

Christmas Break

We will be closed from Friday 21st December 2012 and will reopen to clients on Tuesday 8th January 2013. The CHESS team wish you a happy festive season and a fantastic 2013.

Reported by Tony Lindsay, CHESS Project Manager

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Community Focus

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum- Multicultural Event - 22nd September 2012

Once again the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum organised its annual multicultural event around the theme of World Peace Day. This Day was established by the United Nations in 1981 and is usually celebrated on September 21st each year. The Forum organised its event on Saturday 22nd, a day which was more practical for the many communities who were lining up to take part in the programme.

Arriving early to set up forum staff and volunteers rushed around getting reception organised, kitchen prepared, stage and sound system ready. Even as we prepared people started arriving to start sound checks and get a bit of last minute practice in. In a packed Emmanuel United Reform Church there was an introduction from the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Paul Saunders. Followed by a selection of uplifting and thought provoking readings from representatives from a plethora of different faiths. This was intermingled with music, song and dance which illustrated so well the diversity of Cambridge.

Ziba Tabrizi performed colourful and dynamic Afgan and Persian dances, there was a medley of African dances and Hanna Brock performed a traditional Chinese musical instrument called a Guzeng. The evenings entertainment was rounded off by the Cambridge Pakistan Cultural Associations – Childrens Choir – singing “We are The World”. The final act was a symbolic candle lighting and a moment of quiet reflection.

Reported by Eddie Stadnik

Women4integration - 9th November 2012

Women4integration held a successful intentional coffee morning event where there was a gathering and intermingling of around 30 Women including backgrounds from English, Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Vietnamese and African community groups.

Various food stalls were set up followed by some interactive fun games sessions such as “Language Whisper” and some international authentic food demonstration. The Aloo Paratha, a traditional Indo/Pakistani dish, Vietnamese Harvest food and Kashmiri Chai were all on the menu item!

The event was also used as a platform to promote the works of the writer of “Lascar” by Shahida Rahman who gave a brief insight to her new fact / fiction based novel centred

around the earliest South Asian migrant settlers in Britain.

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Ziba Tabrizi

Diep Hoang from ABMEC addressing the meeting

Community Focus Continued

The Khidmat Sisters, a newly formed charitable group who are being supported by CARE took to the stage to highlight the plight of the elderly who are unable to leave their homes and thus subject to potential social isolation. Sister Iqbal (secretary) and Qamar Nizaam (chairman) spoke of this newly formed group whose aim is to reduce isolation in the elderly within the community by social and friendly visits to their homes by volunteers.

Punjabi Cultural Society & Indian Community Cultural Society Celebrating Diwali – 10th November 2012

On Saturday 10th November the Punjabi Cultural Society Cambridge and this year in partnership with the Indian Community Cultural Association celebrated Diwali. The Forum was there to support the event. After an introduction from the Mayor Of Cambridge, Councillor Sheila Stewart, there followed an evening of entertainment. Traditional Indian music, song and the famous Bhangra music with its alluring rhythm which got everyone on the floor to dance. There was delicious Indian Food and refreshments. This was the first time that the Punjabi Cultural Society and the Indian Community Cultural Association had come together to organise for this event and it was a resounding success.

Reported By Eddie Stadnik

Community Health

EACH (Embedding Ambassadors In Community Health) an update …

EACH is a collaboration between the East of England Strategic Migration Partnership, the Health Service and community groups run by and for minority ethnic women in the eastern region. EACH aims to address the issues of access to health services faced by women who are 3rd country nationals and who have come to the UK in the last ten years and to improve their health outcomes. As mentioned in my previous article in issue 18 of our newsletters.

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Participants enjoying the multicultural fayre

Mr Kale, Chair of the PCSC and Councillor Sheila Stuart, Mayor of Cambridge

Danai Kariwo, CECF Receptionist. Toshie Kono, CECF & CHESS Finance Officer. Councillor Sheila Stuart, Cambridge's Mayor. Eddie Stadnik, CECF Chief Officer.

Eddie Stadnik CECF's Chief Officer. Bruce Stuart, Mayors Consort. Councillor Sheila Stuart, Cambridge's Mayor.

Community Health Continued

CECF was contracted in 2011 to deliver the EACH Project, since then we have made remarkable progress with the EACH project. Though initially contracted to deliver only two workshops, so far we have delivered seven workshops with two more lined up in the new year. The positive responses to

our workshops is an indication of the great need for work of this nature. The three hours workshops are designed in a way to give front-line NHS personnel the opportunity to have an open dialogue with Asian women, to understand their health needs and to explore how cultural issues impact upon their engagement with health services. Findings from these workshops were presented during the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Officers meeting in early December this year.

Some generic points arising from delivering the EACH project so far are as listed below:

Health services need to become more culturally sensitive

The provision of trained interpreters is highly recommended in consultations with patients from other ethnic groups who speak little English

Permeability of the health services should be enhanced, service users need to be educated on the appropriate and timely use of health services– eg. GP’s should be the first point of contact for patients and to reduce inappropriate use of A&E services

GP services need to be more joined up with other types of services in particular social care; access to psychological support and advocacy groups such as PALS

Service providers need a better understanding of how to gain access to hard to reach groups– eg. by consulting voluntary sector organisations such as CECF, local faith groups and associated groups that are active in the community and in touch with the most vulnerable

Effective dissemination of information by employing appropriate methods and media to convey health information to vulnerable groups– eg Asian TV

Reported by Hena Haque

DHIVERSE -promoting sexual health for everyone

DHIVERSE is the HIV and sexual health charity for Cambridgeshire – we work to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, to support people living with HIV, and to challenge stigma around HIV. Since CEFC

has moved to Sturton Street we are near neighbours – DHIVERSE has its head office at Dales Brewery in Gwydir Street, just down the road!

For many people HIV in the UK is ‘no longer on the map’ – the widespread coverage of the epidemic in the eighties and nineties has dropped off, with an understandably greater focus on more common sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia, and the face of the epidemic in the UK has changed with the enormous improvement in treatments over the last fifteen years.

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EACH training session at Arbury Community Centre

Community Health Continued

However, HIV hasn’t gone away, the number of new diagnoses in the UK increased from 2,300 in 1997 to 7,000 in 2007 and now seems to be settling out at about 6,000 new cases a year. Treatments for HIV have indeed improved, but in order to access the excellent medical resources out there you have to know that you are infected with the virus, and about a quarter of people living with HIV don’t know they are infected. Even more worryingly, 47% of new diagnoses are ‘late’ diagnoses, which means that the condition is detected after the best point at which to start treatment.

Why does this happen? One of the reasons is the fear, taboo, stigma and discrimination which still surround HIV. In many cases it is this stigma which prevents people living with HIV from getting on with their lives rather than the virus itself.

CECF and its member organisations are dedicated to combating the stigma which can affect individuals and communities, and so I feel very excited at writing this article, and having the opportunity to let you know some of the ways in which we can challenge the stigma and inequalities which prevent everyone from enjoying the best in the way of medical services and resources and, more specifically, which can prevent people living with HIV from getting on and living their lives. I would also very much like to hear from you, about any problems you have had in accessing sexual health services, or any issues you have experienced around HIV.

Although HIV can affect anyone, there is a particularly high prevalence of HIV in BME communities within the UK, (with around 3.7% of Black Africans living in the UK being infected with HIV, compared to 0.15% in the total population, and a particularly high rate of late diagnosis amongst African men – 65%). There is also strong evidence to indicate that the stigma and prejudice around HIV is experienced more strongly by members of BME communities, and is preventing them from accessing the medical services and other forms of support which are ‘theoretically’ available. The stigma around HIV can become entangled with further layers of stigma, racism and homophobia, and DHIVERSE is very keen to find out from you about any experiences you have had, thoughts you would like to share and to work with you to promote safer sexual practices and sexual health for everyone, and to ensure that everyone living with HIV can access the medical care and social support which they need.

Remember that sexual health services including HIV tests are

Completely free

Totally confidential (you don’t need to bring any ID such as passports)

You can go to any sexual health clinic anywhere in the country

If you are having a sexual health check up, make sure that includes an HIV test

Also, all sexually transmitted infections are treatable, even if some, like HIV are not at present curable – and that the treatments available for HIV are now enabling individuals to lead long and healthy lives.

For more information contact : Grant@DHiverse.Org.Uk

Or look at our website www.dhiverse.org.uk

or give us a ring on 01223 508 805

Reported by Grant Chambers, Chief Officer DHiverse

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Education and Training

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Education and Training Continued

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Education and Training Continued

CECF training in exciting new volunteering opportunities

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum will be able to provide exciting new volunteering opportunities through a partnership with MENTER. This is funded by the European Social Fund via The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd (TCHC) and has been co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency. The project will support individuals from any Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities with training and volunteer placements. There are three strands to the project. These are:

1. A sewing class for Asian women run at Abbey Meadows. If you are interested in finding out more about this please email Hena@Cecf.Co.Uk

2. An advocacy volunteering strand in equalities legislation, handling discrimination case work, signposting for further advice e.g. on benefits and acting as advocates for BME clients. If you would like to find out more about this please email TonyLindsay@Cecf.Co.Uk

3. An administration/project management strand where volunteers will be given free training in administration, finance, report writing, project and event management. If you would like to find out more please email Eddie@Cecf.Co.Uk Training is now being offered in C.V. writing. It is anticipated that on Thursday 10th January 2013. There will be one to one confidential C.V. writing sessions which can be booked via email on a first come first booked basis. The time slots are below, an hour for each person: 10.30am - 11.30am, 12.00 noon - 1.00pm, 2.00 pm - 3.00pm, 3.30 pm - 4.30pm. All at the CECF / MENTER office. The deadline for replies to book is Thursday 3 January 2013. If you are interested could you please complete the C.V. template from our website and email it to Saira Law at MENTER Saira@Menter.Org.Uk and specifying what time you wish to meet with her.

The advocacy strand will be developed to be a formal training course for volunteer advocates. Changes in welfare and rising poverty / debt and discrimination levels mean an increasing demand for help and support at a time when funding cuts are reducing the level of advisory services. We hope that we can establish community based solutions to meet this need. Volunteers can provide invaluable services for those who need advice to tackle discrimination or need help with debt, housing, benefits or employment problems.

We hope to facilitate opportunities to use the skills learnt through placements at CECF. People will also be given free advice and help, if required, with writing job applications and with interview practice. The training is not formally accredited but participants will be given certificates detailing skills learnt. The administration / project management strand could be useful if you run a community group or are interested in starting one. MENTER and CECF can help with start up, for example, what you need for the governing rules of a community group (i.e. a constitution). Already 20 people have joined this project and enrolled for training and job help. This project could be for you if you are an Asian woman who would like to develop sewing and business skills or if you are from a Black and Minority Ethnic community and would like to help your community or develop skills for employment.

Reported by Ila Chandavarkar, MENTER Development Coordinator

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Events

National Holocaust Memorial Day Sunday 27th January 2013

Cambridge City Council's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is an annual opportunity for different communities to come together, to reflect on the universal lessons of the Holocaust and its aftermath. This year, the national theme is Communities Together: build a bridge and this will be fully reflected in the rich and diverse programme on the night. If you haven't been before, you should find the evening to be reflective and commemorative yes, but also inspirational and infused with hope for the future.

One reason for such hope is the number and diversity of young people from the city keen to take part in the event. This year is no exception with people drawn from many Cambridge communities, coming together to reflect in music, dance, prose and poetry. Let's use HMD to bring our communities together and build many bridges.

HMD is the culmination of a series of events which includes the play THE KING'S POST OFFICE, adapted from the Indian writer Tagore by Mike Levy. The play will be part of an evening jointly presented by the Jewish and Indian communities. There will be one performance on Saturday 26th January, 7 30, The Robinson Theatre, Hills Road Sixth Form College. To reserve tickets please contact Admin@KeyStage-Company.Co.Uk In addition to the play, the evening will include live Indian music, the Kol Echad Jewish Choir of Cambridge, readings and poems.

Reported by Mike Levy, Keystage Arts and Heritage Ltd

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Events Continued

Cambridge University Pakistan Society presents… ~ Koh-e-Noor ~

The CU PakSoc warmly requests your company at its annual Charity Ball – join us for a truly magical evening as we captivate your imagination by bringing you back to the majestic days of the Mughal dynasty – PakSoc style! A night filled with glamour, enchantment and elegance, we promise to mesmerise you with our captivating collection of entertainment, mouth-watering food and mystical ambience at what promises to be the best PakSoc Ball yet!

Here’s a brief preview of what he have on offer:

~ Canapé reception with welcome drinks~ A ravishing waited five-course meal to tantalise your taste buds with the finest in Pakistani cuisine

~ Pakistani singing sensation – Ali Abbas!~ Breathtaking performances from one of the country’s finest breakdancing groups

~ Fashion Show - showcasing the best of Pakistani fashion~ Lassi bar – to showcase Pakistan’s finest milkshake

~ Chai hut – with smooth teas including Masala, Kashmiri, as well as good old English!~ Jugglers – to entertain you with their amazing skills

~ Henna Artists – PakSoc’s very own artistic tattoo parlour~ Five-tiered chocolate fountain, with many scrumptious dips

and much much more!!!

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Events Continued

Bling Ya Ting

Auditions on Sunday 13-01-2013, 10am - 2pmMeadows Community Centre, 1 St Catherine's Road, Cambridge CB4 1RJ

Finale at The Corn Exchange on Wednesday 3-04-2013.

Aims - The aim of the talent show is to bring together different ethnic backgrounds, ages, faiths, and people from rural and urban areas.

The show will unite, discover, develop and showcase local talent with a focus on urban and world themes.

Contact – For more information or an application form you can email Della Spencer of Cultural Arts United at CulturalArtsUnited@Hotmail.Com or telephone 07840 152 520. Alternatively you can download an application form by clicking on the following link or by typing it into your web-browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer or whatever) - http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/community-and-living/annual-events/bling-ya-ting-talent-show.en

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Services provided on CECF site

Cambridgeshire Human Rights and Equality Support Services (CHESS)

Helps individuals who have been victims of discrimination, or who have been a victim of racial harassment.

Tues & Thurs 10am – 7pmWednesday 10am – 4pm

To book an appointment, please contactTel: 01223 462 615 or Email: ChessEnquiries@Cecf.Co.Uk

British Refugee Council Refugee Services

Every Friday10am - 1pm

For advice or to book an appointment please phone this numberTel: 0808 808 2255

Calls from land-line numbers and the main six UK mobile phone networks; 3, Orange, Virgin, Vodaphone, T-Mobile & O2 are absolutely Free!

Italian Benefit AdviceEvery 1st Friday of every Month from 10am - 12 (noon)

To book an appointment, please contact Carlo Ciccarello on 01234 357 889

Developing Partnerships with

The Akashi ProjectCambridge City Council

Cambridgeshire ConstabularyCambridgeshire County Council

Cambridge Immigration Legal CentreCambridgeshire NHS

Citizens Advice BureauEquality and Human Rights Commission

Guidance, Employment and Training (Cambridge GET)Huntingdonshire Community AssociationSouth Cambridgeshire District Council

MENTER

Drop-ins at CECF

General Drop-in Times & Free Computer use

Tue - Fri 10 am to 1 pm

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Chief Officer: Eddie StadnikProject Support Officer: Hena Wali HaqueCHESS Project Manager: Tony LindsayCHESS Administrator: Firdausi BaigFinancial Adminstrator Officer: Toshie Kono

Chair: Valerie Berkson Secretary: Samia BaigTreasurer: Joyce Andrade

Members: Mustafa OnganFarah MoughalEva SimmonsShahid KhanAmina KhanHong BianJeong-ae-AhnIsaac AyambaSwati OgaleBalan SisupalanHazra AwalRahima AhammedRobin Anthony

CECF TrusteesCECF Staff

In Partnership with: