Imkaan

Home

15 September 08

IMKAAN'S BRIEFING PAPER - A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

Please find attached Imkaan's briefing paper (under the Policy Development section, and in Papers and Reports). This follows on from the public meeting held at Westminster in February 2008 to highlight the government's funding and commissioning policies that are having a detrimental impact on the BAMER refuge sector that help BAMER women and children exit violence.

Thankfully since the meeting, the need for specialist services for BAMER women and children and the Governments over emphasis on criminal justice interventions was acknowledged as part of the Home Affairs Committee Report to Government to which Imkaan submitted evidence earlier this year and Southall Black Sisters won their case against Ealing Council which has meant that Ealing will need to review their decision to cut funding to SBS, review their commissioning strategy and equalities impact asssessment. However, without a change in the approach to local commissioning, and a withdrawal of the cohesion policy we are continuing to lose grassroots services to large, mainstream generic organisations with little understanding or experience of delivering services for women and children- we now only have 50% of specialist independent BAMER women’s led organisations across the UK that existed five years ago and few resources still exist to fund crucial services such as outreach, advocacy, legal advice, work with children.

Independent BAMER women’s groups are crucial in helping women to access appropriate support, exit violence as well as having a significant impact on their health, well-being and life opportunities and research from WRC has shown that over 90% of women support the right to choose access to women only services and professionals when they report domestic and sexual abuse yet it is the frontline women’s services that continue to struggle in the current environment.

Please support the sector and Imkaan members providing vital services by signing the on-line petition, in which we are petitioning the Prime Minister to urge the Department for Communities and Local Government to clarify it's position on 'community cohesion' and Supporting People (now within Local Area Agreements) which is leading to the funding of generic violence against women services and the loss of targeted culturally specific support services that provide crucial pathways of support to vulnerable women from BAMER communities experiencing violence.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bamerwomensrefuges

12 September 08

Imkaan supports the work of Voice 4 Change England

Voice 4 Change is a National organisation that represents the needs and views of the BAMER third sector through policy, research and strategic advocacy.

In the short time Voice 4 Change has been around they have provided an important, powerful and proactive voice to highlight the vital role and contribution of BAMER led organisations to policy-makers, funders and other bodies. Their emergence is timely particularly where the very existence of the BAMER sector continues to be undermined through the cohesion agenda and commissioning policies that are dismantling long-established community-led

grassroots services in favour of a generic 'one size' fits all approach to service delivery. It is becoming increasingly necessary for the BAMER sector to work together to build a stronger voice and presence to ensure that the needs of the communities we support are heard and not sidelined. You can support the work of Voice4 Change by becoming a member (see details below).

Help build a thriving BME Third Sector with Voice4Change England

Since its launch in 2007 Voice4Change England has quickly established itself as a powerful advocate for the interests of the BME Third Sector. It has excellent links with the office of the Third Sector, being one of its Strategic partners, and is prominent in representing the public policy concerns of the BME Third Sector to the media. It has responded to numerous Government consultations and has taken a lead on lobbying against CLG’s draft Cohesion Guidance for Funders. In addition, it has participated in many conferences and seminars, and hosted four quarterly policy roadshows to engage with regional audiences throughout England. The issues covered include; CLG Cohesion Guidance, the review of the BME Compact Code, Local Area Agreements, the principles of representation, Compact Advocacy, the Public Law Project, the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, and the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Area Assessment consultation. It also organised a policy symposium that brought together leading thinkers and practitioners on cohesion issues to inform the nation debate.

Now it is looking for individuals and organisations interested in building a thriving BME Third Sector to join as Subscribers to broaden its base of support. The Subscribers scheme is open to individuals, institutions, networks, forums, alliances, partnerships, social enterprises, voluntary and community organisations, registered charities and statutory bodies to join as supporters and strengthen V4CE’s role as a policy advocate for the BME Third Sector. There are three Subscriber types: Full, Associate or Friend. The benefits to Subscribers include: participation in Voice4Change England’s policy responses to government consultations, discounts on services such as events and publications; plus regular news, updates and signposting to opportunities throughout the Third Sector. There is a free introductory offer and details with an online application form are available from www.voice4change-england.co.uk

13 August 08

We are seeking enthusiastic and committed staff for four posts:

(1)   Full-time Director
Salary offered at PO7 - £45,246
Funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund

This post holder will be a dynamic and strategic thinker with:
·      Substantial experience working in a leadership role in the VAW
       (Violence Against Women) sector.
·      Knowledge of VAW policy and legislation in the

·      Strong work planning and staff management skills

(2) Full-time National Development Capacity Building Officer
Salary offered at P03 - £33,295
Funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund

This post holder will be an effective communicator with:
·      Substantial experience of working with groups and organisations to
       assist on development issues.
·     Knowledge and ability to provide refuges with information and support
       on issues related to operational policies and procedures
·      Skills to identify and develop effective local and regional partnerships

(3) Full-time Information, Finance and Administration Officer
Salary offered at S01 - £25,440
Funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund and London Councils

This post holder will need to have excellent organisational and communication skills with:
·      The ability to organise administrative tasks and provide support
       for all Imkaan events
·      Knowledge of setting up systems for running of an efficient office and
       maintaining appropriate office systems and information resources,
       including the project database.

(4) Full-time Training and Information Manager
Salary offered a P05 £38,404
Funded by The City Bridge Trust and London Councils

This post holder will have a proven record of excellent facilitation, training and resource development with strong inter-personal skills and;
·      The ability to develop specialist training programmes on issues such as
       gender violence and child protection in the context of BAMER
       communities.

These posts are offered on a fixed term basis with an initial probationary period of six months and are based in London Borough of Islington.

These posts are open to BAMER women only and are exempt under the Sex Discrimination Act 7(2) (d) and (e) and the Race Relations Act 5(2) (d) 1976

To apply for any of the above posts send a large A4 sae to:

Administrator, Imkaan, Tindlemanor, 4^th Floor, 52-54 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT

Closing date for all posts: Monday 29th September 2008
CVs will not be accepted.

(These posts will be subject to an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau)

29 July 08

JOB VACANCY

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Post Title	Domestic Violence Projects Assistant (Female Worker)
Ref No.	ENV/1470
Grade (or salary if ungraded)	£24,588 - £26,025
Directorate	Communities Localities and Culture Directorate

This post is advertised under Section 7 (2) (e) Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
A current Criminal Record Bureau check is required for this post.

Details

Tower Hamlets is a distinctive, unique London Borough that is home to a diverse, vibrant, multicultural community. As part of an exciting regeneration programme, we aim to improve the quality of life for all who live and work in the area. It’s also an ideal opportunity to further your career.

Tower Hamlets has a strong track record of delivering a coordinated community response to domestic violence that aims to increase the safety of adults and children.
Provision of a range of safe housing options and support is a crucial part of our strategy. We are seeking an experienced female domestic violence professional to co-ordinate the Sanctuary Project, enabling victims of domestic violence to remain safely in their homes. You will also support the work of the team by maintaining a domestic violence referrals database, contributing to a telephone duty rota and supporting initiatives to raise awareness of domestic violence amongst staff in the Council and partner agencies as well as the wider community.
You will have experience of supporting victims of domestic violence and a working knowledge of domestic violence policies and services. Experience in managing records effectively, securely and accurately and using databases is also essential. You must have an understanding of the principles of risk assessment and safety planning, and be able to work effectively as part of a small team.
This post is advertised under Section 7 (2) (e) Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
A current Criminal Record Bureau check is required for this post.

Closing date: 15 August 2008.

For an online application pack please visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk email recruitment@towerhamlets.gov.uk
A special Minicom service is also available for those with a hearing or speech impairment on 020 7364 4853.
Please quote the relevant reference number

We shall ensure fairness and equal opportunities throughout our workforce and in service delivery. We welcome applications from suitably skilled candidates regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, sexuality, religion or age.

www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

11 July 08

COHESION GUIDANCE FOR FUNDERS – CONSULTATION

Imkaan submitted a response in June 2008 in response to the consultation “Cohesion Guidance for Funders”. We have asked for the consultation to be withdrawn due to the detrimental nature of the policy and hope that our concerns will be recognised and considered.

Imkaan does not agree with the principles of the guidance. The principles provide conflicting and confusing messages, which will be damaging to both specialist BAMER third sector organisations and the communities which they serve.

Imkaan has a number of concerns about the guidance, in particular:

Its focus and undue emphasis on BAMER groups as contributing to a lack of cohesion.

A concern that the policy will instead reverse the principles of cohesion by cutting and questioning the role of key community-based organisations that already play an active role in tackling inequalities, building communities as well as empowering marginalised communities with the tools and confidence to become active participants in wider society.

In reality, cohesion, shared values and belonging can only be achieved through a broader analysis of societal inequalities such as unemployment, racism, poverty, education.

Although the guidance states that domestic violence organisations should not be considered as part of the Cohesion criteria because of the nature of the work they do we feel that the Cohesion agenda will add further pressure to groups who are already struggling to maintain their specialism because of a move towards mainstreaming domestic violence services and the commissioning of domestic violence services to large scale generic housing organisations and voluntary sector providers. We are also aware that some Local Authorities and other funders are clearly using the principles of Cohesion to guide their funding criteria and in turn question the need for dedicated BAMER services.

The guidance will have a detrimental impact on all targeted services that support marginalised needs and communities. Importantly, local third sector organisations need to be involved in identifying and addressing local needs

Essentially, commissioners need to undertake and develop robust equalities assessments to identify gaps in service delivery and new and emerging areas of need.

Funders do not always have the correct information to make considerations as part of their decision-making process in an effective way. Through our experience we have found that funders and commissioners lack knowledge on the specific needs of local communities. Mainstream services are still reliant on the specialist voluntary sector in terms of identifying and responding to needs. Importantly, local third sector organisations need to be involved in identifying and addressing local needs

Primarily grant funding schemes and need to be maintained and not dictated by the cohesion agenda to ensure that small voluntary sector groups are supported and sustained.

Imkaan also sent a model letter to refuges in June 2008 to send to MP’s. , If you do not have this template and require one, please let the Imkaan office know. Please also inform Rapinder if you have had any responses to the letter you have sent.
Imkaan will continue to lobby against the introduction of the Cohesion guidance. If you are experiencing any difficulties because of local authority cohesion strategies please keep us informed.

Imkaan is also holding an in-depth public law training workshop in August 2008 as follow-up to the funding and commissioning training that took place in May 2008. The workshop will help groups to access direct advice and information on the role of equalities impact assessments and gender equality duties and how this can be used to challenge decisions.