The core activities of BEMIS include capacity building, co-ordination and strategic influence, identifying and addressing areas for targeted support and development and partnership working.  The core activities will be undertaken across Scotland by the dedicated team of project staffs with specific remits and specialist areas of work, but with the capacity to be flexible in our approach to maximise co-ordination and cross-fertilisation of areas of works.

BEMIS enjoys a high proportion of fundamental Strengths that are essential for the development and delivery of our role and remit. The opportunities for developing and delivering our strategies and objectives are ample and remain to be exploited to the full in support of the diverse EMVS as well as government policies and initiatives around equality and social justice.

Within the above context, BEMIS has and continue to be a major partner in       supporting the equality agenda in Scotland and            in supporting the diverse communities within the framework of equality, diversity and a cohesive multicultural Scotland. We             envisage this role to be enhanced and promoted enabling us to function and deliver at several levels in empowering the diverse        EM voluntary sector and the communities this sector represents as well as assisting national policies and objectives of the   government in their endeavour to promote an equal multicultural Scotland.

MISSION STATEMENT FOR BEMIS;

As a strategic national infrastructure organisation, BEMIS aims to empower the diverse Ethnic Minority third sector. We are committed to promoting inclusion, democratic active citizenship, recognition of diversity, human rights education, and wider representation, as well as effecting a proactive role in maintaining and enhancing pathways to influence government policy at local, Scottish, UK and EU levels.

VISION FOR BEMIS:

Our vision is of a Scotland that is Equal, Inclusive, and Responsive: A society where people from the diverse communities are valued, treated with dignity and respect, have equal citizenship, opportunities and quality of life, and who actively participate in civic society.

BEMIS will, within the perspective of our vision, adopt, deploy and utilize the following core PRINCIPLES in our strategy, operational planning, development and delivery:

BEMIS…

Recognizes and respect the diversity of diversity in all it does.

Seeks to foster a sense of community within, and solidarity between, minority groups.

Ensures that its policies and actions are clear, coherent, and consistent, and apply equally to all.

Embraces all without either homogenizing difference or entrenching ethnic division.

Does not favor any group over any other, or to entrench any racist doctrine or ethnic hierarchy.

Avoids any policy or action which gives offence to any stake-holders.

Is open to the fluidity of individuals' self-description and to the fluidity of ethnic and other related classifications.

Does not seek or purport to speak on behalf of minority communities either individually or collectively, but assist them to speak for themselves.

Utilises consultative and inclusive approaches to facilitate effective community engagement to inform and influence local and    national policies.

Ensures that its Board and staff is reflective of the diverse communities in Scotland.

        
All of BEMIS strategic, planning and operational contexts will be based on a partnership approach to all equality strands promoting interaction and cooperation at all levels.

The following role and remit constitute a reflection of our vision, strategic and operational principles:

BEMIS will have three overarching strategic aims which form the base for planned activities:

• To empower and build the capacity of minority formal and informal community organisations:

          BEMIS has been proactive in initiating focused capacity building programs and structures that meet the need of the sector, and the impact has been acknowledged at various levels especially within the framework of empowering these organisations and the cascading strategy deployed within these programs and initiatives. However, we acknowledge that the need for capacity building among the ethnic minority voluntary sector and communities is not only about providing training and bridging the skill gaps, but also about  enabling and involving these communities in the wider decision making processes on a local and national level.    Through sharing information, promoting good practice, networking effectively with the wider voluntary sector and other agencies, the ethnic minority voluntary sector will be able to develop its own capacity building initiatives as well as better support the communities these organization/agencies represent.    In addition, capacity building for the ethnic minority voluntary sector should be transferred to involve the communities themselves and this is one of the priorities BEMIS has been promoting and supporting. BEMIS will continue to work in partnership with educational bodies, learning organizations, funders and other stakeholders as well as the ethnic minorities voluntary sector especially grassroots  organizations, to identify and facilitate capacity building training and development programs across Scotland. We will deliver on this through:

• Providing direct support for the development of EM groups and organisations.
• Engaging EM community organisations and communities in policy making processes; influencing government policy, and ensuring their active and equal participation in civic life.
• Empowering their capacity to function effectively and to achieve their individual organisational mission.
• Empowering local grassroots community groups and promote their local involvement and representation with local public bodies and other stakeholders while ensuring their voice is reflected and recorded in national development and policy and decision making processes.
• Continuing direct support and empowerment of EM communities in rural areas.
• Investing in promoting and up-skilling of volunteers and workers in EM organisations.
• Lead on consultation and research work ensuring direct input from grass root EM Communities into wider initiative and developments.
• Address at local and national levels pertinent issues in support of the diverse EM voluntary sector and its development.
• Advocating for minority (ethnic and faith) communities and community organisations ensuring recognition of diversity, recognition of discrimination and proactively working to open doors and change traditional thinking and operations by stakeholders.
• To mobilise communities to support diversity and equality as a whole.
  
  
• To be a key player and proactive stakeholder in leading on lobbying and influencing policy development at all levels in relation to Ethnic Minorities and the Race Equality agenda in Scotland (strategic partnership role to the Government:

             BEMIS has been over the last years positive in promoting and empowering a political voice for the diverse EM voluntary sector through working directly with them and in partnership with the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, funding bodies, wider voluntary sector and any other partners. However, due to various factors such approach remained restricted within a responsive rather than a proactive framework approach. Following on the HMIE report and further feedback with the Scottish government, it is acknowledged that BEMIS has a strong impact of the Scottish voluntary sector scene and this has to be utilized in ensuring government   objectives and efforts are supported more effectively and efficiently within a strategic partnership role with the Scottish government. This is a role that has to be enhanced and structured strategically with the government. However, this will have to be deployed effectively to ensure that     mutual interests of both the government and the diverse EM voluntary sector and   communities are paired within a national unified aim that engulfs the         Government’s five strategic objectives. Such role will be developed within the following outline (not conclusive):

• Setting up a structured and focused consultative framework in support of the government and stakeholders at several levels: Varied consultation mechanisms based on context and content:
• Sustain a supporting consultative framework for the government.
• Report and advise the government on pertinent issues in relation to EM voluntary sector and communities.
• Ensure contribution and feedback from diverse communities in response to government initiatives and legislations.
  to develop our strategic partnership role with the Scottish Government in support of their objectives and undertaking of the equality and civic agenda in a multicultural Scotland:
• act as a fully supporting partner with various departments (Responsive and Pro-active).
• act as a catalyst for promoting the interests of EM with the government as well as ensuring government objectives are filtered and supported among EM and the wider sector (actively & proactively).
  Ensure EM communities and organisations have a voice assisting their engagement and empowerment to influence the government policy agenda at local, national and international levels.
• Work closely with the government at various levels and ensure the impact of policies, legislations and initiatives in relation to equality, social justice, and community cohesion, are equally adhered to and deployed.
• Be pro active in building bridges between the government and stakeholders and the EM voluntary sector and communities.
• to provide a pathway to influence mainstream (government) policy: work on supporting the Scottish government and key stakeholders, in the development of their policies and initiatives on equality, diversity and community.
  
  
• To help develop, promote & progress inclusive society and democratic active citizenship for all in a multicultural Scotland at Scottish, UK and European levels. In addition, be pro-active in supporting and promoting Democracy & Human Rights Education in Scotland ensuring inclusive active citizenship roles for the diverse Ethnic Minority communities:

 Recent developments in Scotland, in relation to equality and priorities and the establishment of the EHRC, have set up new operational framework for all equality groups including BEMIS. And as an umbrella organisation, the responsibilities and role of BEMIS in this context becomes vital in its endeavour to live up to these challenges.

The role that BEMIS has played over the last few years as an intermediary umbrella organisation has successfully enabled various ethnic minorities groups / communities to have a voice and secure capacity building and access to engagement with various initiatives. This has also informed to the understanding of key stakeholders and decision/policy makers and, as such, impacted positively on development in Scotland. However, the need for a more focused inter-agency work places BEMIS in a unique role where we can effect a very positive impact in promoting equality and diversity in Scotland while ensuring a voice in the European setting where good practice and developments in Scotland can be promoted, shared and enhanced. To ensure our contribution to multicultural Scotland and interaction with European development, BEMIS will operate within the following framework:

• Address and lobby issues of concern for the EM community and voluntary sector with concerned stakeholders at Scottish (priority), UK and European levels.
• Raise awareness of the Scottish EM voluntary sector regarding developments in UK and Europe in relation to equality and human rights/  Ensure filtering of relevant information to Scottish EM groups
• Promote and effect influential human rights interest among the diverse EM voluntary sector.
• Work with and engage the EMVS in initiatives and policies ensuring their voice at a UK level and consequently European level.
• Empower local EM groups to have the confidence and opportunities to develop partnerships within UK and European contexts.

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