The role of BEMIS is to
support organisations or individuals who:
1. are defined as being discriminated on grounds
of race, culture, colour, language, and faith.
2. have a history of being excluded.
3. have difficulty in accessing mainstream
services and the decision-making processes.
This support will be provided at various levels,
both local and national, and will include
the dissemination and access to information,
representation, access to the decision making
process, capacity building, networking, training
opportunities etc.
In addition BEMIS has a national role in promoting
and ensuring diverse representation and the
development of the black and ethnic minority
voluntary sector throughout Scotland. (Paying
particular attention to the support needs
of black and ethnic minority communities in
rural areas.)
BEMIS will be working to strengthen the capacity
of the black and ethnic minority voluntary
sector; raise the profile of the black and
ethnic minority voluntary and its need at
a national strategic level; coordinate the
voice of this sector and ensure that issues
of concern are raised with the relevant bodies
and to take a lead on policy issues and debates
that are of interest and concern to the black
and ethnic minority communities on a national
level.
NETWORKING
& PROMOTING BEMIS
Staff have been
promoting and developing the identity of
BEMIS as an umbrella organisation as well
as networking with various organisations
and groups throughout Scotland. Throughout
this process we have highlighted the essence
of equality, diversity and social inclusion
in addition to the other objectives of BEMIS.
Working with local groups/organisations:
BEMIS has adopted an approach to reach out
for local groups and communities across
Scotland ensuring diverse representation
and inclusion of all groups.
A great deal of the work aimed at promoting
and supporting issues of concern for black
and ethnic minority communities at various
level including local authorities and public
bodies, funders, Scottish Executive, Scottish
Parliament and training bodies etc.
Supporting the development of new black
and ethnic minority voluntary sector group/organisations
BEMIS has been supporting groups and organisations
at different levels of development to progress
further and establish themselves in their
area of work.
Representation
BEMIS has been working with other bodies
on joint seminars and workshops highlighting
the role of BEMIS and issues of concern
to the black and ethnic minority communities.
This is paired by extensive liaison work
and cooperative working relationships with
concerned bodies. In addition, BEMIS has
been building a reliable information network
through the development of a national database
as well as lobbying with various statutory,
voluntary and government bodies. The construction
of this database has allowed the collation
of information from various sources on black
and ethnic minority voluntary sector organisation
and groups throughout Scotland. The development
of this approach has served to disseminate
information of great benefit to BEMIS members,
statutory and public bodies. BEMIS has successfully
represented the black and ethnic minority
voluntary sector within the decision making
process at a national strategic level along
with policy makers. This has enabled us
to ensure that the interest of the black
and ethnic minority communities were addressed
and taken on board.
Our national liaison and networking strategy
is paired with our adopted approach that:
“help available” is not enough.
BEMIS has been working on reaching out and
ensuring equal representation of diverse
community groups across Scotland, with special
attention to rural and isolated areas.
TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING
BEMIS acknowledge the fact that there is
a lack of essential training and skills
(organizational management, strategic planning,
lobbying, fundraising and financial management
etc) among the black and ethnic minorities
groups, thus our present strategy has been
to address this issue by seeking out training
opportunities and supporting and identifying
initiatives that would benefit the black
and ethnic minority voluntary sector in
this field.
Capacity Building & Rational: The Core of our Work
The need for capacity building among Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector and communities is not only about providing training and bridging the skill gaps, but about enabling and involving these communities in the wider decision making processes on a local, regional and national levels. Sharing information, providing direct structural support, promoting good practice, networking effectively with the wider voluntary sector and other agencies, engaging directly with the ethnic minority voluntary sector and community groups, empowering a voice for them, promoting their own engagement and representation are but some of the core principles that we adopt in our strategy to support our client groups across Scotland. However, the need for a strong practical capacity building strategy that meet the needs of these community groups is a solid base that cannot be ignored if we are really to empower concerned groups locally, regionally and at a national level.
Based on this approach, we invested at various levels in capacity building training programs relevant to various policy developments in Scotland. The rational for this is that capacity building is not about doing things for others but empowering others to have the necessary skills and abilities to engage and do it for themselves. The main mechanism for this is to invest in professional training for concerned groups and enhancing their knowledge and skills base. Through this, they will be able to develop 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 has continued to work in partnership with educational bodies, learning organizations, funders and other stakeholders as well as the ethnic minority voluntary sector especially grassroots groups/organizations, to identify and facilitate capacity building training and development programs across Scotland.
Examples of the Capacity Building Training programs:
We have successfully finalised the first pilot scheme in support of fundraising skills for the sector: 13 out of 16 diverse EM projects’ representatives achieving Certified Fundraising Training course (over two years). Cascading this training to smaller local groups was a conditional part of the training and this process is undergoing with very positive outcome as various surgeries are carried out by those involved.
A second training program in partnership with the Institute of Fundraising is being developed now.
The ILM Management Training (partnership with the Taleem Trust Leading) is finished and results expected soon (15 EM projects representatives finishing this training initiative in support of building management skills for local projects).
- Community Regeneration / Planning:
BA in Community Regeneration (Phase I/Partnership with the University of Dundee); 17 projects’ representatives finishing first year and progressing to the second year. This is a pilot scheme with the university and feedback from trainees has enabled us to negotiate a SECOND Training Phase for another 15 projects to start in Sep. 07.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Discrimination & Equality:
Oct 06: In response to the development and introduction of the CEHR and consultation of representatives of the EMVS, BEMIS has successfully started this specialist training capacity building program in support of equality understanding among the diverse EM members as well as certain stakeholders. This is a part of a Positive Action process we developed in partnership with Strathclyde University. Fifteen representatives were enrolled for this year and we have a waiting list for next year.
- HNC in Community Learning & Development:
Following on a Scotland wide consultation regarding CLD and EM communities, we worked in partnership with concerned bodies (Consortium of Higher Education and Communities Scotland) developing community based learning in CLD has been achieved and funding for 30 trainees is secured. Training is partly delivered in rural areas where 10 places made available. Another 20 places will be for the central belt. Highlands Program started with Lews College and the central belt program will start in April 07 with Adam Smith College, delivered both at Kirkcaldy and Glasgow.
- Youth Leadership & Equality Training:
A series of intense training (THREE DAYS each program) covering leadership and equality training have been finalised with various grass root community projects across Scotland. In partnership with Strathclyde Uni. and local projects:
- Dundee: Training started in Nov 06 (with Dundee International Women Group)
- Glasgow & Edinburgh: Training took place at various sessions with the Scottish Council of Jewish communities.
- Glasgow: Residential Youth leadership Training in partnership with Youth Counselling Services Agency
- Fife: Training took place in January / March 07 (with Frae Fife and the Arab Society)
- Dumfries and Galloway: Training Took Place January /March 07 in partnership with the Dumfries Multicultural Association.
Most evaluations for the above programs are conducted and are available while we are still evaluating others.
Structural support:
In addition to the above, BEMIS worked closely with diverse community
groups across Scotland, and in partnership with Progress Scotland, to provide structural support ensuring their engagement, participation and active involvement in developing various initiatives on their own, with BEMIS, and in support of wider initiatives on the Scottish Scene. Examples of such support materialised as follows:
- Close support through consultative presence and support for organisational strategic development and operational capacity; examples of the groups that required extensive support presence are: The Persian Community (Glasgow), Afro-Caribbean Group (Fife), The Arab Society (Kirkcaldy), successfully working with them and securing funding (average £10.000) from several funders in support of their development.
- Empowering a more informed EMVS through our communication strategy providing access to information covering relevant issues, events, consultations, and general developments enabling their direct participation and engagement at various levels.
- Close support to Trainees from these projects in coordination with their line Managers.
- Providing networking and training opportunities that will address the needs of the EMVS and diverse communities (e.g. Fundraising seminars with funders, consultation events, etc).
- Fundraising surgeries with funders for under-represented groups,; program is ongoing and will be done in Inverness, Fife and other areas.
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