No recognition for the BME sector

Voice4Change has launched a campaign to achieve more recognition for the work the sector does in bonding communities and promoting equality. Voice4Change England director Vandna Gohil said: “Despite doing a fantastic job in delivering services that meet the needs of often marginalised communities and building community cohesion, the work of the BME third sector is not getting the recognition it deserves”. Which is why the NGO has launched a campaign called Valuing the BME Third Sector that it hopes will raise awareness of the role of the Sector and to highlight some of the crucial issues it faces.

According to the Voice4Change director, one of the main problems that are caused by this lack of visibility is that BME third sector organisations are finding it harder and harder to secure funds. She went on to say that those BME organisations that had received funding had already been beneficial to their communities and that the government should support a sector that it so heavily relies on for engagement with “hard-to-reach sections of the community”.

Best practice in action

This good work being carried out by BME organisations is evidenced by the work of the North London-based Asian People with Disabilities Alliance (APDA) tat was set up in 1988 by the Asian community to provide social care support to disabled people including those with learning difficulties. “It works with service users to empower them to feel connected to local decision-making processes and through its Volunteers’ Service has recruited people to support other local charities as well as APDA”, explained Gohil.

“Similarly the Apna Haq organisation in Rotherham shows how a specialist provider of services to Asian women facing issues of violence in their lives can better address cultural issues in meeting the needs of BME communities.”

Voice4Change is currently lobbying MPs to raise awareness and funding in order to strengthen the BME third sector. In support of Voice4Change England’s campaign, Labour and Co-operative MP Alun Michael tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to recognise the “important contribution” the sector makes, in the House of Commons on February 4.

“Unfortunately this reliance on the sector hasn’t translated into increased funding. Therefore, Voice4Change England is asking MPs to champion the BME third sector to help it secure adequate and equitable resources to deliver better outcomes for diverse communities” added Gohil, who concluded that: “Without this high-level political backing the sector may never get the investment required.”

www.voice4change-england.co.uk