Latest News

On the 28th July 2010 the BME Learning Network, in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service and BTEG, held a consultation meeting called Tackling Race Inequality: Closing the Ethnic Minority Apprenticeship Gap.

The event was held at Mercury House, Manchester Road in Bradford and had a great turn out from local councils over Yorkshire, business leaders, community groups and training providers.  After Patrick-Spencer Salami, the Chair of the BME Learning Network and CEO of REEMAP,  introduced the day and Jeremy Crook OBE of BTEG spoke about some of the general issues that were affecting apprenticeships, Delroy Beverley from InCommunities took to the stage.  InCommunities is a huge social housing company in Bradford, and Delroy gave an inspiring talk on the changes he had made in recruitment and advertising of the apprenticeships and what that had done to increase BME young people applying for apprenticeships in his organisation and women applying for non traditional roles.  Hughon Condor of PATH Yorkshire then followed with an explanation of  his Positive Action programme and how this could work for other people, including a pre-apprenticeship course to get people ready to apply.

The group then split into four parts to discuss some of the barriers to apprenticeships, good practice and awareness issues for apprenticeships for BME young people.  This information was fed back to the National Apprenticeship Service to help shape their work for the coming years.

The event finished with networking and lunch and was a great success for all those that attended.

Last week the BME Learning Network (WY) achieved another of its goals; it achieved Charity Status with the Charity Commission.  The process was a long one as we had to change aspects of our constitution to achieve this goal.  As all of you who attended the AGM are aware, the changes to the constitution were voted on and passed unanimously by all the members present.  These changes allowed us to finalise our application.

The staff of the Network are now busily hunting funds using our new found status so we can continue the good work we have done so far.

Thanks to all the members, the Executive Committee and the staff at the Charity Commission for their support during this process

The BME Learning Network held its first AGM on the 22nd April 2010 at the Aagrah Midpoint Restaurant between Leeds and Bradford.  The event was a huge success, with over 70 members, stakeholders and friends attending and two amazing speakers, Caryl Agard, Voice4Change, and Khalida Ashrafi, Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

To read more and see the pictures, go to:

http://www.bmelearning.co.uk/bme/cms.php?op=index&content_type=2

The Network is pleased to announce the launch of the BaseCamp resource pack for all members.  The pack is a comprehensive guide to quality practices and contains example policies, procedures and business plans that can be adapted to any organisation. 

We hope that the pack will be a useful tool for all our organisations from big to small and we would appreciate your feedback on it.  Please follow the link below to find the toolkit:

http://www.bmelearning.co.uk/bme/cms.php?op=index&content_type=18

After two cohorts of the PTLLS course (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) we are pleased to announce we have a 100% pass rate of all those who completed the course and handed in course work.  This is an amazing achievement for all those who took the course and it goes without saying the excellent tutor, Heather Levene. 

Congratulations go to: 

Qashif Parvez—Trescom

Samra Dad—Lancaster Consulting

Dr Clement Katalushi—ABCD Ltd

Christopher O’Hagan—Trescom

David Lightfoot—Solange Robinson Consultancy

Iris Gabrielle—Meridian Centre

Dr Geetha Upadhyaya—Kala Sangam

Jude Lancaster—Lancaster Consulting

Patrick-Spencer Salami—REEMAP

Allan Sam—Solange Robinson Consultancy

Rizwan Anjum—Halifax Opportunities Trust

James McGuire—Beaumont Street Studios

Nick Marsden—Beaumont Street Studios

Sam Harvey—Beaumont Street Studios

Robert Barns—Solange Robinson Consultancy

Rahat Hussein—Karmand Community Centre

Hashim Vali—Ravensthorpe Community Centre

Qashim Ali—ANNISA UK

Certificates were presented at the AGM on the 22nd April 2010 at the Aagrah Midpoint Restaurant.

So far three other Network members have been accredited to the Matrix standard through the Build2Impact project for the BME Learning Network.  Our other three successful members are REEMAP, Leeds, Nari Ekta, Leeds and Ravensthorpe Community Centre in  Dewsbury.

The project gave support and guidance in preparing for the assessment and help in the construction of their portfolio.  They were given six days help from  M. Ibrahim of West Bowling Community Training and Advice Centre who was commissioned by the project to help the organisations.  They were also given a financial contribution from the Network for help in achieving this award. 

The Matrix Standard is a Quality Assurance Kite mark for organisations that deliver Information, Advice and Guidance to their clients.  It helps you demonstrate that you have a well organised and quality provision of this service, and will also help you put good quality procedures in place in your organisation.

The picture on the top right - Staff at Ravensthorpe Community Centre with their Matrix Certificate

The picture on the bottom right - Staff at Asha Neighbourhood Project with their certificate

Congratulations go to the following people who gained this qualification:

 * Azra Ahmed (Hamara)

* Millie Brown (Beaumont Street Studios)

* Ceaser Chari ( PATH Yorkshire)

* Nahila Faroon (Ravensthorpe Community Centre)

* Ruth Gray (Build2Impact Project)

* Sonia Hines ( PATH Yorkshire)

* Kirsten Hunter (Beaumont Street Studios)

* Kanees Saber (West Bowling Community Centre)

* Anita Sekhon (Nari Ekta)

* Kanval Soor (PATH Yorkshire)