BMEspark is a membership-based website for practitioners and policy makers with action examples, research and knowledge on meeting the housing and support needs of vulnerable people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. BMEspark is supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and produced by Lemos&Crane.
BMEspark's second annual conference was held in London at the Royal Institute of British Architects on 29 March 2006 at which the Awards were made.
Over forty entries had been received from the breadth of BMEspark's membership including local authorities, housing associations, smaller community service providers, PCTs and the probation service. On the Judging Panel were Gerard Lemos, BMEspark project director, former member of the Audit Commission, Professor Mark Johnson, head of the Mary Seacole Research Centre at DeMontfort University, and Alka Damania, an independent consultant to local authorities, housing associations and other agencies on supported housing issues and work with vulnerable people. In addition to evaluating entrants' documentation in relation to the published judging criteria, visits were made to a selected number of shortlisted entries.
for service providers of care with support and those supporting independent living for vulnerable people from black and minority ethnic communities
The Award is made in recognition of Tuntum's innovative practice in a
challenging and deprived neighbourhood in the Midlands where it works
with teenage parents providing a service which is fully inclusive of
the fathers in accordance with the wishes of the service user. Tuntum
is a small housing association that has made great strides in meeting
the needs of teenage mums and is working hard within the resources
available to represent the needs of this client group. It appears to be
unique in that it allows fathers to stay two nights a week, following a
clear risk assessment process. This seems to be greatly beneficial for
both parents in taking on their responsibility and moreover the fathers
are helped to get support for themselves if they need it.
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Awaaz Awaaz provides a range of services for South Asian women with mental health issues in Wolverhampton. The commendation is made in recognition of its distinctive work with different age groups of women who use their services facing a diverse range of problems at different points in their lives. |
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Ekaya Ekaya is a specialist housing association based in London working to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies. The commendation is made recognition of their contribution by various methods including working with schools and representing the needs of this client group. |
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Gharana Gharana provides care and support in the East Midlands. The commendation is made in recognition of its innovation in training care workers who have limited or no English skills to acquire an NVQ2 qualification and thereby ensure that service users did not lose their carers. |
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Keyring Living Support Network Keyring is commended in recognition of its innovation in solving the problem of difficulties in recruiting staff to work in Chapeltown, an area that is considered dangerous. Keyring has seen beyond this stereotyping and tapped into a the strong community spirit that also characteristic of this neighbourhood. |
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Ormiston Children and Families Trust Ormiston provides an accommodation advocacy service to the Gypsy and Traveller communities in Norfolk. The commendation is made in recognition of their success in building full community ownership that has promoted trust and dialogue between agencies and service users. |
for service providers for vulnerable people from black and minority ethnic communities who are in crisis or at risk of social exclusion
The Award is made in recognition of Awaredressers' innovation in
utilising the resources of the local community - the everyday
businesses - to spread information on sexual health, thereby promoting
healthier communities. They use a simple, cost effective technique to
enable entrepreneurs to raise awareness and at the same time, fulfil
their wish to make a meaningful contribution to society. Barnet
Primary Care Trust has worked with local African business people,
hairdressers, barbers, grocers and restaurateurs to act as educators
within their communities - raising awareness of sexual health and
reducing the spread of HIV by supplying free condoms and health
information. Businesses use their premises to host seminars. They also
give presentations themselves. As well as being an extremely cost
effective way of raising awareness, the innovation of this project lies
in the PCT working closely with the private sector to build healthier
communities.
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Cricklewood Homeless Concern Cricklewood Homeless Concern is a floating support project for the Irish community, a client group that has traditionally shied away from mainstream services because of barriers to access, such as cultural insensitivity and co-existing needs, for example, homelessness and mental health. The project is commended in recognition of the work it is doing to ensure that clients are represented in the wider community and that their needs are properly met and their rights are maintained. |
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EHSAS carers EHSAS is a group of family carers of children and adults with learning disabilities from Dudley's Muslim communities. It sprang from meetings at a school for children with severe learning disabilities. The commendation is made in recognition of overcoming the difficulties experienced by non-English speaking Pakistani and Bangladeshi women, often the most marginalised groups with the BME communities. |
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North, South and Central Liverpool Primary Care Trust N, S, and Central Liverpool PCT addresses specific health issues of black and minority ethnic communities in Liverpool, including new communities of dispersed refugees and asylum seekers. The commendation is made in recognition of action taken to overcome barriers to access services and raising awareness by training provision. |
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St Basil's St Basil's provides housing advice and support to young people who are at risk of homelessness because of a family breakdown. The commendation is made in recognition of the partnership approach between voluntary and statutory services whereby field workers are based in the local housing neighbourhood offices. |
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The Omari Consortium This partnership of three agencies provides a housing and support service to African Caribbean men with a history of challenging behaviour and failed tenancies. The commendation is made in recognition of complete involvement of the tenants in determining house rules which relies on peer pressure for their enforcement. |
Commissioners of services for vulnerable people from BME communities in urban areas.
The Award is made in recognition of Merseyside Probation Area's achievement in commissioning and sustaining an innovative project to meet the significant needs of young black offenders by using appropriate mentors from BME communities to improve the life chances of those offenders. It appears that the selection and recruitment of those mentors is the key to the success of the project because they continually improve and remain positive while undertaking this difficult and challenging work. To date the mentoring scheme has worked with some 150 clients. Clients themselves are recommending the scheme to friends who are on community sentences or licences
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Leicestershire Together This Local Strategic Partnership is commended for its innovative approach to engaging the local community - the Citizens' Jury which has ensured that service providers were accountable directly, face-to-face, to service users and BME communities, especially marginalised groups such as Gypsy/Travellers and Asylum Seekers. |
Commissioners of services for vulnerable people from BME communities in rural areas.
The Award is made to Norfolk Supporting People and South Norfolk
District Council and Partners in recognition of the excellent
partnership working to achieve positive outcomes for the service users
who are at the heart of the planning and decision-making processes
against a backdrop of negativity, stereotypical/ prejudicial views and
racism regarding the Gypsy and Traveller community. It appears that the
project staff's passion, energy and belief in the cause drove the
project to its success.
The Strategy for Gypsies and Travellers in Norfolk was the product of research and consultation with Gypsy and Traveller community, which identified issues faced by Gypsies and Travellers in Norfolk. It has produced innovative approaches to problem-solving by supporting Gypsies and Travellers in following through and negotiating accommodation options; by supporting people making accommodation moves; by supporting individuals and families facing eviction; by signposting people to specialist and mainstream services, including health, advice and education.
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