Issue 31 - November 2014

Jeremy Crook OBE writes:

BTEG and the Centre for Social and Economic Inclusion hosted a stimulating event on entrepreneurship in October, exploring ways in which we could boost entrepreneurship in BAME communities. Entrepreneurship is not an easy option. Many unemployed people trying to make the transition into self- employment need to be focused, determined and supported effectively at the right time It’s clear that providers of start-up support should spend more time assessing the suitability of individuals expressing a desire to start a business as the dropout rates can be high..

Opening Doors Network (ODN), BTEG’s enterprise programme – funded by DCLG and Trust for London and delivered in partnership with three organisations in London - has completed its first year. We are learning a great deal about the needs of entrepreneurial unemployed people. Many participants struggle to complete their business plans and our partners are trying different ways of supporting participants to complete them.

ODN has now hosted two networking events and it is great to see individuals taking time out to meet with participants from different boroughs, established businesses and finance organisations. The most recent event was a speed networking event.

Over the past four years BTEG has been supported by the Ministry of Justice in establishing and supporting a national BAME voluntary and community network, providing a voice into the MoJ. We now have 38 organisations in our network but only a handful appear to have meaningful contracts with public bodies and/or large tier-one contractors. This remains a concern for BTEG and the forthcoming review that has been led by Baroness Lola Young over the past year.

NOMS recently announced a new Infrastructure Grant 2015/16 which we welcomed. However, despite references to BAME communities in the tender specification, it looks almost certain that no application for this programme will include a BAME infrastructure organisation. BTEG could not apply by itself and we have not been approached by any of the mainstream infrastructure organisations to add value to their bids. From our perspective we think infrastructure provision should lead by example and demonstrate diversity of perspectives and support. It is unlikely that the racial disproportionality in the criminal justice system will be solved if there is no BAME organisation charged with influencing large providers to do better for BAME offenders.

Our Routes2Success programme continues to successfully reach out to young people. During Black History Month they travelled the country, along with R2S role models, delivering events through a variety of venues including schools, prisons and pupil referral units.

I will finish with a plug for our last event national event of the year on Apprenticeships and BAME communities – we need to ensure we find new ways to increase the number of BAME apprenticeships in this country which currently stands at 10%. Please do come along and hear from a range of apprenticeship providers and policy makers.

Apprenticeships for ethnic minorities: tackling the key challenges

8 December 2014

News and Updates

Routes2Success

Busy Times for the Routes2Success Team

The Routes2Success team have been busy with events during Black History Month as well as getting R2S Local Projects off the ground.

During October the Routes2Success (R2S) team were inundated with responses from schools and prisons inviting R2S role models to engage with young people through presentations and workshops. 

Our first event took place on 1^st October 2014 at St Andrew’s Primary School in Islington. R2S role model Tony Henry inspired the young pupils with an assembly which focused on why we celebrate Black History Month.

Between the 1^st October and 14^th November the R2S team hosted twenty events all over England; from London to Bristol, Manchester, Hemel Hempstead and Nottinghamshire. The responses from the role models who engaged with the young people, the staff at the institutions and the young people were all very encouraging and positive.

‘Routes2Success delivered a positive and upbeat presentation thanks to their role models. Our young men were engaging and opened up their thoughts and feelings about what their future holds outside of prison.’

Emily Niroomand-Rad, Safer Custody and Equalities at HMP Wayland.

“I think that the event was very motivating for me and my fellow class students. It really encouraged me to do better and to be better in life.”

Student from Highbury Grove School

Not only have we managed to further inspire young people during this month, but we have built up some good relationships with prisons and schools and will be going back to work with the young people.

We also had our first event at Hammersmith and Fulham Youth Offending Service (YOS) and hope that this will encourage more YOSs to use our free service.

R2S Local Development Officer, Collette Noel, has also been working hard to generate interest from motivated young black males to start their own local project. Collette has been liaising with local community groups and has two groups of young men aged between 20 and 25 who will be pitching their ideas to the R2S panel to secure £500 to help them kick start their own project. It has been great to talk to these young men and see their entrepreneurial spirits shine. We have also started a local project with the students at Hatch End High School.

On 11^th December the R2S team will be hosting an employment and apprenticeship event in partnership with Hackney CVS Talent Match and Peabody Trust on the Pembury Estate in Hackney. We will have lots of opportunities for young people aged 16-24 years old to learn employment skills and how to secure an apprenticeships as well as having apprenticeship providers and employers to get advice from on the day.

If you know of any young men aged between 16-24 years old who would be interested in attending this event, please tell them to get in touch with the R2S team: janine@bteg.co.uk/020 or call on 020 7832 5832.

BTEG Criminal Justice Network News

Youth Justice Board seeks examples of good practice with Young BAME people

Duggan family lose appeal

News From Around the Sector

Royal Academy of Engineering’s Visiting Professors scheme

The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Visiting Professors scheme is open for new applications. The purpose of this industry-into-academia scheme is central to one of our strategic aims: to enhance student learning and the employability and skills of UK engineering graduates.

Under the scheme, senior industry practitioners deliver face-to-face teaching and mentoring at the host university. They may also contribute to postgraduate teaching, curriculum development (such as the development of new modules and programmes) and strategy development. The award provides the host university with support for their Visiting Professor worth £10,000 over three years.

More information and an online application form.

Briefing on the new Immigration Act

The Healthwatch network has teamed up with Doctors of the World UK to produce a briefing on the new Immigration Act, in terms of its impact on health and social care.

Key changes under the Immigration Act 2014 include:

• Expanding the types of groups of people who are liable for charges for healthcare to include any migrant who does not have permanent residence – unless they are exercising European free movement rights.
• Introducing a new ‘Healthcare Levy’ for migrants - a charge which, once paid, will cover the costs of NHS healthcare for that person during their stay.
• Introducing new provisions which would require private landlords to carry out immigration status checks on potential tenants to make sure that they are entitled to be in the country.

Top UK social enterprises are in the running for a share of £30k