BME Pact Events

• Annual General Meeting
• Meeting Dates 2010
• 2010 Health Mela
• Lancashire Forum of Faiths Charity Dinner
• AGM - 23rd April 2009
• 2009 Health Mela
• Diverse Co-Operatives Workshop - 26th February
• BME Celebration Evening - 28 November 2008
• Black History Month
• Calendar of Religious Festivals
• Preston Faith Forum Events
• Review of 2008 Health Mela

Annual General Meeting

The 2010 Annual General Meeting took place on 8th July at the Oswaldtwistle Mills Business & Conference Centre, where David Knight stepped down from his position as Chair and as a director.

Anayat Mohammad was voted in and duly took over proceedings.

The guest speaker was Liz Tapner from SELNET, who spoke about Social Enterprises. A copy of her presentation is available on request.

Minutes of the AGM will be published shortly.

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Meeting Dates 2010

The following meetings have been organised for 2010:

• Board Members: 16th September 2010, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Spring Hill Community Centre, Accrington
• Board Members: 11th November 2010, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Spring Hill Community Centre, Accrington

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2010 Health Mela

Preston's annual Health Mela took place this year on 17th April at its usual venue - the GHS Centre on South Meadow Lane in Preston.

Chief Guest was Dr Mike Cheshire, Medical Director of NHS North West, and a key theme was Children's Well-Being. The event was supported by NHS Central Lancashire, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the North West Ambulance Service, with funding support from Grassroots Grants.

Now in its ninth year and nationally recognised as an example of best practice in community healthcare engagement, the Health Mela featured a wide variety of displays, activities, health checks and workshops.

Key features included:

• Fun competitions
• General health assessments
• Height & weight checks
• Advice about exercise, alcohol and smoking
• Holistic medicine
• Reflexology
• Alternative medicine
• Blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol checks

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Lancashire Forum of Faiths Charity Dinner

The Lancashire Forum of Faiths Charity Dinner was held at the Gujarat Hindu Society in Preston on 20th November. Click here for more information.

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Annual General Meeting - 23rd April 2009

The Lancashire BME Pact's 2009 Annual General Meeting took place on 23rd April at the Brierfield People’s Centre, 50 Colne Road, Brierfield, BB9 5NN. The guest speaker was Susan Hughes, who spoke about The Queens’ Award for Voluntary Services. Around 40 people attended, representing organisations across the county.

The event began with an introduction by chair, David Knight, who introduced Company Secretary, Ishwer Tailor and Treasurer, Parvinder Sohal.

Guest speaker, Susan Hughes and Ishwer Tailor are both representatives on the Lancashire Panel for the Queen’s Award. This annual award recognises voluntary groups and excellence in volunteering and is equivalent in status to the MBE. Susan explained the nomination and award processes and encouraged people to spread the word within their local communities.

David Knight then recounted some of the BME Pact's most recent achievements:

• Continued to work in partnership with Lancashire Wide Network for Minority Ethnic Women
• Regular member & board meetings
• Information sharing via emails and newsletter
• Baseline Assessment Research completed highlighting the members’ needs and the development of the Lancashire BME Pact
• 3 new members joined
• Recruitment of freelance worker to work with the Polish groups and to encourage enterprise start ups from the Polish community
• Executive Officers met with Chief Executive, Lancashire County Council
• Members encouraged to join Community Enterprise Boards across Pendle, Burnley & Hyndburn
• Lancashire BME Pact has been successful in securing £0.5 million BASIS funding from Big Lottery fund. The project will run over 3 years.

Current and Ongoing Projects

• Representation of members on Lancashire VCFS Consortiums Executive Board, Lancashire Learning Consortium, Lancashire VCFS Strategy Group, Third Sector Consortium and Local Area Agreements (People and Communities Group) and other forums.
• Working with PEER to help BME engagement on to the Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle Community Enterprise Boards.
• To continue engagement with Lancashire County Council

Future Goals

• Secure funding from other external sources.
• Develop the Capacity of BME Pact and Member organisations
• Continue to work in partnership with agencies
• Promote the work of our member organisations at local and regional levels
• Build on National and International partnerships with similar organisations with assistance from established contacts with the European Parliament
• Continue to identify and address the needs of our members
• Develop bespoke training packages.

The full minutes of the meeting can be downloaded here. (PDF - 49k).

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2009 Health Mela

The Lancashire Gujarat Health User's Forum was held on 28th March 2009 at its usual venue - the GHS Centre on South Meadow Lane in Preston.

Chief guest was Dr Ruth Hussey, OBE - the Regional Director of Public Health and the Medical Director at NHS North West. Her remit includes:

Health improvement and health inequalities
Clinical leadership
Health protection and local area agreements
Ensuring that social care is integrated into the Department of Health in the region.

A copy of the 2009 Health Mela poster can be viewed or downloaded here.

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Diverse Co-Operatives Workshop
26th February 2009, GHS Centre, Preston

On Thursday 26th February, Developing Diverse Cooperatives ran a workshop at the GHS centre in Preston, aimed at encouraging BME social enterprise and business. The project is designed to support anyone who is interested in running a business while also helping the community. It helps interested community groups and organisations, individuals and existing businesses to learn and understand better what doing business cooperatively means, and how it can help them and the communities they wish to support.

For further information, please contact Deyika Nzeribe on 07932 051 464/ 0161 275 9888 or email office@diversecoops.com.

BME Celebration Evening - 28th November 2008

On Friday 28th November, the BME Pact hosted an evening of festivities to acknowledge its members' successes in 2008. The event took place at Accriongton town hall and over 100 people attended from voluntary and statutory organisations within the county. It included a mixture of entertainment, reflecting the cultural richness of the BME communities within Lancashire.

The event was intended as an opportunity for members of the organisation to celebrate the BME Pact's work and achievements. The BME Pact has attracted a number of valued new members in recent months and impressive strides have been made both by groups and by individuals over the course of the year. New accreditations, training courses, social events and successful exam results were just some of the many reasons for the celebrations.

The evening featured many kinds of entertainment, a buffet and news from members across the county, with displays and presentations ensuring that all groups were represented.

One of the guest speakers was Dr Krishna Sarda, CEO of the Ethnic Minority Foundation, who spoke about developing BME communities to produce future leaders and cohesion in society. He also discussed the issue of managing limited resources, and the strength and potential of the Black and Minority communities to overcome these challenges in the current economic climate.

County Councillor Doreen Pollitt, Deputy Leader of Lancashire County Council, concurred with Dr Krishna Sarda and praised the Lancashire BME Pact for its work and achievements over the last few years.

The BME Pact's first Cultural Evening took place on 21st September 2003 at the Ballroom, Accrington Town Hall. This was the first BME Pact event to celebrate the diversity of culture within Lancashire.

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Black History Month

The Nguzo Saba Centre recently teamed up with RESPECT, Lancashire Constabulary and other partners to host a social evening to mark the culmination of Black History Month. The event toook place on Wednesday 29th October at the Truth nightclub on Glover's Court in Preston.

The event featured the One Voice Choir, poet Mark Smith, music by The Uncomfortables and by solo artist Ruth Armitt.

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Seasonal Celebrations

There are many festivals and special days for members of the BME Pact. It is difficult to provide a comprehensive list but some of the most notable dates in 2009 include:

2009

• 5 January - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh
• 6 January - Judaism, 10th Tevet (fast day)
• 7 January - Islam, Ashura
• 7 January - Rastafari, Christmas Day (Ethiopia)
• 14 January - Hinduism, Makar Sankrant (the sun’s journey into the northern hemisphere)
• 18 January - Christianity, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• 27 January - Buddhism, Losar (start) - (Tibetan New Year)
• 27 January - Judaism, National Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)
• 31 January - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Har Rai
• 8 (or 15) February - Buddhism, Parinirvana; Nirvana Day (anniversary of Buddha’s death)
• 9 February - Judaism, Tu B’Shevat (Jewish New Year for trees)
• 24 February - Christianity, Shrove Tuesday
• 25 February - Christianity, Ash Wednesday (First Day of Lent)
• 2 March - Baha'i Nineteen Day Fast
• 9 March - Islam, Milad un Nabi (birthday of the Prophet Muhammad)
• 10 March - Judaism, Purim (commemorating deliverance from extermination in Persia)
• 11 March - Sikhism, Hola Mohalla (three day festival of mock battles, religious discussions and music)
• 21 March - Baha'i, Naw-Ruzz (New Year)
• 21 March - Zoroastrianism, Jamshedi Noruz (Fasli) and Jamshedi Noruz (Qadimi) - (New Year's day)
• 22 March - Christianity, Mothering Sunday
• 26 March - Zoroastrianism, Khordad Sal (Fasli – the birthday of Zoroaster)
• April - Buddhism, Theravada New Year (celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April)
• 3 April - Hinduism, Rama Navami (birthday of Lord Rama)
• 5 April - Christianity, Palm Sunday (start of Holy Week)
• 7 April - Jainism, Mahavira Jayanti (birth of Lord Mahavira, “founder” of modern Jainism)
• 9 April - Judaism, Passover (commemorating the liberation of the Children of Israel from Egypt)
• 10 April - Christianity, Good Friday
• 12 April - Christianity, Easter Sunday (Resurrection of Jesus Christ)
• 13 April - Sikhism, Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year Festival)
• 14 April - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Nanak (founder of the religion)
• 18 April - Sikhism, Birthdays of Guru Angad Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur
• 21 April - Baha'i, Ridvan – first day of 12 day festival
• 21 April - Judaism, Yom Hashoah (Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day)
• 21 April - Rastafari, Anniversary of Haile Selassie’s visit to Jamaica
• 29 April - Baha'i, Ridvan – ninth day (Baha’u’llah’s family at the Ridvan garden)
• 2 May - Baha'i, Ridvan – twelfth day (Baha’u’llah’s departure from the Ridvan garden)
• 2 May - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev
• 9 May - Buddhism,Wesak or Buddha Day (Buddha’s birthday)
• 23 May - Baha'i, Declaration of the Bab
• 23 May - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Amar Das
• 29 May - Judaism, Shavout (the Festival of Weeks)
• 29 May - Baha'i, Ascension of the Baha’u’llah
• 16 June - Sikhism, Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
• 5 July - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Hargobind
• 7 July - Buddhism, Asala – Dharma Day
• 9 July - Judaism, 17th Tammuz (fast day)
• 9 July - Baha'i, Martyrdom of the Bab
• 23 July - Rastafari, Birthday of Haile Selassie
• 23 July - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Har Krishnan
• 26 July - Zoroastrianism, Khordad Sal (birthday of Zoroaster as celebrated in the Qadimi calendar)
• 30 July - Judaism, Tisha B’av (commemorating a series of tragedies on this day)
• 17 August - Jainism, Paryushana (start of 8 or 10 days of fasting)
• 17 August - Rastafari, Birthday of Marcus Garvey
• 19 August - Zoroastrianism, Jamshedi Noruz (New Year’s Day in the Shenshai Calendar)
• 22 August - Islam, Ramadan (start of the month of fasting)
• 24 August - Zoroastrianism, Khordad Sal (birthday of Zoroaster as celebrated in the Shenshai calendar)
• 11 September - Rastafari, Ethiopian New Year
• 19 September - Hinduism, Navaratri (start)
• 19 September - Judaism, Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
• 19 / 21 Setptember (date may vary) - Islam, Eid-Ul-Fitr (Festival of Charity)
• 28 September - Hinduism, Dussera (Celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over the evil demon Ravana)
• 28 September - Judaism, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
• 3 October - Judaism, Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles)
• 9 October - Sikhism, Birthday of Guru Ram Das
• 10 October - Judaism, Simchat Torah (completion of the yearly cycle of weekly Torah readings)
• 17 October - Hinduism, Diwali, the festival of lights (also an occasion for celebration by Jains and Sikhs)
• 2 November - Rastafari, Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I
• 24 November - Sikhism, Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
• 28 November - Islam, Eid-Ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
• 12 December - Judaism, Hanukkah (festival of lights)
• 18 December - Islam, Al Hijira (Islamic New Year)
• 25 December - Christianity, Christmas Day (Birth of Jesus Christ)
• 27 December - Islam, Ashura

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Preston Faith Forum Events

On Friday 21st November, the Preston Faith Forum held its special half-yearly event at the town hall. The Forum will be holding its annual general meeting in May 2009.

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Health Users' Forum - 2008 Health Mela

On March 8th 2008, the Lancashire Gujarat Health Users' Forum hosted its annual Health Mela at its usual venue - the GHS Centre in Preston.

The two chief guests wereProfessor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and Surinder Sharma, National Director of Equality and Human Rights for the Department of Health.

Now in its seventh successful year, the GHS Health Mela has become nationally recognised as a model of best practice for health professionals wishing to engage with BME communities. It has been applauded by health representatives from central government, the Department of Health, the Healthcare Commission, NHS Trusts and many other professional organisations.

In correspondence with Professor Romesh Gupta, Professor Gilmore wrote: "I was struck by the enormous energy, commitment and enthusiasm at the Mela, and for me it reinforced the value of individuals contributing to the community in which they live and work. Not only are there huge opportunities to improve individual health, this is also an invaluable tool for maintaining the health and well-being of the wider community and relationships between those of different ethnic backgrounds. I know that this initiative will go from strength to strength under your inimitable leadership."

A review of the 2008 Mela can be downloaded here. (Word document - 958k). More details can be found on the Lancashire Gujarat Health Users' Forum website.

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Disability Hate Crime Conference

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) invited a wide range of voluntary and community groups to attend its free Disability Hate Crime Conference on Monday 10th December at the LACE Conference Centre in Liverpool.

The CPS wants more people to know about its new policy on dealing with discrimination and with hatred towards people with disabilities. It wants to encourage more people to report Disability Hate Crime and wants to give disabled people more confidence in the CPS and in how criminal cases are handled.

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Preston Faith Forum Interfaith Event

Preston Faith Forum held its Annual Celebration of Faith Communities in Preston. The theme was ”Faith and Hope." The event was held on Friday 30th of November 2007, at the Vajravarahi Kadampa Centre in Preston.

Guests were able to listen to presentations from the different faith communities in Preston, in the form of prayers, dances, songs and poetry. The event also featured a tour of the Buddhist Centre and Meditation Rooms.

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"rePRESENT" Theatre Show

rePRESENT is a multimedia theatre show that was held at various Lancashire venues. Produced in response to the bicentennial of the abolition of the slave trade, it examined the history of slavery and its impact on the modern day.

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Nguzo Saba Centre's 10th Anniversary Celebrations

The Nguzo Saba Centre gave members of the public an opportunity to meet its staff and volunteers on Saturday 1st September on Preston Flag Market. The group was hosting a showcase event with a variety of performances to celebrate ten years of playing a crucial role within the African and Caribbean community of Preston. Attractions included an exhibition of the archives of the centre and the wonderful activities with which it has been involved.

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Preston Hobbies Fair 2007 - GHS Centre

On Sunday 18th November 2007, the Gujarat Hindu Society hosted the Preston Hobbies Fair, a day long event comprising all kinds of interesting activities and pursuits. Some of the many featured hobbies and activities included:

• Dance performances
• Aikido
• Music / bands
• Card making demonstrations
• Woodwork demonstrations
• Indian crafts
• Model railways
• Henna painting

Various societies were represented and visitors were encouraged to engage in activities such as lace making, scrabble, stamp collecting and music.

The fair was supported by Preston City Council and the Rotary Club of Preston Amounderness.

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Are You Interested in Dance?

"Style and Heritage" is an important project exploring African people's dance. We will cover all styles including salsa, samba, capoeira, reggae, soca, soul, classical and traditional African dance. We have contracted a leading dance company from this region, Merseyside Dance Initiative (MDI) to deliver training. They were charged directly by the Arts Council of England to develop African people's dance and have worked with some of the world's leading exponents from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. They, in turn, have contracted some of these dancers, choreographers and dance companies to work with participants. It is a rare and valuable opportunity to get this experience. MDI will also provide qualifications for those wishing to develop dance further. The project will culminate in a showcase performance in Preston at the end of the year and another in Liverpool in 2008, Capital of Culture Year.

In addition to dancers, the project also has designers creating outfits and costumes, musicians creating original music and hopefully, it will shortly have photographers and video artists developing images, DVDs and a website to promote the events and the individuals involved. Individual participants will leave the project with a qualification, a personal portfolio of images and recordings, a vast amount of experience almost impossible to obtain elsewhere and the real possibility of future work either performing or managing workshops.

If you are interested, please contact the Nguzo Saba Centre for details. This project is open to anyone between the ages of 13 – 21. You do not have to be of African origin (African, African Caribbean, black British, mixed race/heritage). If you fall outside of the age range but are still interested, please contact the Centre anyway (Christina or Carol) on 01772 883733or by e-mailing nguzosabacentre@yahoo.co.uk.

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Explore Lancashire! (June - October 2007)

Ithaad Community Development Trust Ltd ‘Women’s Economic Development Project’, with the support of Lancashire Countryside Services and Pendle Borough Council's tourism team recently organised a ten day programme in Pendle. This programme was organised for housebound women, to give them a chance to come and explore stunning areas of unspoilt countryside, and places of tourist attractions in Pendle. Through these activities it also sought to create awareness, community cohesion and learning opportunities. The ten-day programme not only gave women a chance to enjoy a pleasurable day out with the family, but also allowed them to participate in the following learning programmes:

• World of wool – demonstrations of sheep sheering, spinning wool and weaving.
• Orienteering – use of maps to discover hidden locations.
• Badger Discovery – learning about Britain’s favourite mammal.
• Eid Extravaganza – family activities, country crafts and guided walks.
• Scarecrow making.
• Canal Cruise and Picnic at Foulridge.

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Brussels Visit Review Evening

On 19th April 2007, the Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association hosted a showcase event looking at the recent Brussels trip, which was mentioned in our last newsletter.

The original visit took place in January and representatives of the member organisations that took part presented a report and pictures of their time in Brussels. Mr Sajjad Karim MEP (Liberal Democrat) who sponsored this visit also spoke at the event.

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Preston Muslim Forum - Employability Workshops

The fact that people from the BME community are at a disadvantage in securing meaningful employment is well known. In order to address this issue, the Preston Muslim Forum recently held a series of Employability Skills workshops - one day training events delivered by Anis Faruki, the Chief Officer of PMF. The training was designed to meet the requirements of people from the BME community and especially those who have been out of work for a long time or stuck in menial jobs due to a lack of language skills. The project was funded by Preston Employment Partnership.

For more information, please contact Anis at PMF 185 Deepdale Road, Preston PR1 6LJ – telephone: 01772 889000.

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Community Futures 'Change Up' Conference

The conference was held at the Lancaster House Hotel in Lancaster on 27th February. It examined the government's Change Up programme, which provides funding support for initiatives designed to help community and voluntary organisations to work together, communicate better and have a stronger voice in policy-making. Featuring music and dance, the conference was also a celebration of partnership working and of how much can be achieved if people work together.

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