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CAMBRIDGE ETHNIC COMMUNITY FORUM
Newsletter: Issue Twenty Three — December 2013
CECF Introduction
The Forum held its AnnualGeneral Meeting on the 6th ofNovember 2013. After theformal business we had a veryinteresting presentation fromMahbub Rhaman, from CREDS(Cambridgeshire Race Equality &Diversity Service). He spokeabout the Comenius RegioProject. This is a partnershipproject that the Forum is part of, along with CREDS, Ridgefield Primary Schoolin Cambridge & the local education authorities and schools in Silesia, Poland.This project is essentially about developing a multi-cultural tool-kit to assistteachers in Primary Schools. We also had contributions from MIND and the MillRoad History Project.
Our outgoing Chair, Valerie Berkson, gave a very useful overview of ourachievements and progress commenting on the dedication of staff and volunteersthroughout the last year. I would also like to take this opportunity to introduceour new Chair, Isaac Ayamba, from the Cambridge African Network.. As weapproach the end of another year I would like to wish everyone SeasonsGreetings and a prosperous New Year.
Development News
I went to Poland at the end of November as part ofthe Comenius Regio project mentioned in myintroduction. I was part of a delegation fromCREDS & Ridgefield Primary School. This was a veryinteresting experience taking in both the educationsystem and school visits, as well as getting to knowmore about the culture and history of Silesia. Onour first day we had a tour of Katowice, a very oldcity built on the traditional industry of Silesia, coalmining. On our second day we were introduced to Mr Stanislaw Faber, a Superintendent of schools in Katowice.
Eddie Stadnik, CECF Chief Officer and Stanislav Faber
“The Courtyard”21 B Sturton Street
CambridgeCB1 2SN
Tel: 01223 655 241Fax: 01223 655 393
E-mail:[email protected]
Website: www.cecf.co.uk
Charity No. 1086241Company No. 04175678
Contents
Introduction
Development News
CHESS
Community Focus
Community Health
Education & Training
Events
On-site Services
CECF Staff &CECF Trustees
Drop-ins on CECF siteTues – Fri 10am – 1pm
Funded by:
Development News Continued
We were given an introduction to the Educations system in Poland – and some delicious Polish cake before travelling to a primary school in Racibórz. This was for the German minority population. The children put on a nice presentation for us, whichwas followed by a short tour of the school. I wasvery taken by the enthusiasm of the children andtheir ability to slip from German to Polish andback again throughout their lessons. We took inthe sights and sounds of Racibórz before doingsome work on developing the toolkit. On our thirdday we went to a centre for teacher development
in Rybnik, supporting professional development ofteachers working with multicultural students. Somemore work on the toolkit before embarking on atour of Kraków. This is a beautiful city, thehistorical heart of Poland and a student city likeCambridge. On our final day we visited a primaryschool in Zabrze which caters for the Romaminority. The pupils were very friendly and againput on a wonderful show, before we completed our
sessions on developing the toolkit. Our hosts inPoland were very welcoming, organised and the foodwas fantastic. A big thank you to them!
We have gone through a very busy year havingcompleted several projects and now looking forwardto an equally busy and challenging 2014. Demand forI.T. training has been substantial this year. So, Iwill be looking for other funding opportunities tocontinue that training, for the communities, nowthat we have competed our Vodafone and TCHC (theconsultancy home counties) funded trainingprogrammes. We had over 45 beneficiaries for those two programmes and demand for more.
Asian Women’s Network have continued through the work that the Cambridge EthnicCommunity Forum has been doing with the Abbey Meadows group. The Forum obtained grant
funding from TCHC immediately after MENTER's ended and as a consequence funded work up until December of 2013. This work includes empowerment & life skills sessions delivered by a professional trainer, giving her time gratis to the CECF. CV writing and ESOL provision for employment. The Bangladeshi ladies also did some beautiful art, with a local artist, recently. Their work was shown at Mill Road Winter Fair.
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CAMBRIDGE ETHNIC COMMUNITY FORUM
School lesson in Racibórz
Kraków Wawel Royal Castle
Young Performers at a school in Zabrze
Development News Continued
I worked in partnership to deliver a food and hygiene course for the Bangladeshi Restaurant ownersin Cambridge in partnership with the Cambridge City Council. It is also our intention to deliver FirstAid Training, Safeguarding, Group Capacity Building and Business Start-up sessions in the New Year forBangladesh community groups in the North of Cambridge.
Reported by Eddie Stadnik, CECF Chief Officer
Cambridgeshire Human-Rights and Equality Support Service (CHESS)
CHESS Developments
The Advice Service Alliance Standard forAdvice (AQS)
We are happy to announce that CECF haveachieved the quality mark for advice serviceswhich provides our clients, partners and funderswith assurance that we have met certain criteriathat demonstrate our commitment to quality. Wehave been awarded:
AQS – AdviceQuality Standardfor Advice withcasework inWelfare Benefits –25th October 2013valid until 25thOctober 2015
CHESS providesthe majority of theadvice, advocacyand representationfor CECF clientsand our ownresearch suggeststhat we are the only organisation in the East ofEngland with the quality standard for WelfareBenefits casework.
The Advice Quality Standard (AQS) is the only sector-owned, independently audited standard that focuses on advice.
The AQS is awarded to organisations that giveadvice to members of the public on legal issues.Organisations are audited every two years andhave to demonstrate that they are accessible,effectively managed, and employ staff with theskills and knowledge to meet the needs of theirclients.
www.advicequalitystandard.org.uk
2013 marks 60years of HumanRights and HumanRights Day 2013was held on the10th December2013
The EuropeanConvention onHuman Rights andFundamentalFreedoms (ECHR) isan internationaltreaty adopted in1950 and enteredinto force on 3rd
September 1953; it was created by the Councilof Europe.
The Council of Europe was founded on the 5thMay 1949 by 10 founding members including the UK and has 47 member states that “ensures the coherent and consistent protection of human rights across its 47 member states”
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Staff, volunteers and guests at CHESS's Open Day last year
CHESS Continued
The European Union is a completely separate body and only 28 of the member states of theCouncil of Europe are also members of the EU.
Benefits update warning! Please be careful
If you are receipt of housing benefit or counciltax support please remember to inform theCouncil of any changes to your circumstances, itis always best to provide information as soon aspossible so that you do not get into trouble…
Recently a client had not informed their localdistrict council about a change in circumstancesthis led an overpayment, an investigation andinterview under caution as they viewed theoverpayment as fraud – the local authority hadthe option to press charges or offer a financialpenalty…the financial penalty was the bestoption for the client rather than attend courtand have their name all over the newspaper ….some local authorities like to name and shamepeople ….. the badnews was thatalthough there wasno court appearancethe financial penaltywas for 50% ofwhat had beenoverpaid…the clientnow has to pay backover £4,000
Clients and newoutreach surgeriesin Wisbech
Outreach advocacyservices in Wisbech– focus on disability and welfare benefits
We have commenced a partnership project with Disability Cambridgeshire to provide outreach in Wisbech on a Tuesday and Thursday from 11am – 2pm – this is in partnership with the Rosmini Centre and Community House a formal launch will be held in the
New Year. Contact CHESS on 01223 462 615 or email us to book an appointment
Clients
We have seen 102 direct casework clients – ofthese 22 are discrimination cases. Thebreakdown is as follows:
Accommodation 18Education/training 1Employment 13Family and others 7Goods & Services 13Immigration 1Personal 4Taxation 4Welfare Rights 41
Volunteers
We recently held an information session withBPP law students and received a number of
excellentapplications – weare in therecruitmentprocess and expectthem to commencevolunteering inJanuary/February2014.
We are going tohave an Americanstudent on avolunteeringplacement and anarticle appearsbelow:
“I’m currently an undergraduate student at asmall university in Massachusetts calledWilliams. I’m lucky enough to be able to take aclass this winter that allows us to volunteer for any non-profit organization of our choice during the month of January.
(continued overleaf)
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CHESS Continued
While most students choose organizations a little closer to home (or at least in the samecountry), I wanted to come to Cambridge in caseI had to be present for an interview as part ofmy application process to graduate school.
A friend who is a current student at Cambridgehelped me look for organizations that neededvolunteersthrough theCambridgeCareer Servicewebsite, andafter browsingthrough manylistings oforganizationsthat werelooking for extrahelp, I cameupon CHESS.
I was looking foran organizationthat not onlywould provide mewith a perspective into working at a non-profit,but that could also allow me to gain skills andexperience that I didn’t already have and thatwould be useful for future work. CHESS isfantastic because it goes beyond those goals – itallows you to become deeply involved in thecommunity and help with incredibly importantwork benefiting those around you.
I know that CHESS is very inclusive towards itsvolunteers and encourages meaningfulparticipation in all parts of the job. This issomething that’s exceptionally hard to find as arelatively inexperienced student, but makes allthe difference in the world to the experience
you gain. I am not a law student, but I can still have the opportunity to get involved with casework and work very closely with the people who benefit so muchfrom the organization’s efforts.
The opportunity to learn so many new skills isinvaluable, and it comes along with work that isenriching and rewarding. I’m so excited to havefound an organization like CHESS, where I can
genuinely engagewith a communitythat I’d somedaylike to become apart of, andwhere the workI do will be bothchallenging andfulfilling.”
-- Anna Savoie
We are stilllooking forvolunteersespecially two tohelp with thenew CHESS
Marketing Strategy and social media presence, ifyou are interested in volunteering then pleasecontact Tony Lindsay,
Training for volunteers
CHESS volunteers completed their 8 weekAdvocate training course in November and theyare happily engaged in providing a valuableservice to clients.
Reported by Tony Lindsay, CHESS Project Manager.
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Volunteers enjoying refreshments at a training session
Community FocusKHIDMAT SISTERS
On Thursday 12th of September, 2013, The KHIDMAT SISTERS held their second awareness event at the residence of their secretary Mrs Shahnaz Malik
Qamar Nizam, the Chair-person, welcomed everyone to the event andintroduced the guests. She explained the aspirations and role of theKhidmat Sisters and explained how they would achieve these goals. TheKhidmat Sisters are basically women visiting other women in need e.g.those that are housebound due to disabilities, age, loneliness, inconvalescence. The sisters are referred to as Khidmatees and thosereceiving the khidmat (companionship, support) are known as ROKs(receivers of Khidmat). Their aims may spread out as they and theirdemand requires. ROKs maybe given phone numbers of Care Networkvolunteers. They have applied for membership with Care NetworkCambridge and Care is helping in training as does Cambridge CountyCouncil. Some Khidmat Sisters have undertaken training in October to
become Community Navigators. Care Network is also training the sisters in their “Help At Home“scheme.
Some of those who attended kindly spoke about their association with KHIDMAT SISTERS andoffered their full support. These were namely: Emily Haysom (Cambridge City Council), Jane Hurst(Care Network) and Hilary Johnys (Care Network)who each gave a short talk about their role in thecommunity, their support and good wishes to theKhidmat Sisters in their goals to realizing theiraims.
Beatrice Brown, Community Navigator Coordinatorfor Huntingdonshire, gave a short speechoutlining the main role of Community Navigators(where a person’s individual needs were matchedwith the appropriate specialist service) and alsohow the public can access these themselves. It isabout assisting older and vulnerable people invarious communities access whatever informationwould be of use to them enabling them to liveindependent, active and fuller lives. We help tobroaden their knowledge of what is out there, showing them the route. This is one of the “we can do it”organisations that looks forwards to working with the Khidmat Sisters.
Jane Hurst, Development Officer, Care Network, who has been a great help and support from the verybeginning, spoke a few words of thanks and praised the efforts of the KHIDMAT SISTERS, wishingthem all the best for their future.
Akyildiz Nur, from Turkey, who teaches the ancient Arabic script called Kufi was received with enthusiasm and much interest. She demonstrated the basics of how to write Kufi calligraphy. Qur’an manuscripts from the first two centuries of Islam were written on parchment in an angular style called Kufic after the Iraqi city of Kufa, an early Muslim capital.
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Khidmat Sisters
Khidmat Sisters and Guests
Community Focus
Akyildiz runs classes in Cambridge for those wishing to learn Kufi, on: Saturdays 4.30-5.30pm, plus one weekday, Monday 1.00pm-2.00pm. For more details and enrolment please contact [email protected]
Later that morning Akyildiz also demonstrated the basic method of Turkish dancing. Some guestsdonned the belly dance glittering sequinned hip scarf to have some fun following in the instructor’sfootsteps and have a go with abandon.
Akyildiz Nur teaches basic movements of traditional Turkish belly dancing in Cambridge. One of theKhidmat Sisters has been asking her for some time to start a class for Turkish dancing, to which shefinally agreed. If anyone needs more details please call: 07815 691 419
There was a stall selling Eastern costumes- tunics, saris, material - whose funds would go to a women’scharity. Refreshments were served and an opportunity for everyone to socialise.
Others present were: Shahana Ravenscroft, Faith Officer, Community Cohesion Team, CambridgeshireConstabulary, Parkside Police Station. Hilary Johnys, Direct Services Manager, Care Network,Cambridgeshire. Kim Green of CREDS. Old and new volunteers mingled with each other getting to knoweach other and the roles they play within the KHIDMAT SISTERS group. Shanaz recited a poemcalled: Phenomenal Woman. Qamar read a story about the perils of women driving alone at night andthe precautions they should take to avoid getting attacked or hurt. The atmosphere was relaxed,informal, purposeful, and attended by women from different nationalities. All had an enjoyable morningat the celebration of this very useful event.
Khidmat Food Hampers
On Saturday 26th of October 2013, the KHIDMAT SISTERS received some food Hampers from thechildren of THE ABU BAKR SCHOOL, Grove school,Campkin Road, Cambridge.
The hampers were happily received by The Sisters tobe distributed among needy families, not only in their
own communitybut through Food Bank to any needy person or persons.
The generouschildren had gathered tinned and packaged items and decorated beautiful hampers along with handmade cards to commemorate the Muslim festival of Eid ul Adha. This festival is celebrated each yearin memory of the Prophet Ibrahim who was first asked to sacrifice his son and later was given a Raminstead. During this festival Muslims also perform Hajj which occurs once a year at the same time.
At the event the children were reminded about the story of Prophet Ibrahim and given a lesson on generosity and importance of giving to those less fortunate than themselves. The Khidmat Sisters thanked the children for their generous contributions.
Reported by Qamar Nizam, Chairperson of Khidmat Sisters
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Community Focus Continued
Celebrating Diwali
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Cambridge (PCSC) successfully celebrated its 5th DIVALI event on Sunday 10th November 2013 with thesupport and cooperation of manyorganisations including the CambridgeEthnic Community Forum (CECF) theumbrella black and minority ethnicorganisation for Cambridgeshire. Therewere special guests from CambridgeCity Council, the Deputy Mayor andrepresentatives of many organisationswhose presence made the event a greatsuccess.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is acontraction of “Deepavali” whichtranslates into "row of lamps". Divali ispopularly known as the “festival oflights”. Divali involves the lighting ofsmall clay lamps filled with oil to signifythe triumph of good over evil. Fire-crackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evilspirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and food with familymembers and friends.
There are several significant events associated with Diwali, most notably the return of Rama afterdefeating the demon, Ravana and after 14years of exile. Rama is believed to be theincarnation of Vishnu, the preserver who ispart of the Hindu trinity with Brahma, thecreator and Siva, the destroyer. The storybehind Divali and the manner of celebrationvaries from region to region in India.
While Divali celebrates these events, the mostsignificant spiritual meaning behind it is "theawareness of the inner light". The celebrationof Diwali as the "victory of good over evil",refers to the light of higher knowledgedispelling all ignorance, that masks one's truenature, not as the physical world, but as the
unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening comes compassion and ananda (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this Inner Light.
Reported by Mr Balan Sisupalan of the PCSC
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Families and friends in mid-dance at Diwali
Community Focus Continued
Cultural Diversity Day
On Sunday the 24th Of November we held a Cultural Diversity Day, at Mayfield Primary School, which also marked the United Nations designated Universal Childrens Day. The event was organised at
relativelyshort notice,however thedifferentcommunitiesof Cambridgerose to thechallengemagnificentlyand we ended
up with a substantial variety of performers. These ranging from theBeth Shalom Reform Synagogue Cheder Choir & Cambridge RussianSchool to the newly established Sur Taal Music School. It wasparticularly encouraging to see the talent on display of such young
individualperformersfrom theChinese andKorean communities and of course, Hibiki Kono,son of one of our own staff members. MenelikEducation supported the event and managedthe sound system. Mitesh Patel a formeremployee of the Forum kindly volunteered hisservices as compère and effectively introducedthe acts throughout the afternoon.Refreshments were kindly donated by Al-Amin
and Tesco on Mill Road. We would not have managed what was an action packed and exciting programmewithout of course the help of the staff, volunteers and trustees of the Forum. For more about theevent please follow this link.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/SLIDESHOW-Cultural-Diversity-Day-brings-Cambridge-communities-together-
20131126060019.htm
Reported by Eddie Stadnik, Chief Officer
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Sur Taal Music School
Cambridge Russian School
Community Focus Continued
Women 4 Integration – Ceildh
How do you bring together women from many different cultures to have fun? This was the question considered by our group Women4Integration, when our committee chaired by Samia Baig met early in the year to plan our next event. We’d had a successful Bollywood Evening, and a Multi-Cultural Night –
where women sang, danced, told stories, and in otherways expressed aspects of their various individualcultures. Now we decided to celebrate the culturewhich we all share by virtue of living in the UK: theBritish one; and the form this took was a“Multi-Cultural Ceilidh” (for women only)! Saturday30th November 2013.
First we had to find a band and venue at prices wecould afford and, following up a recommendation, wediscovered the Hobb Band, a lively group of localmusicians. Then for the venue we were delighted to be
offered the Cambridge Freemasons’ Hall in Bateman Street, a beautiful building much like a collegewith surrounding gardens. Finally, a caterer (no good multi-cultural event is complete without food!),and ours supplied a delicious Middle Eastern buffet from his restaurant in Hills Road. We werefortunate to obtain sponsorship from Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge Community Foundation,and support from the CECF and many volunteers, and we charged a nominal price for admission.
But how would the W4I members and their friends respond to the idea of a ceilidh? Well, theyresponded brilliantly. Even though initially many had never even heard of a ceilidh, around fifty womencame from many different countries including Pakistan, India, Iran, Syria, China, Japan, some Africancountries, Italy, and the UK. The band leader, Barry Desmond, gave a short introductory talk,explaining that ceilidh dancing (also known as Barn Dancing orCountry Dancing), originated partly with Morris Dancing, andpartly when ordinary people, observing the grand balls of therich in the 18th century, decided to adapt their style ofdancing for themselves, and held ceilidhs in country barns andvillage halls.
Ceilidh dancing is the ultimate equaliser: everybody does thesame steps, and it quickly bonds people together. Our groupthrew themselves enthusiastically into the spirit of theevening, rapidly learning the steps described by our woman“caller”, energetically dancing the set formations in circles, rows, and in pairs: some in full hijab, manywearing richly coloured, beaded and sparkling outfits, and applauding at the end of each dance! I hadsuggested we should have lots of chairs around the room for women who wanted to sit out some dances,as at the ceilidhs I had been to previously there were always some people who hardly danced, and just watched for most of the time. But these women were different: most danced for most of the time, and we had to remove chairs to clear enough space! All in all it was a great evening! Now – what do we do next?
Reported by Eva Simmons of Women4Integration
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Community Health
Education and Training
Voluntary Return - help for migrants - Cambridge sessionWeds 22 January 2014, 10:00 – 13:00 at the Red Cross Office, 511 Coldham's Lane, Unit C, Cambridge.Light lunch will be provided.
This free, half-day, training is for local authority employees, voluntary sector organisations, healthprofessionals and anybody who would like to know more about assisted voluntary return options offeredby Refugee Action and the Home Office for migrants wanting to go back to their countries of origin.
As part of its Choices programme, Refugee Action offers assistance with flight ticket, cost of traveldocuments, and, in most cases, the reintegration grant for establishing a business; education; a jobplacement; cost of medications or vocational training. The workshop will also cover a voluntarydeparture offer from the Home Office for EU nationals not exercising their Treaty rights andirregular migrants. If you support migrants, this session will give you comprehensive informationregarding voluntary returns, so you can make your clients aware of this option as an alternative toenforced removal.
For more information please contact Gosia Strona on [email protected] or telephone 01284 758 324 or to book a place online, please follow this link:
http://www.eelga.gov.uk/events/voluntary-return-help-for-migrants-cambridge-s/
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Education and Training Continued
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Events
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Services provided on CECF site
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CAMBRIDGE ETHNIC COMMUNITY FORUM
British Refugee CouncilRefugee Services
Every Friday10am - 1pm
For advice or to book an appointment please phone; 0808 808 2255
Calls from land-line numbers and the main six UK mobile phone networks; 3, Orange, Virgin, Vodaphone, T-Mobile & O2 are absolutely Free!
Cambridgeshire Human-Rights and Equality Support Services (CHESS)
Helps individuals who have been victims of discrimination, or who have been a victim of racial harassment.
Monday & Friday 10am – 5pmTues, Weds & Thurs 10am – 7pm
To book an appointment, please contactTel: 01223 462 615 or Email: [email protected]
Italian Benefit Advice
First Friday of every Month from 10am - 12 (noon)
To book an appointment, please contact
Carlo Ciccarello on 01234 357 889
Immigration AdviceFirst Tuesday of every Month from 11am - 1pm
For free initial advice or book an appointmentTel: 01223 911 991Mob: 07572 448 981E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.lhisltd.com
Lawson Hunte ImmigrationServices
Developing Partnerships with
Cambridge City CouncilCambridgeshire County Council
Cambridge Immigration Legal CentreCambridgeshire Race Equality and Diversity Service
Cambridgeshire NHSCitizens Advice Bureau
Equality and Human Rights CommissionGuidance, Employment and Training (Cambridge GET)
Huntingdonshire Community AssociationIR Immigration Law
Lawson Hunte Immigration ServicesMorgan Dias
South Cambridgeshire District Council
CECF StafChief Officer: Eddie StadnikCHESS Project Manager: Tony LindsayFinancial Administrator Officer:Toshie Kono
CECF TrusteesChair: Isaac Ayamba Secretary: Samia BaigTreasurer: Joyce AndradeMembers: Farah Moughal
Shahid KhanAmina KhanBalan SisupalanRobin AnthonyMrs Yan Wang
Supported by: In Partnership with:
