Day: October 6, 2015

Positively encouraging!

Learning event sets out steps for a more inclusive community

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More than fifty people representing a wide range of community organisations attended Positively Diverse, a learning event organised and co-hosted by Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and the Living in Harmony group at Spartans Community Football Academy last week.

The event was organised to give local organisations an opportunity to look at how they operate and to encourage them to be more inclusive.

Keynote speaker Dr Giovanna Fassetta is a leading member of Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migation Network (GRAMNET).

http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gramnet/

Rather than bamboozling the conference with high-brow academic research, she started by asking delegates how they make a cup of tea, and where they store their jam and their eggs!

The responses showed that there is no one ‘right’ answer – that different people prefer to do things differently and that we often just do things the way we’ve always done them. There are a number of ways of doing things that can be equally successful – and that is also true for working well across different cultures.

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Dr. Fassetta (above) has a wealth of experience, both as an academic and as a volunteer (including sessions at Dungavel detention centre), and she used a string of anecdotes to get her key points across:

  • that people of all cultures are usually happy to talk – about faith, about language and about themselves and their families
  • That you should never make assumptions – don’t think you know all about someone’s culture – ASK.
  • that while language is important, body language can be just as important as a communication tool in making people feel safe and welcome
  • Don’t expect people to adapt to your way of doing things – their way can be more effective and is often more enjoyable
  • Difference is a normal part of life – it’s ordinary. It’s the fear of difference that causes problems and where we start to go wrong.

Dr Fassetta concluded: “So you don’t need to be an expert to be able to respect different cultures and understand diversity. What you have to do is relax, be curious, be open – and ask. Ask questions. Yes, you may feel uncomfortable at first but these feelings can be overcome – and that can make you grow as a person.” 

North Edinburgh has a proud history of welcoming people into the community, and conference delegates saw a short documentary on the successful Muirhouse Against Racism (MARC) campaign.

Back in the 1990s MARC was a grassroots reaction to the emergence of racism in the area. Local people came together to support a black family who had been subject to abuse from racists and campaigned to change thinking and letting practices within the city council’s housing department.

It was as a result of this campaign that the Black Community Development Project (BCDP) was formed in North Edinburgh. BCDP later became CORE (Community Organisation for Racial Equality) but that community organisation was forced to close due to a lack of funding in 2012.

The closure left a void – the need for an organisation to work to support the BME community and encourage community integration remained as great as ever, and Pilton Community Health Project established the Living in Harmony group to meet this need.

The Positively Diverse event, while recognising achievements of the past, concentrated very much on the present – and, in particular, what individuals and organisations can do to create a welcoming community.

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Local residents (above) shared their sometimes painful stories of life in their new communities – of barriers, of lack of opportunities and of the frustration of being unable to find employment suitable to their skills and abilities.

But although challenges undoubtedly remain, many organisations across North Edinburgh have been successful in adapting their programmes and services to become more inclusive and welcoming.

Speakers from Muirhouse Medical Centre, Create at North Edinburgh Arts, North Edinburgh Libraries (below) and Spartans Community Football Academy (their promotional film was particularly well received) all told participants about the range of things they have done and are doing to create a more inclusive community: it’s clear that good things are happening – sometimes small, simple things – and that the will is there to become even better.

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Conference delegates were asked to make pledges, and in the spirit of taking practical steps towards a more inclusive community, Forth councillor Vicki Redpath made three pledges on behalf of the local council office.

She told the conference: “We’ve heard so much today to make us think. We don’t know everything and we must all constantly reflect on what we’re doing and think of ways we can do things better.”

She went on: “Things have changed, things are changing but we must not become complacent – there are still challenges out there. And that’s why I am so encouraged by what I’ve heard from the organisations represented here today.”

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And on the pledge theme, Cllr Redpath (above) concluded: “As we’ve all been asked to make pledges, here are some I will make on behalf of the council.

“We provide a lot of housing, and our tenants pack contains pretty basic information at the moment. We could be adding information about medical practices, dentists, libraries, schools, youth clubs and sports facilities to the tenants pack – and update it regularly.

“Employment problems have been raised today: one simple thing we can improve is the notice board system at the local office. We can make it simpler with a nice big headline – JOBS – and underneath it a bulletin of vacancies. Let’s put job vacancy notices outside, too, let’s get information out there – and not just council jobs.”

“And finally, speakers today have talked about difficulties in accessing services and getting information. We do equalities and diversities training at the council, but I want to make sure this training is effective and up to scratch. Our people are brilliant and they want to provide the best service they can and I will be working with colleagues to ensure that we improve our service.

“If we all do a little, we can all go a long way to improving the lives of the people who come to live here in the great North Edinburgh community.”

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Commenting after the event, PCHP’s Anita Aggarwal (above) said: “A big thank you to everyone who contribute and helped it be such a successful day.

“We will be producing a report of the day which we will send out as soon as possible.  If people are looking for further information about the barriers that BME residents face there are two reports on our website: ‘Living in Harmony’ 2012 http://pchp.org.uk/resources/living-harmony-report and ‘Talking about our Health’ 2009 http://pchp.org.uk/resources/talking-about-our-health-participatory-research-project-health-needs-bme-community-greater

“The next Living in Harmony forum will take place on Wednesday 28 October from 5 – 7pm at PCHP – all welcome and crèche available if booked in advance.

“We will be running Equalities and Diversity training three times before the end of March – 20th Nov, 22nd Jan, 25 March all from 9.30am – 1pm at PCHP – further information will be available on our website.” 

So, to recap: what we can do next 

Make A Pledge 

If you couldn’t attend Positively Diverse or didn’t get a chance to fill in a pledge postcard but would still like to, please fill in the postcard below and send it back to lih@pchp.org.uk

And if you filled in a postcard but might have forgotten to put your name and address on it (yes, there were a few of you..!) please let us know and we will try to match you up with your card!

Join the Living in Harmony Forum 

All are welcome to come along and it would be a great place to follow up conversations that were started at the event. The next Forum meeting is on Wednesday 28th October 5-7pm at PCHP (73 Boswall Parkway). 

Equality and Diversity Training

Delivered by ELREC – if you didn’t get a chance to sign up for one of these FREE sessions there are still spaces, so please do email lih@pchp.org.uk to book a place for yourself or a colleague.

The dates for the training sessions are 20 November, 22 January and 25 March – all 9.30am -1pm at PCHP (you only need to attend one session!)

More pictures will appear on our Facebook page later

 

Maximum fun with the Muirhouse Minis!

Muirhouse Mini’s Fun Day
Tuesday 13 October 10.30 am -1.30 pm. (Admission 50p)

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Why not join in with a fun day here at the Centre with the Mums and children of Muirhouse Mini’s?

Arts & Crafts – Cold Baking – Hallow e’en Crafts -Fun & Games -Baby Play Activities – Make Your own Play Dough.

All children must be accompanied by an adult

James McGinty, Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre

A fairer deal for Scotland’s workers

Tackling low pay and zero hours contracts: new guidance will promote fair work

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The Scottish Government will today formalise its commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work with new statutory guidance for public sector procurement. The move has been welcomed by the STUC.

The document represents the first time any administration has gone as far, and ensures that public sector procurements can take account of the fact that employers whose staff are treated fairly are likely to deliver higher quality services.

Those bidding for public contracts will now be expected to adopt fair work practices, which may include –

  • paying the Living Wage
  • no unnecessary use of zero hours contracts
  • giving workers an active voice in the workplace

The Scottish Government is prevented by EU procurement law from making the Living Wage mandatory in contract agreements, but the new statutory guidance means that companies who want to secure business with public bodies are now obliged to sign up to these fair work conditions for anyone working on the contracts.

Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown will launch the new guidance in his speech to the Procurex national procurement conference in Glasgow this morning.

He said: “The commitment to making Scotland a fairer place to work is a key tenet of this government, and our new statutory guidance for public sector procurements sees us nail our colours to the mast.

“Our model of procurement, putting the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability at the heart of all we do, remains the foundation of our approach.

“Employers must now recognise that they cannot adopt exploitative practices in relation to their workers and expect to be rewarded with lucrative contracts in the public sector.

“If you want to do business with the public sector in Scotland, you have to be a responsible employer and value your workers. You have to do your bit to make Scotland a fairer and more equal society.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to promote that ethos.”

The news has been welcomed by those representing workers throughout Scotland.

Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said: “The STUC welcomes the Statutory Guidance on Fair Work Practices being introduced by the Scottish Government, a move that once again highlights the different approach taken by the Scottish Government in tackling poor employment practices and low pay in the Scottish economy.

“The Scottish Government has taken the lead in driving forward the real Living Wage as have local authorities and we believe it is right that companies wishing to receive public contracts should demonstrate that they treat staff fairly by paying a living wage, recognise the benefits of trade unions and collective bargaining and treat their workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“The Fair Work Agenda and the approach taken by the Scottish Government to promoting positive industrial relations as being key to economic success is thankfully at odds with attacks on trade unions at UK level and these statutory guidelines provide public bodies the opportunity to ensure contractors understand what is expected from them, as part of the public procurement process, and their role in delivering fair work and good terms and conditions for Scottish workers.”

The Fair Work Convention was set up last year to ensure there are more good quality, well-paid jobs at all levels throughout the public, private and third sectors.

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Fair Work Convention Co-Chair Anne Douglas (above) said: “The Fair Work Convention believes it is vital that work which provides individuals with opportunity, fulfilment, security, respect and effective voice and balances the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees. In doing this we can generate real benefits for individuals, organisations and for society more widely.

“It is therefore important that the Scottish Government uses all its levers to promote fair working practices and the Convention welcomes these being reflected in statutory guidance.

Linda Urquhart, the Convention’s other Co-Chair, continued: “The Fair Work Convention is currently engaging across Scotland, with business, employees, union, third and public sectors as well as society more generally to help evidence fair work and the basis from which the Fair Work Framework for Scotland will be created.

“Following the publication of their Framework in March the Fair Work Convention will welcome an opportunity to work with the Scottish Government to further this approach.”

 

 

All the fun of the fair

Scotland’s biggest volunteer recruitment fair takes place in Edinburgh tomorrow

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For most people at this time of year thoughts are turning to pumpkins and fireworks, but for Volunteer Edinburgh there’s only one thing on our minds – and that’s the annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair at St Paul and St Georges Church!

As usual the hall will be filled with stalls from charities and volunteer involving organisations from across the city representing the wide range of volunteering opportunities Edinburgh has to offer.

There are environmental groups; arts organisations; opportunities to work with people from both ends of the age spectrum; charities who deal with poverty and exclusion both here and abroad; animal welfare groups as well as organisations campaigning to raise awareness and funding for a variety of health issues.

With over 50 diverse groups taking part the chances of finding something to get involved with are pretty good and the opportunity to speak to directly to volunteers and organisers helps develop a much greater understanding of the organisation’s work and passion and commitment involved.

As well as the stalls, volunteer advisors will be on hand to help you with any questions you might have about volunteering and, for those looking to volunteer as a step towards employment, there will be workshops to help improve employability skills, C.V. writing and job hunting techniques.

There will also be special workshops on equality rights, and volunteering opportunities for older people.

And If all this information gets too much there will, as always, be delicious food and (non-alcoholic) drink on hand in the café, so you can rest and digest!

So if you want a break from thinking about ghosts, bonfires and premature tinsel and you’re looking to give a present a little more substantial than a pair of socks, then here’s the perfect opportunity to give some very grateful organisations the gift of you!

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For more about the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, visit the Volunteer Edinburgh’s website, orFacebook page. You may also want to have a look at the photos from last year’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair here.