Forums
Minority Ethnic Forum
Minority Ethnic Forum Dates
Thursday 11 February, 10 am – 2pm 2010, Harrogate College Metro Restaurant (B Block)
Thursday 29 April, 10 am – 2pm 2010
Thursday 15 July, 10 am – 2pm 2010
Thursday 14 October, 10 am – 2pm 2010
In 2006 Harrogate CVS produced a report entitled 'The Black and Minority Ethnic Population of the Harrogate District: an Overview of Activities and Issues' This report sought to understand the level of engagement between service providers and the increasing minority population, particularly migrant workers, in the Harrogate District in order to identify some of the new issues that were emerging. The report attracted considerable interest. There have since been two subsequent brief Interim Updates. All reports can be downloaded via the following links.
Since then the team at Harrogate CVS has continued work on raising awareness through collaborative work and has also run a short-term project facilitating regular meetings of a migrant worker group focusing on 'conversation, language and local culture'
In March 2007 Harrogate CVS organised a multi-agency meeting to explore current activities to support the growing numbers of migrant workers and the wider minority ethnic population in the Harrogate District, and to formulate priorities for future partnership working. The report from this meeting can be downloaded via the following link:
March 2007 Minority Ethnic Meeting Report
The meeting identified that there was a need for a Forum to enable ongoing dialogue to:
- Identify gaps in services
- Share good practice
- Share opportunities for training
- Share opportunities for joint action
- Develop and monitor the delivery of an action plan on behalf of the Forum
Funding has been granted for a Development Worker to facilitate the Harrogate District Minority Ethnic Forum and to oversee the formation and delivery of an Action Plan. This position was advertised in October 2007 and Louise Cousins started in post at the beginning of December.
For further information about this project please contact Louise at the CVS on 01423 504074 or email louise@harrogate.org
The inaugural meeting of the new Harrogate & District Minority Ethnic Forum was held on 23 April 2008 at the St Roberts Centre, Harrogate. Louise has been working with migrant workers, local people and partners to understand the issues facing minority ethnic communities. At the meeting Louise gave an update on her work and the Forum considered how local partners, including voluntary sector organisations, can work with minority ethnic communities to help improve access to local health, housing and education services such as ESOL provision.
Please contact Louise on 01423 504074 if you would like to find out more about this work or would like to attend future meetings.