Effective communication – Tuesday 11 September 2007
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, W1J 5ED

Don’t be shy! Come and learn how to speak confidently in public. In partnership with the Refugee Council, The English-Speaking Union is running a free day’s training on effective communication. This workshop aims to improve participants’ speaking, listening and creative thinking abilities to aid effective communication.These skills are often taken for granted, but there is an enormous amount that individuals can learn to improve their ability to put across their opinions, negotiate, respond effectively to others arguments and speak confidently in front of a group. The training will include activities and games to improve participants’ confidence in communicating in formal situations.

‘Meet the funders’ seminar – Thursday 27 September 2007
Time: 10am - 3.30pm
Venue: Lambeth Accord, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA

The Refugee Council’s Community Development Team is holding a ‘meet the funders’ seminar for RCOs. The following funders will be presenting their current funding programmes: Big Lottery Fund, The Arts Council, The Lottery Heritage Fund and Sports England.The aim of this seminar is to:
• Give RCOs an opportunity to talk face to face with funders
• To provide funders with the chance to promote their funding programmes; explain their selection criteria; define their funding remit and highlight their funding priorities.

Wednesday 05 September 2007, 11.00 a.m.– 3.00 a.m.
Main Hall, Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, London, W10 4JL

Carers Network Westminster invites everybody to this Lunch Event for Bangladeshi Family Carers with:

• Talks (Caring within Islam; Carers rights; Support and services for carers in Westminster)
• Lunch provided
• Separate facilities for women and men
• Craft activities for children

For further information contact: Abuhamza (Bangladeshi Carer Support Worker) on 020 8960 3033

Wednesday 12th September 2007, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Central London

Black and minority ethnic disabled people experience comprehensive marginalisation and disempowerment from mainstream society, public services, social policy formation, the voluntary sector and commissioning processes. But with innovative plans for a national BME disability advocacy network underway, the advent of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), the promise of a Single Equality Act and further public service reform, could this picture be about to change? This conference will discuss what needs to be done to make human rights real for BME disabled people?

This conference is organised by the Equalities National Council of Disabled People and Carers from BME Communities in association with the Disability Rights Commission. It will begin the process of shaping a new agenda and action plan for empowerment, dignity and inclusion.

To register for the event please contact Clare at Clare.Basel@drc-gb.org or on 0207 543 7049

Closing date: Friday 24 August
Next course starts: Monday 24 September

Are you a refugee or asylum seeker? Do you want to stand up for your rights and the rights of others? Do you want to build your knowledge and skills to be a successful advocate?

Education Action's Human Rights Advocacy Course is one of the key activities of the Refugee Advocacy Programme. It provides intensive and practical training to develop your advocacy skills -giving you a broad understanding of human rights advocacy and how to effect change and build networks whilst in the UK. You will learn and apply essential the tools, knowledge and skills necessary for effective human rights campaigning. The course will also support your personal development as a human rights advocate by exploring, sharing and developing your human rights values and attitudes.

You will be trained in: Fundraising, research, presentation skills, creative campaigning, project planning, using IT for advocacy, how to work with the UK media and give an interview!, how to network, negotiation skills, Parliamentary, EU and UN lobbying and many more!

The course is suitable for any refugees or asylum seekers who want to advocate or raise awareness of human rights. Ideally, applicants will already be actively working for change in the UK or internationally and will apply through a community, refugee or human rights organization. If applying independently, applicants should have strong links with their community or other groups who can provide a base for their advocacy work.Applicants are welcome from all regions of the world and should be resident in the UK. Participants must be willing to work constructively with people of different cultures, beliefs, politics or gender, towards a common goal of greater respect for human rights. Training is delivered in English and participants will require a good level of spoken English.

All training takes place in central London and are Free! Childcare allowance given and travel expenses covered, including for interview. Participants are required to attend 20 training days during a three month period. See the Course information booklet for more details.

For more information and apply please contact Education Action on humanrights@education-action.org , phone Daniel on 020 7426 5814 or click here

Cardboard Citizens is the UK's only homeless people's professional theatre company and the leading practitioner of Forum Theatre in the UK. They work with homeless and ex-homeless people, including asylum seekers and refugees. They use forum theatre and performing arts to give homeless people a voice - enabling them to reach and recognise their potential. Our work gives homeless people an identity; it builds skills and confidence, and supports individuals to raise and face the issues necessary for them to make positive changes in their lives. Cardboard Citizens works with over 3,000 homeless people a year.

Cardboard Citizens are excited to announce the return of the acclaimed Homeless Customer Care Training Day for people who work with the homeless community and resident representatives of hostels. The training is an interactive learning experience that enables staff to take a fresh look at how to work with homeless people as customers and trains resident representatives in their rights as customers of the services they utilize.

Cardboard Citizens is now offering the Homeless Customer Care Training at the reduced rate of £80. Catered lunch and a workbook are included in the price. To reserve your spot, please call Cardboard Citizens on 020 7247 7747 or email us at Linda@cardboardcitizens.org.uk.

Action Learning Set Dates: - 6pm – 8pm
1st Session – 4th September
2nd Session – 30th October
3rd Session – 11th December
4th Session – 12th February

Cass Business School, 106 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8TZ

Facilitated by Cass Business School the Action Learning Sets will be confidential, allowing the group to build trust through sharing experiences and learning from each other. Once an action learning set has started there will not be an opportunity to join later so chairs are encouraged to sign up for session one early. Each session will last for 2 hours. Annual membership fee for the BME Chair and Trustee Network is £40.00 and includes all network services (including training and workshops). Non-members £40 for training and workshops they wish to attend.

To find out more about membership and book for the Action Learning Set, please send your booking forms to anthony@bteg.co.uk or by fax to 020 7833 1723.

Ashiana Network's Youth Counselling Services offers

• Individual Counselling:
  Confidential one-to-one counselling for young people between the ages of 13-21 impacted by DV. The counselling is free of charge and open to individuals of any ethnicity or gender.

• Support Group:
  An opportunity for young women between the ages of 16-21 to gain and give support to their peers and learn about healthy relationships, boundaries, communication, self-esteem, etc. The group runs every Thursday afternoon between 4-6pm at the Face2Face in Leyton.

For further information, please contact Nital on 0208 539 0427 or Nital@ashiana.org.uk

Next deadline: 31 March 2008

The Sustainable Development Fund is a grant scheme to help deliver community-based projects within Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The aim is to assist projects that will look after the AONB now and for the future. They have £70,000 available for communi ty-led projects within the AONB for 2007/8. All funds must be granted, projects completed and funds claimed by the end of March 2008.

Grants are provided on a 'first-come first-served' basis, so please apply as soon as possible. The Chichester Harbour Sustainable Development Fund is delivered and managed by Chichester Harbour Conservancy for the Chichester Harbour AONB. Resources are provided by DEFRA via Natural England.

For more information plese contact 01243 512301 or click here or email nicky@conservancy.co.uk

• The Head of Policy, Partnerships and Communications will develop and manage this new team working with local partnerships and networks so that the third sector is effectively represented and achieving positive change (Salary £35,589 per annum; Hours: 35 per week)
• The Policy and Research Officer will work with third sector organisations to undertake research projects that will inform community representatives to local partnerships (Salary: £29,289 pro rata Hours: 17.5 per week)
• The Islington Compact Co-ordinator will develop the Compact between the third sector and statutory partners. (Salary: £29,289 pro rata Hours: 17.5 per week)
• The Communications Officer will ensure that IVAC communicates effectively with the third sector, making the most effective use of our database and website. (Salary: £28,539 pro rata Hours: 17.5 per week)