In response to interest from our groups MODA intends to set up a new forum: Migrants' Anti-Poverty Alliance (MAPA). MAPA aims to bring together migrant community organisations and stake holders interested in the issue and consequences of poverty and unemployment experienced by migrant communities and individuals.

MAPA aims to: 1. Monitor the level and size of poverty, destitution and unemployment among migrant communities and individuals through conducting research, surveys and case studies; 2. Create a forum for participants and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, experiences, ideas, resources and co-operate in finding solutions through developing shared strategies and projects; 3. Use the data obtained through research and shared strategies to influence policy-makers in relation to tackling migrants' poverty and unemployment; 4. Provide information, advice and training focusing on the promotion of employment, self-employment and social enterprise.

The project will work to achieve the above aims through: 1. Creating a forum of interested parties; 2. Developing research projects; 3. Holding bi-monthly meetings; 4. Developing proposals for fund-raising to support anti-poverty and employment measures for the benefit of migrant individuals and families; 5. Co-ordinating and co-operating with similar networks, organisations and agencies to influence policy-makers; 6. Providing information, advice and training.

MODA's MAPA network is open to all migrants, migrant community organisations, public bodies, businesses and other stakeholders interested in the promotion of employment and anti-poverty solutions to tackle poverty and destitution experienced by migrant families and individuals.

To register interest in joining this network please email info@moda.org.uk

The Good Society – A Time for Action
23rd February 2010, London – 10am-5pm

Meet essential new contacts to strengthen your organisation; hear from high-profile and influential speakers; be involved in the debate; get personalised advice and direct support from experts; learn from practical workshops; network with key voluntary sector colleagues; be inspired to move your organisation forward.

Keynote speakers: Greg Clark MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Diana Aviv, President and CEO of Independent Sector; Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, NCVO.

For further information and to book a place visit: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/annualconference2010

9 February 2010; 9.30 – 13.45, followed by networking lunch; Emirates Stadium

This is a free Partnership Event by BNRRN, MiNet, Islington BME Forum and supported by ROTA. This timely event provides an opportunity for people working across areas of health, community safety, housing, education, social and wellbeing, and the environment to discuss and produce models of effective engagement. These will be shared more widely across London.

Speakers include:

Brendan Loughran - recently took the post as Group Director for Learning and Skills at the London Development Agency and will be involved in forming the Third Sector engagement strategy.

Jenny Willott MP - Liberal Democrat Shadow Charities Spokesperson. During recent Cabinet Office Questions in the House of Commons, Jenny Willott MP challenged Angela Smith MP , Minister for the Third Sector, over the government's decision to divert £750,000 from the Campaign Research Programme into the Hardship Fund.

Other confirmed speakers include Pragna Patel, Director, Southall Blacksisters, Lela Kogbara, Assistant Chief Executive, London Borough of Islington and Gaynor Humphreys, Director, London Funders.

For further information and book a free place click here.

From theory to practice: How asylum policy impacts on the refugee experience
5th February 2010, London

Refugee Council's 2010 conference focuses on asylum policy and how changes in legislation impact on the experiences of refugees. Come and learn about the key developments in asylum policy over the past year and how these impact on the day to day lives of refugees in the UK today. The conference will also discuss which policies the sector should be campaigning for over the next 12 months. Delegates will participate in two workshops from a choice of seven, on topics such as health, asylum support, detention and unaccompanied children.

For further information, to read a full list of workshops and to book a place, click here.

A photographic document of the experience and environment of Roma living in London
Private View: 10th February 2009, 6pm – 9pm ; Open: 11th - 19th February 2009, 12pm – 6pm
Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, London E3 4QY

The work has developed from collaboration between a group of teenage Roma women, led by photographer Manuela Zanotti and Jacob Garber of The Children´s Society. Previous representations of Roma people show them as either romantic and free or living in desperate poverty. The large format and digital images taken by the group break from these stereotypes. The young women document a crucial moment in their lives as they undergo many complex transitions: from girlhood into womanhood, from Eastern European segregation to attempted British multiculturalism and from passive outsiders to active participants in society. “... and in the modern world, when reality is not recoded it does not exist.” Come and discover the reality of Roma London.

For further information click here.

from January 2010. Venue: Helping Hands for Refugees and Disabled, The Froud Community Centre, 1 Toronto Avenue, Manor Park, E12 5JF

Volunteers interested in HHfRD's Befriending Elderly, Disabled and Refugee scheme in Newham are invited to step forward to take part in free accredited training leading to qualifications in Mentoring, Health & Safety and Safe-guarding children & vulnerable people (NCFE Level 2)
For further information please contact Sri K Sangarappillai at Helping Hands for Refugees and Disabled by emailing info@hhrd.org.uk, calling 0794 3663780 or visiting www.hhrd.org

What does it mean to be young and undocumented in contemporary Britain? How do young migrants cope with life in Britain at a time of economic downturn and the government ‘tough touch’ on undocumented migrants?

'No right to dream' is a piece of research led by Alice Bloch (Department of Sociology, City University London), Nando Sigona and Roger Zetter (Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford) and contains the results of large-scale qualitative research into the social worlds and economic livelihoods of British-based young undocumented migrants from China, Turkey (Kurds), Brazil, Zimbabwe and Ukraine.

The study was based on in-depth interviews and testimonies with 75 young people in London, the North West and the Midlands, conducted between August 2008 and January 2009.

The report, commissioned by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Social Justice programme, is now available to download from http://www.staff.city.ac.uk/yum

This report presents the findings of research commissioned by the Refugee Council, which was undertaken by Professor Heaven Crawley, Director of the Centre for Migration Policy Research at the University of Swansea.

The research investigated the decisions made by asylum seekers who come to the UK and explored the extent to which these decisions are a reflection of chance or choice. It builds upon the growing, but as yet still limited, body of evidence about the ‘choices’ that individuals are (or are not) able to exert over the country in which they will seek asylum, and the factors that might contribute to the decision making process.

To download the report click here.

In October 2009 cuts to the levels of support available to certain categories of asylum seeker came into force. Destitute single asylum seekers over 25 years of age were left more than £9 per week worse off and lone parents with one child were denied an increase in their income, in effect leaving them over £2 per week poorer.

The government is currently considering the level of asylum support payments for 2010/11, in line with the usual process for reviewing rates annually. This process is separate from the current consultation on asylum support.

The Refugee Council and other members of the Still Human Still Here coalition are calling on the government to ensure that levels of asylum support in 2010/11 are set at a minimum of 70% of Income Support and no less than £45 a week.

Please contact your MP and ask them to write to the Home Secretary to: express their concern about the low rates of asylum support and the poverty and destitution experienced by asylum seekers; seek his commitment to ensuring that levels of asylum support in 2010/11 are set at a minimum of 70% of Income Support and no less than £45 a week for single adults.

For further information about this campaign please click here.

As part of their‘What Do You Believe In?’ NCVO are urging the public to volunteer to help people and their local communities. Volunteering is a free, fun and rewarding way for people to give to causes they believe in, gain new skills and make a real difference to people’s lives.

To find out how your organisation can get involved in the campaign and benefit from volunteers visit http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/believe

Launched on January 5th, the new scheme marks the first time Children in Need has run a UK-wide small grants programme and it will be aimed predominantly at organisations which have not previously considered applying.

The programme is open to any third sector organisation working with children and young people under the age of 18, with small grants of up to 10,000. It is expected the total funding for both the small and large grants schemes will be in excess of £38 million during 2010 and will be administered through seven regional bases.

There will be four funding rounds with deadlines on: 15 January, 15 April, 15 July, 15 October.

The director of grants and policy at Children in Need, Sheila Jane Malley, explained the programme would seek to fund well-organised projects which can demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm: “The first thing we look at is benefit for children and young people. Is the organisation clear about what improvements it wants to bring about, and is it clear about how it can do it?”

For more information visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/smallgrants.shtml

Deadline for application:29 January 2010
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available.

The Building Bridges Fund is provided and administered by Team London Bridge. The programme is intended to support young people aged 5 - 19 living in Southwark, with additional emphasis on forging links between the business and residential communities of the London Bridge district.

Organisations must be registered charities in order to apply. Eligible projects should meet one or more of the following criteria: Increase positive youth engagement in Southwark; Offer extra curricular arts or enterprise activities to young people aged 5 - 19 who live or go to school in Southwark; Tackle the need to reduce individual or business impacts on the environment in Southwark; Will run over a significant period of time and have a lasting impact.
Priority will be given to projects which engage with the business community of London Bridge and local residents of Bermondsey.

For further information click here.

Applications will open on 26 February 2010

Funding from Mediabox, a Department for Children, Schools and Families fund, will be available to established youth and or media focused organisations with a strong track record of working with young people. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 available. For more information visit www.media-box.co.uk/funding/mid-mediabox