Tuesday 8 June 2010, 10.30 - 16.30 (tbc)
Middlesex University, Hendon Campus, NW4 4BT

MODA and Middlesex University have been working together on a research project about funding and resources available to migrant and minority organisations in London. Through a survey and other methods, the project gathered information about the role of these organisations, the services they provide, the community needs they address, the financial and organizational challenges they face and the creative ways they are finding to cope. The research also aimed to explore the effects of the current economic and political climate on the sector and the role played by second tier organisations and other networks.

This event will launch the findings of our research as well as bring together minority organisations, funders, researchers and other stakeholders in a series of interactive discussions. Topics to be covered include:
- The future of the minority third sector: changes in the economic and political climate
- Addressing community needs: service delivery and access
- Financial and organisational challenges: funding, commissioning and social enterprises
- Networking processes and the role of second-tier organisations
- Gathering evidence: the research needs of the sector and the role of academia

The event is free to attend, with lunch provided. All participants will receive a resources pack. Early booking is essential - please RSVP to: e.sanders@mdx.ac.uk

A detailed programme will be published soon. For further information about the event and the research project visit http://www.moda.org.uk/ or contact Alessio D’Angelo a.dangelo@mdx.ac.uk

This initiative is funded through the Social Enterprise Research Capacity Building Cluster, part of the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC). The programme is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Office of the Third Sector and Barrow Cadbury Trust

24 May 2010, NCVO, Regents Wharf, 8 Allsaints Street, N1

This event aims to support London's voluntary and community sector to look at the implications and opportunities arising from the recent national and local elections. It will also provide a chance to hear about LVSC’s research on the impact of the recession in London.

Key areas that will be highlighted on the day will be: An overview of the main parties’ policies and analysis of the impact of these; Resulting issues for community groups; What this means for London.

Workshops on the day will explore; implications; opportunities and support needed for the Sector around the following areas: Employment & Skills; Health & Social Care; Campaigning, advocacy and voice ; Equality Act 2010 ; Support, funding and collaboration.

For further information and to book a place click here.

A Multi-perspective Evaluation of the Human Rights Act
4-5 June 2010, University of Salford

The ‘Ten Years On’ conference offers a multi-perspective evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the Human Rights Act over the last ten years. The conference covers a diverse selection of subjects from ‘Feminism and Human rights’ to ‘Terrorism and Security’.

An impressive range of speakers are attending, including Irene Khan, former Secretary General of Amnesty International and Chancellor of the University of Salford.

For further information visit: http://www.law.salford.ac.uk/hrconference

Friday 21st May 2010, 10.00am - 1.30pm
Anson Room, St Margaret?s House, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green. London E2 9PL

This Seminar is part of a series of events organised within TAHA Women4Change programme and aims to: Provide perspectives & presentations on the under-representation of women from Black Minority Ethnic, Refugee & Migrant (BME) communities within the criminal justice system; Examine the barriers that still exist to BME women?s representation within the criminal justice system; Participation within diverse BME communities, community leadership & community organisations as well as within mainstream public independent & political institutions, civic roles and leadership positions.

Seminar targeted at: individuals & community reps from diverse BME communities & professionals from Local Authorities, criminal justice system, NGO?s, community & voluntary sector, Local Government Officers, Academics & other agencies involved in or interested in breaking barriers & delivering an Agenda4Change

Costs per delegate: FREE but places must be booked in advance.
If you wish to organise a similar event in your area or need further information please contact me on: farah.chaudhry@taha.org.uk or telephone 020 8981 2146 / 07961 712 392

ippr conducted regression-based analysis to see whether or not high levels of immigration do raise communities’ support for the BNP, or if other variables – such as political disengagement – are important. Our findings suggest that areas that have higher levels of recent immigration than others are not more likely to vote for the BNP. In fact, the more immigration an area has experienced, the lower its support for the far right. Rather, the evidence points to political and socio-economic exclusion as drivers of BNP support.

We therefore urge mainstream politicians to strongly resist the notion that people have been driven into the arms of the BNP by the harm immigration is causing to their communities. Instead, they must focus on building strong communities and strong education systems, and on rebuilding trust and confidence in democratic politics, so that marginalised people do not feeling so disconnected. This should allow them to both better serve the interests of these communities, and undercut support for the BNP.

To download the full report in pdf format (free), please click here.

MRN's Don Flynn argues that mainstream politicians went into this election with significant constraints on their scope to argue for restrictive immigration policies. As the general election results show, voters are prepared to punish politicians who ignore the dimension of social justice when it comes to this issue.

Read the full article on Migrant Rights Network website: click here.

- Are you a first-generation immigrant from an African country?
- Are you over the age of eighteen?
- Are you interested in using video to document your experiences in the UK?
- Are you interested in potentially having your work exhibited?

If you answered ‘yes’ to all of the questions above, please read on.

Lindiwe Dovey, from SOAS, University of London, is looking for participants in a project titled “Remember Africa? Video Letters Home”. She is looking for ten first-generation African immigrants (five women and five men, over the age of eighteen, and from ten different African countries) who have no prior experience of filmmaking but who would like to learn to use video to document their everyday lives in the UK. You will be taught the basic principles of video making in the first month of the project and will then be loaned a video camera to make 'video letters' of your experiences in London, which will be sent to a family member or friend of your choice in your home country in Africa. All travel and video costs will be covered.

The choice of participants will be guided by display of interest in and dedication to the project. If you are interested in being involved, please contact Lindiwe at LD18@soas.ac.uk with a few sentences about why you are interested.

Asylum Aid is conducting research into the quality of UKBA's decisions on women's asylum claims. The aim of the research is to improve decision-making on women's claims. Asylum Aid's researchers, Jen Maman and Helen Muggeridge, would like to examine the files (on a confidential basis) of women whose asylum claims have been granted or refused under the New Asylum Model (claims made after March 2007, not including the detained fast track). If you can help, or know someone else who can, please email research@asylumaid.org.uk or call Helen on 07967 972 830.

Closing dates: Friday 30th April 2010; Friday 13th August 2010; Friday 08th October 2010

Purpose: To help build thriving local communities, bringing people from different backgrounds together and empowering them to achieve change. You can apply for up to £5,000. Your group must have been active in your local area for at least 1 year before you apply, with an annual income of less than £30,000. This can relate to your last financial year or be taken as an average over your last three financial years. Applications for capital costs are welcomed.

Areas: Bexley, Bromley, Camden, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Westminster

For further information, application forms and guidance visit: http://www.capitalcf.org.uk/grants/grants_available.php
Please contact the grants team on 020 7582 5117 if you need help with your application.

Closing dates: Friday 2nd July 2010; Friday 3rd September 2010

This funding programme includes two areas:
- Area 1. Sports projects: To increase sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation; to help people experiencing difficulties in their lives.
- Area 2 - Other projects: Projects that increase local services, build skills of local people, increase community cohesion & respond to local economic needs.

CCF are delivering the fund in the following boroughs: Bexley, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Kensington & Chelsea, Greenwich, Islington, Lambeth,
Lewisham, Southwark and Westminster

For further information, application forms and guidance visit: http://www.capitalcf.org.uk/grants/grants_available.php
Please contact the Grants Team if you have any questions about the fund: Tel: 020 7582 5117 ; Email: enquiries@capitalcf.org.uk

Next deadline for applications: 28th June 2010.

The Access to Volunteering Fund Pilot aims to increase the number of disabled people in volunteer positions by breaking down the barriers they currently face when wanting to volunteer.

Disabled people are 9% less likely to volunteer than the rest of the population. A lack of special equipment, inappropriate premises, the extra cost of travel and the need for support workers to provide assistance often mean disabled people are prevented from volunteering.

Backed by the Office of the Third Sector, the £2million Access to Volunteering Fund will give small grants to organisations to support disabled people in realising their desire to volunteer.
The pilot will operate initially in three test areas - Greater London, West Midlands and the North West. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is managing the grant process.

As part of the pilot we are running a series of events to help organisations understand the many ways they can support disabled volunteers. The events are free, dates and locations are: Birmingham: 24th May 2010, AM; Liverpool: 25th May 2010, AM; London: 26th May 2010, AM

For further information visit: http://www.accesstovolunteering.org/

Submission Deadline: 21st June

If you missed the last deadline to submit your grassroots grant application, here is another opportunity for you to grab some funding for your project.

Grassroots Grants is a fund for small community organisations in Brent, Barnet, Harrow and Hillingdon administered by North West London Community Foundation.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for community groups, charities, community interest companies and social enterprises groups that: Have a yearly income of less than £30,000; Have been active for at least 12 months prior to application; Working to build thriving local communities, bringing people from different backgrounds together and empowering them to achieve change. If you are a community group working within Brent and has never received grassroots funding, this is your chance.

For further information click here.