The document discusses the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) voluntary and community sector in the UK. It notes that the BME sector is hugely diverse and definitions can vary. The sector includes organizations that deliver services targeted at BME communities as well as those that work to address issues like deprivation, exclusion, and poverty in some BME groups. The sector plays an important role in empowering communities, filling gaps in mainstream services, and building social cohesion.

1. The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector Voices for Change Who is the Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector? June 2011

2. There is no one definition of a BME VCO. The BME VCS is a hugely diverse sector and whilst some organisations clearly fall into the BME VCS, such as those delivering services to a targeted community, others sit more on the margin. For some leadership and self determination is a defining factor, for others it is the drive to work with parts of the BME community suffering deprivation, exclusion and poverty. Some add it is not only who they work with but how they work with them… Who is a BME voluntary organisation? The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

3. Who is the BME voluntary and community sector? The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector Average annual income £150,000 53% income from statutory sources 200 registered charities 49% central government 16% health authority 9% EU 15,300 – 17,460 BME voluntary organisations 26% local government

4. The Evelyn Oldfield Unit supports refugee and migrant community organisations through a programme of capacity building activities, including workshops, training sessions, consultancy and collaborative events. The aims of the organisation are to support RMCOs and the wider voluntary and community sector to find new ways to work together, to reach out and transform the lives of excluded and marginalised individuals. Meet a national BME organisation

5. Sangini is an active participant in the Sunderland BME Network, a Voice4Change England member. They are spearheading ‘Shakti’, a domestic violence project funded by the Northern Rock Foundation with support from the Sunderland network, and are investigating the barriers to BME women accessing employment and training as part of the Network's successful BME Employment Access Project. They also organise a Diwali Celebration every year for the local community. Meet a local BME organisation

6. Why is the sector needed? Since inequalities still exist in our society, there is a need for a sector that challenges that and seeks to address it through the services, the campaigning, the voice it puts forward. And I think that if the sector wasn’t there this voice would not be heard anywhere and would be absorbed or diluted by other agendas. From Shared Vision The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

7. Why is the sector needed? Communities defining their own solutions Filling the gaps in mainstream services. Sensitive to cultural, religious and linguistic needs. Engage ‘hard to reach’ communities. Empowering users and strengthening social mobility. Building bridging social capital and creating social cohesion . The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

8. Equality has become a dirty word because it has come to be associated with the worst aspects of pointless political correctness and social engineering. The coalition Government and equality Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Theresa May November 2010 The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

9. A shared vision for the future of the BME voluntary and community sector is a contemporary narrative informed and shaped by emerging consensus on the role, contribution and value of the Black and Minority Ethnic including social enterprises in building a strong, diverse and healthy society… We believe that this is the first time that a shared vision document for the future of the BME VCS has been produced. We have analysed findings from over a 100 survey respondents representing a cross section of the BME VCS and in-depth interview responses from thirteen leading figures working closely with or in the BME VCS. As a result, this publication sets out what the BME VCS can offer in helping the Government and other policymakers to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges facing Britain today. This document presents nine policy areas that emerged as priorities for the BME VCS. From the Foreword to Shared Vision A shared vision for the BME sector The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

10. We want to see a strong, resilient, sustainable and responsive BME VCS at all spatial levels, including BME social enterprises. It will have an increasingly critical edge in challenging inequality and strengthening civil society. By developing a strong narrative on the importance of promoting race equality, solidarities will be created across all communities. Our voice will be valued by policy makers and will influence public policy at all spatial levels to better meet the needs of BME and other marginalised communities… Read the Shared Vision A Shared Vision for the BME sector The national membership organisation championing the voice of the BME voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

11. For a more inclusive society Come talk to us about working with BME organisations in your area Voice4Change England 020 7843 6131 [email_address] www.voice4change-england.co.uk www.twitter.com/v4ce