Now, three years on, the Citizen’s Jury is looking to move the project forward by launching a new era under a new name - Citizen’s Watch. This new initiative will again look to monitor, scrutinise, guide and assist services and initiatives for the benefit of all communities in Leicester Shire and continue the excellent work already undertaken by the initial Citizen’s Jury. However, we are looking to do much more than that. Citizen’s Watch will also play an active part in Leicestershire County Council’s new Community Cohesion Framework. We want to actively organise, develop and promote initiatives that will bring people from different backgrounds together so that they learn from each other, help and support each other and unite in the shared goals of developing a vibrant, cohesive and happy Leicester Shire community.

To do this, we are looking to recruit people from diverse communities to Citizen’s Watch who share this vision and who want to do their bit to make it become a lasting, sustainable reality. Mahatma Gandhi famously said “You must be the change you want to see in the world”. Those words have been an inspiration to millions of people across the world and they are the motivational impetus behind Citizen’s Watch.

We want Citizen’s Watch to be a catalyst for change in our city and county. Accordingly, we want Citizen’s Watch members to not just point out where things are going wrong, and to challenge and ask critical questions - vital though these things are. We want them to do more than that - to actively look to help rectify things by getting involved in projects and initiatives, showing creativity and drive, in effect to lead the way towards change by personal example and involvement.

If this strikes a chord with you, please get in touch with us as soon as posssible. That’s all we’re after at this stage.

We will be holding a meeting of all who have expressed an interest in getting involved at County Hall, Glenfield in Leicester on an evening in early August 2008.

All original and current members of the Black and Minority Ethnic Citizen’s Jury will automatically receive an invitation. At this meeting we will have an opportunity to meet each other and discuss together how we can progress things. We have some ideas that we want to share with you, but we are also looking to create an environment where, collectively, further ideas and goals can be raised, stimulated, developed and then put into practice. We firmly believe that Citizen’s Watch has the potential to do this.

So, if you are interested, please register your interest by contacting John Coster, Editor of the Citizen’s Eye Community News Agency on email editor@citizenseye.org Further information will then be forwarded to you with regard to the meeting in August.

For further information on the Black and Minority Ethnic Citizen’s Jury project and Citizen’s Watch, please contact either Julian Harrison (Leicestershire County Council) on 0116 305 7018 or jnharrison@leics.gov.uk; or Chris Isa Ellis (Citizen’s Jury member) on email president@blackfuture.org.uk“

* Role of the EU
* What it means to be a Citizen of Europe (particularly from the perspective of young people and women)
* Migration
* Climate Change

This event is part of a series happening all over the UK celebrating 2008 the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

The event will take place at the as part of the DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY - LEICESTER at 10am til 4pm

Keynote Speaker “Phil Hope Minister for the Third Sector”

To book a place please contact Moinul on 0845 331 2373 or email: Moinul@fatima-network.com or info@fatima-network.com

Event Flyer

Booking Form

Lara Thomas

Project Manager

Alice Hawkins Legacy Project

LeicestHERday Trust

w:  www.leicestherday.org.uk

tel: 0116 2575615

e:  lara@leicestherday.org.uk

These courses, aimed at the complete novice, are usually for 2 hours per week for 5 weeks, cover a range of topics and are usually free.

If you would like more information on our community work, please contact our community worker Linda, on: 01530 836 136 ext 231 (24hr answer phone). 

Click here for website: Stephenson College

More than a third (36%) of us would not trust anybody on our street with our keys, according to ICM research commissioned by the BBC.

Among 25 to 34 year olds that figure is almost a half (48%).

Meanwhile, more than one in five (22%) believes our neighbourhoods have become less friendly in the last five years.

Click here for full story: BBC News

City Cllr Rory Palmer asked us to have a look at eyresmonsell.com which is serving the local community.

The site is simple to navigate and has the potential for offering local community news. The front page says:

“Welcome to eyresmonsell.com a local website for local people. Here you can find lots of information about our local area and links to different agencies who work with or provide services for local people.”

Editor: The line at the bottom of the Home Page says “If you have any suggestions or comments about the site, please be gentle as it is designed and maintained by volunteers.”

I think it should say “If you have any suggestions or comments about this site, please GET INVOLVED!!”

Well done to the volunteers who have built the website.

Citizens Eye will be starting its “Citizen Reporter” volunteer training shortly and we hope to match a volunteer from the Eyres Monsell area with the website team to create the community news.

The Leicester South MP is holding a special event to give local young people the chance to have their say on important national issues.

Students from Crown Hills Community College, Gateway College, Leicester College, Moat Community College, Regent College, and Wyggeston and QE1 will be participating at the event, being held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall.

Students will be discussing major issues including nationality and identity, citizenship, voting and political participation, and reform of the political system.

Click for details: Leicester South Young Peoples’ Forum

This is one of the major events in their 20th anniversary year, and they are aiming to raise a substantial amount of money to

maintain and develop the important work LASS carries out in supporting local people affected by HIV and AIDS.

The event will start in Cropston at 9am and participants may choose to walk either 20 miles or 20 kilometres.

The walk will pass through some of the most scenic areas in Leicestershire, and both routes finish at a public house where walkers will have the opportunity for rest and refreshment.

If you would like to take part in the walk, please email Gareth gareth@lass.org.uk with the Registration Form completed (click below)

LASS Registration Form

Once you have registered they will send further details, including a sponsorship form.

Gareth Miller - Finance and Administration Manager
Leicestershire AIDS Support Services
53 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 6YF
Tel 0116 255 9995

During the Week events are held across the country to recognise, reward and recruit volunteers.

Click here for website: Volunteers’ Week 2008

The youth volunteering charity v says its Government-funded vinvolved programme which starts today will help thousands of 16 to 25-year-olds to make a difference in their communities and could even change negative attitudes towards young people.

Terry Ryall, v’s chief executive, said young people should be treated as “assets” rather than problems that need to be fixed.

Click for the full article: Community Newswire