The venue has been provided by Action Deafness as part of its support to the event.

The Lord Mayor Manjula Sood will be coming along to lend her support to Hanisha

Hanisha, is 17 years old and has experienced deafness her whole life. But this young women has never let her deafness stop her from leading an active life and she is an inspiration to all who meet her, especially young people from all communities.

There are guests coming from Coventry, Birmingham and even as far as London to join in this unique event.

CEO – Craig Crowley, MBE said:

“I am delighted that Action Deafness is to be the first deaf charity in the East Midlands to put on such an event. The work being put into this by Hanisha and a team of dedicated volunteers is highly commendable, and the fact that the Lord Mayor of Leicester is attending is proof of this hard work. I hope many people will come and enjoy what promises to be a very entertaining and colourful evening.”

We are seeking a corporate sponsor interested in helping Hanisha with the her interpretor expenses leading up to and including the event so she is able to communicate easily with the media and all those involved in helping her with the event.

Action Deafness only uses BSL experienced interpreters who are registered with the independent Registration Panel and/or members of the Association of Sign Language interpreters.

It may surprise many people to discover that people with deafness who are volunteers would have to pay for the services of an interpreter, and as a consequence when organising a new event like the fashion show, can be the difference in being able to stage the event at all.

If you feel your company would be interested in discussing this opportunity further or to find out more details about Hanisha and the fashion show please contact in the first instance Jane Holden on Tel: 0116 257 4800

JaneHolden@actiondeafness.org.uk

They want you to get involved in their events and projects and also get your friends involved too, so why not encourage your family, friends and colleagues to sign-up today.

Click this link to visit the LeicestHERday website

Or are you working in an area experiencing high levels of in-migration?

If so, we need your help to answer these questions:

• What can community development offer to communities experiencing high levels of in-migration and/or migrant          communities?
• What difference does community development make to these communities?
• What is your own experience of working with these communities? What works? What difficulties have you had?
• What sorts of support would help you to be more effective in your work with these communities?

The Community Development Foundation (CDF) has commissioned Resources for Change and MAC Associates to explore the contribution that community development makes in relation to migration – the communities experiencing in-migration and the migrant communities. The project will focus on ‘new European’ migration. It will have will have three stages: scoping study, research with workers and sharing the learning through dissemination.

If you are interested in contributing to the project, the researchers would really like to hear from you. The research phase will run in September and early October 2008. Please get in touch directly with our researchers (and not CDF); below is a simple response form to fill in and return by email by September 8th. The research team will get back to you to discuss how you can choose to take part. If you want more information before deciding, do get in touch with the researchers; their full details are shown below.

Interest Form

Also, to help with our scoping study, we would be very grateful if you could fill in a short questionnaire about your work. We are really keen to make sure that our research is well targeted, and in particular, that the discussion groups and interviews don’t waste participants’ time and really do focus on the most important issues. Simply follow the link below, which will take you directly to the Web-based questionnaire. It depends how much you want to contribute, but it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes. If for some reason, the link doesn’t work, try copying and pasting the address into your internet browser address bar.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nlAitO7ZStEufQb4NsdRDQ_3d_3d

RESEARCH TEAM CONTACT

Irene Evison, Research project manager
Eml: irene@r4c.org.uk
Tel:01938 555759

Resources for Change, 1 New Street, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7SF

Thank you very much for any help you can offer.

Alison Gilchrist
Director, Practice Development
Community Development Foundation

Communities in Control is the title of the empowerment White Paper, published by Communities and Local Government in July. By the simple addition of a question mark we have turned it into the title of two events we’re running in September, where you can:

·    learn about the proposals in the White Paper

·    discuss their implications for CD practice and the communities you work with

·    feed your ideas and experiences into CDX’s messages to government

The events are in York on Tuesday 9 September and London on Thursday 11 September and numbers are limited

Building democracy

The Ministry of Justice has £150k to support projects that will help people address public issues and influence government. This is the Democratic Engagement Innovation Fund, embodied in the ‘Building Democracy’ initiative. There’s an interesting process of ‘floating your idea’ on the website to encourage public discussion of proposals, followed by submitting a formal application by 26 September. Have a look at ideas people have already floated at www.buildingdemocracy.co.uk

This is one of the big themes of the empowerment White Paper – trying to encourage people to see politics as something relevant, worth taking notice of or getting involved in. Community development could make a huge contribution to this, with many workers
committed to helping people recognise the political nature of everyday life, how political processes operate and how to influence them to bring about change.

Is it comprehensive?

The Audit Commission is consulting on the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) – the new way of assessing the performance of local public agencies and partnerships. The consultation document is 86 pages long, which does not make my heart soar. But I’ve just noticed this bit about how the Audit Commission will assess how well the new Duty to Involve is being implemented. They will consider:

·    how well councils and their partners know and engage with their communities and understand the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups

·    the extent to which the priority outcomes for the area have been defined with the involvement of communities

·    how well communities have been involved in assessing whether priority outcomes have been delivered

·    the effectiveness of local partners’ activities in coordinating community engagement and communicating its impact on their decisions

The Audit Commission will also be looking at how well local partners:

·    follow good practice in engaging with local people

·    focus on outcomes for users

·    manage the risks of engagement activities for individuals, the council and its partners

·    focus on value for money

·    make changes as a result and inform people of these

If you’re negotiating with local public services, you might want to remind them that these aspects of their performance will be among those assessed from April 2009. More info at:

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/caa/consultation.asp
Please contact: Beth Longstaff, Research and Policy Officer
Community Development Exchange

T: 0114 241 2760
Direct: 0114 241 2764
F: 0114 241 2762
E: beth@cdx.org.uk
W: www.cdx.org.uk

CDX, Scotia Works, Leadmill Road, Sheffield S1 4SE

CDX is a registered charity no. 1085702 and a company limited by guarantee in England

and Wales no. 3895814

This will also ensure you receive information about services and the way they are delivered across both health, and social care

Become part of a network committed to having the right services delivered at the right time and in the right way for your local community

LINks Explained

LINks Participation Form

Please contact: Jon Davis, Community Engagement Worker
Carers Federation Limited
Threadneedle House, 27 Copdale Road, Leicester, LE5 4FG

Tel: 0116 273 6506
Mobile: 07739 237446
Email: j.davis@carersfederation.co.uk

“Business Link provides access to all the independent information, advice and support needed to start, maintain or grow a business.

They act as impartial brokers to other professional organisations and networks, such as banks, accountants, solicitors – to provide joined up solutions which provide direct access to the information and advice that helps businesses need to make an informed choice and take advantage of every opportunity – so, whether it’s a new or an established company.

Business Link puts you in touch with the experts who can help realise your full potential and achieve your business goals.”

Business Link website 

All Leicestershire and Rutland Schools are being invited to take part in a British Sign Language Challenge being arranged by local charity Action Deafness based in Leicester City Centre.

Trained volunteers will be visiting local schools during the next school year to promote deaf awareness and to teach the children basic sign language. This in turn will be used as a platform to engage the children in some games using sign language but played in silence, to show what fun can be had, and to try and get the children to understand the needs of deaf people everywhere.

All primary and secondary schools in the City of Leicester and Leicestershire and Rutland are invited to participate and visits by our team of volunteers can be tailored to suit the busy schedules and curriculums of each school. Both Mathematics and English are incorporated in the learning, but this is done in a fun and inclusive way, offering new skills and a great deal of enjoyment.  Signing can also be tailored to accompany a school song, hymn or Christmas Carol for any of the schools concerts.

Craig Crowley MBE, CEO of Action Deafness said:

“I am very excited by this new awareness and fundraising initiative.  As a deaf person myself, I believe that the children will benefit greatly from this fun way of learning about sign language, and that awareness of deafness should be learnt from an early age.  We have devised some great activities that will have everyone laughing and enjoying themselves, whilst learning a truly fantastic language, and hopefully we will be able to encourage the children to go on to learn sign language in the future.”

To find out more please contact in the first instance Louise Miller, Office Manager on 0116 257 4815 or email Louise, louisemiller@actiondeafness.org.uk

VENUE:     African Caribbean Centre (AFCAB)
Maidstone Road (Sparkenhoe Street corner)
Leicester
LE2

DATE:    Friday 29th August ‘08

TIME:    5pm – 9pm

COST:    Free (Donations Welcome)

Black Future invite all parents/ guardians, carers, concerned individuals, family members and organisations that are responsible for, look after, work with or for young black youths.

Youth Question Time is a youth run debate and open discussion forum for young people, run by young people. Young people organise the event and decide who they would like on the panel for each showcase. The events are held at various locations in the city or county depending on availability and subject matter.

This coming event will be based on ‘Crime & Disorder’, with a strong focus on the controversial subjects of “stop ‘n’ search”, gun and knife crime. Amongst the invitees who will be sitting on this month’s panel are representatives of Leicestershire Constabulary, LREC and the NHS. There will also be a special debate between Black Future Network and Leicestershire Constabulary.

The event will be split into three sections:-
Myth busting PowerPoint presentation
One on one debate - Black Future Network vs. Leicestershire Constabulary on the subject of Stop and Search
Open panel questions and answers

*Free hot and cold food alongside refreshments will be served at the event*

Youth Question Time is a crucial event that gives young African, Caribbean and mixed heritage youngsters between 13 – 19 a voice and a platform for them to express their feelings and articulate their opinions. Black Future Network provides a medium through which they can connect with themselves and the community, as well as those organisations which represent us. Youth Question Time is also a powerful consultation tool that gives organisations and concerned adults alike, the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with hard to reach youth. The topics are fresh and up to date with what is currently happening in the community, nationally and globally where necessary, as the young people see fit.

Black Future (Community) Group Ltd.
Suite 19, Melbourne Centre,
Melbourne Road,
Highfields,
Leicester, LE2 0GU,
East Midlands, U.K.

Tel: +448707202968 (UK National Rate)
Fax: +448707202969 (UK National Rate)

eMail: info@blackfuture.org.uk
www.blackfuture.org.uk
Helping Shape Tomorrow’s World

Despite current economic conditions we have held off price increases for our public courses until September 2008 and are pleased to offer a further £10 discount for delegates from voluntary organisations and charities booking on our August 28th course.

Corin Desborough
The Pink Triangle Training Company

T       01162941765
E       mailbox@pinktriangletraining.co.uk
W      www.pinktriangletraining.co.uk

PINK TRIANGLE TRAINING – Basic LGB Awareness courses at Voluntary Action Leicester - now booking for 28th August.

Pink Triangle Training also offers in-house bespoke training tailored to your organisation’s requirements.

What is it?

• This is a creative arts project targeting young men (16-35) of primarily African, Asian or Carribean descent.
• It will use artforms like poetry, hip hop, rap and others.
• It is set to take place between September and November 2008.
• It will see 6-7 young men (who will be between 16 and 35) working closely with leading arts professionals to produce a live showcase of their own work.
• Each participant will be paid for their participation.

Tell me more …

Over a series of 9 creative workshops 6-7 young men will receive close mentoring from the following leading artists:

• Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze - the internationally acclaimed poet of Jamaican origin
• Nicolas Makoha - a charismatic poet and educationalist who has performed around the UK
• Michael Brome (AKA Sureshot) - experienced local poet and ‘big brother’ of the project.

The workshops will lead to a final show, to be staged at the newly refurbished Y Theatre. It will be professionally produced by the high profile renaissance one and directed by the nationally acclaimed producer, mentor and curator Melanie Abrahams.

Who’s behind it?

‘Showcase Live’ is an exciting new project made possible by funding from the Community Development Foundation and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.  Led by BrightSparks (Voluntary Arts in Mental Health Group) it’s core partners are:

• Akwaaba Ayeh (local mental health advocacy service for people of African, Carribean and Asian descent, formally the ‘Mental Health Shop’)
• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and
• renaissance one (nationally acclaimed agency, producing and curating spoken word, poetry and fiction-based events.)

How do I get involved?

If you like to take part in the main showcase – or attend a couple of more open poetry producing workshops, to be led by Jean and Sureshot, then let us know. You can do so by calling:

Pamela Campbell (Akwaaba Ayeh) on: 0116 2471525,  email: pamela@akwaabaayeh.com

For more information please contact Lydia Towsey, Chair of BrightSparks and Creative Arts Coordinator for  Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust: lydia.towsey@leicspart.nhs.uk