About Us

Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW) was formed 1997 as a direct result of the continual search by Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups and communities for a solution to the prejudice, discrimination and racism that they experienced.

Since its inception the organisation has moved on into embracing a more multi stranded and holistic approach to achieving its goals.

BVSNW is an umbrella, membership organisation that actively represents, supports and promotes the interests of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and the BME Voluntary Sector in Wales. We also deliver front-line services to our membership and BME communities throughout Wales.

Objectives:

Raising awareness of the needs of the Black Voluntary Sector and BME communities.
Building the capacity of the Black Voluntary Sector.
Represent, support and campaign on behalf of BME voluntary organisations, community groups, volunteers and communities in Wales.
To play a strategic role in advocating the needs of BME communities within policy and strategy.

We deliver:

Cultural Diversity and Race Equality training.
Consultancy on engagement and participation of BME and minority faith communities.
Capacity building including; training, project development, business planning, networking and governance for BME groups and organisations.
Opportunities for BME individuals, groups and organisations to contribute to strategic forums, ministerial meetings and various consultation processes.
Support and facilitation of research and mapping exercises relating to BME communities in Wales.
An information service providing mainstream information to BME communities and promoting achievements and activities of these communities to the mainstream sector.
Support and deliver events and activities marking and celebrating key dates in the cultural calendar within Wales.

Detaile account of our work to date:

Breakdown of core operational themes:

Engage and empower BME individuals and communities:

BVSNW adopts a community development approach when working with communities that is underpinned by the need for social justice, self-determination and sustainable communities. Our work in this area includes ‘one to one’ work with individuals, small group work and broader community dialogue that takes place on a regular basis. We have a clear understanding of the dynamics and sensitivities within communities and do not adopt a one size ‘fits all’ approach when undertaking our work.

Pro active recruitment and awareness raising campaigns to increase engagement in mainstream activities
Provision and access to personal development, support and formal/ informal training (tailored to the individual needs)
Supporting individuals in volunteering activities within their own communities and within the BME community and voluntary sector
Positively promoting and encouraging BME individual and community achievements
Identifying, recognising and nurturing individual aspirations and potentials
Supporting individuals in becoming trustees and members of community groups and organisations.

Develop, support and promote a vibrant, innovative and sustainable BME voluntary sector:

Supporting the development of research projects, evidence gathering, literature reviews, studies and needs assessments as it relates to BME communities within Wales
Providing capacity building, information, advice & guidance, training, business planning and support to BME groups/communities to enhance their confidence, competence and self sustainability
Supporting BME groups/organisations in developing financial infrastructures through; financial management systems , identifying funding sources, developing strategies, supporting funding application processes, monitoring and evaluation
Providing project development, management support, monitoring and evaluation
Encouraging and supporting the BME sector to actively engage in cross sector partnerships and collaborative working
Promoting the contribution, activities and achievements of the BME voluntary sector in Wales

Cross sector partnership and collaborative working:

Maintaining existing and build new relationships with key cross sector partners in Wales
Working with partners to highlight and share examples of good practice to improve and enhance initiatives and service provision
Working with partners to identify existing or emerging gaps within initiatives and service provision affecting BME communities
Developing joined up working and collaborative interventions that respond to community needs
Sharing learning, examples and case studies of the process of partnership and collaborative working between the BME and mainstream sectors

Representation and Participation:

Undertaking ongoing monitoring and reviewing processes of cross sector policies, strategies, consultations and action and delivery plans that affect BME communities
Identifying relevant policies, strategies, plans and consultations in relation to BME communities
Analysing and extracting key points and preparing summaries for the BME sector
Creating, developing and supporting new and existing networks, forums and mechanisms for consultation and participation of BME individuals, groups, organisations and communities
Engaging the BME sector in consultation processes and developing responses or increased awareness
Promoting the interests, issues, experiences, thoughts and aspirations of the BME sector at local, regional and national strategic forums and ministerial meetings
Ensuring continuous and inclusive communication with and on behalf of BME communities/groups and the mainstream

Community cohesion and cultural activities

Facilitating, delivering and supporting cultural events and celebrations within Wales
Developing opportunities and supporting Intercultural and intercommunity learning and exchange
Promoting positive relations between communities living within Wales
Celebrating achievements and contribution made by BME communities in Wales
Working with BME and local communities to develop and deliver activities that promote community cohesion
Working with cross sector partners to develop new and enhance existing initiative and activities that promote positive relations and community cohesion.

Cross Cutting Theme – Information, Communication, Training and Consultancy

Providing the BME sector with up to date information on developments, activities and opportunities and policies within the mainstream sector
Providing the mainstream sector with information on developments, activities and initiatives within the BME sector
Monitoring and highlighting references to BME communities within reports, policies, strategies, studies and the media
Promoting positive news stories and representation of BME communities in local, national and related media
Compiling and publishing a regular newsletter that reflects, promotes and highlights the BME voluntary sector in Wales
Providing training and consultancy to mainstream agencies relating to race equality and diversity

BME Arts Development Programme and Database

The BME Artist Development Programme & Database is a two pronged project compiled of the Artist Database and an Artist Professional Development Programme. The BME Artist Database was initially established in 2005 after discussions with the Arts Council of Wales. The Database is designed to showcase to potential employers and the wider community a range of multi-cultural arts, professional artists and facilitators as well as promoting the positive impact that multi-culturalism has made to the Arts Sector and general society in Wales.

The Professional Development Programme, which was launched in 2006, facilitates progression and professionalism along with equality of opportunity for ‘Diverse Artists in a Diverse Wales’. It identifies the training and development needs of artists and recommends ways in which funding bodies can tailor their grants to assist artists in their professional development. The programme link with and offers support to mainstream arts training and professional development agencies to increase access to services. The BME Artist Development Programme increases the number of artists from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds working professionally in the arts in Wales.

With the backing of the Arts Council of Wales, It provides:

· Artistic skills training

· A continued commitment to supporting emerging artists and companies

· Visible career structures

· Role models to demonstrate the arts can be a viable career for BME arts practitioners

BVSNW employs 2 Arts Development Officers to:

· Provide 1-2-1 professional development sessions and mentoring support

· Develop and distribute useful resources and information

· CRB check artists working regularly with young or vulnerable people

· Compile case studies

· Facilitate regional consultation events across Wales

· Create a new Artist forum allowing for the development of Art Form specific sub groups

· Work in partnership with Basic Skills, Administrative, Business and Art Form specific courses and tailor made training

· Develop services that are sensitive to the needs of BME artists i.e. Women only training

· Voice the needs and issues of BME artists at a Ministerial level

· Offer volunteering opportunities

· Seek out new partnerships with mainstream service providers

BVSNW current profile of work & projects

· BVSNW News (All Wales)

· BME Sector Capacity Building programme (All Wales)

· BME Arts Development project (All Wales)

· Gypsy and Travellers support project (South Wales)

· BME Participation and Representation (All Wales)

· Black History Month Wales (All Wales)

· Chinese New Year celebrations (South Wales)

· Volunteer capacity building and work placement project (South Wales)

· BME Work placement project with BBC Wales (Cardiff), in partnership with EMC Com. First

· Multi-agency training facilitation

· Community development work in Cardiff and Newport

· WAG commissioned research project around service provision for BME Ex-Offenders

Highlights of the past 12 months (2010-11)

Engage and empower BME individuals and communities:

BVSNW has worked directly with over 437 individuals from a broad range of ethnic, religious and geographic communities across Wales. This work has included volunteering opportunities at Black History Month and the Chinese New year celebrations, placements at the BBC and other BME sector events, engagement in mainstream sporting, social and educational activities. We have provided mentoring support to numerous individuals, large numbers of them being refugees, BME women and young people and have hosted various school and work placements within BVSNW.

BVSNW has supported work that has raised the aspirations and confidence of communities that includes; Refugee and Asylum Seekers, BME women, BME young people, Gypsy and Travellers, Eastern Europeans and the Bangladeshi, Filipino, Kurdish and Somali communities throughout Wales.

With the help of Lloyds TSB, BVSNW have developed a thriving and growing volunteering project within our organisation and the BME sector that engages the most isolated within our communities in positive socialisation, confidence and skills building opportunities. The project has been very successful and has seen some 50 individuals engaged regionally across Wales. The project also identifies and develops BME volunteers for external agencies.

We have also initiated a project with the BBC where we help them attract volunteers from the local BME population.

In addition BVSNW have supported a number of individuals to engage in opportunities to promote the interests of their communities in various decision making arenas.

As a result BVSNW’s direct mentoring work with individuals and communities has lead to enhanced community activity and participation, employment, training and skills development and confidence and self esteem amongst the communities that we work with.

Develop, support and promote a vibrant, innovative and sustainable BME voluntary sector:

BVSNW has successfully engaged and provided developmental support to over 50 BME groups and organisations across Wales, this work has included fundraising, project development, training, advice and guidance, governance and research studies etc. We have been able to generate additional support, collaborative working between groups and the mainstream and an increase in meaningful and innovative pieces of work being undertaken.

Through this work we have helped to build positive working relationships between the BME sector and funding bodies and key cross sector partners. In addition we have driven an initiative to support the leadership of BME groups and organisations through inter sector trustees exchange and membership.

BVSNW has been working closely with the Charities Commission Wales to increase governance and practice within the BME sector and in particular working with minority faith groups and organisations within Wales.

BVSNW have responded to a need for bespoke training throughout the sector.

We have delivered equality and diversity training to a diverse group of voluntary and statutory organisations and agencies across Wales including Local Authorities, Communities First, mainstream voluntary organisations and others. Delivered Gang Awareness training to staff at Parc Prison, Bridgend. Delivered training on ‘Engaging with BME young people’ and ‘Understanding Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage and Culture’ to several agencies in South Wales.

Cross sector partnership and collaborative working:

BVSNW has delivered support to BME individuals, groups and communities across Wales. The work has included Race Equality guidelines training for partnerships and mainstream agencies, intercultural learning exchange between BME and indigenous communities across key areas of Wales and direct support for individuals and groups within the local areas. A large part of the work has been supporting the development of the BME Communities of interest in Cardiff and Newport through governance, partnership working and developmental support.

In addition BVSNW has and still is a member of the Communities First Trust Fund’s decision making panel.

BVSNW continues to work in partnership with key voluntary and statutory sector partners in delivering youth work programmes in Cardiff that has engaged over 300 BME young people in decision making processes, community activities and mainstream opportunities. The programme has been directly involved in the delivery in knife crime, gang violence and stop and search awareness initiatives in Cardiff.

BVSNW also have developed our partnership work by:

· Hosting Police trainee officers on work placements at our offices

· Assisting the South Wales Fire Service in arranging 2 family fun days to promote fire safety.

· Contributing as part of Communities First Funding assessment panel.

· Contributing to the development of the Equal Equality Policy of the Big Lottery Fund.

· Facilitating tours of the BBC by young people from the local BME Community.

Representation and Participation:

BVSNW has continued its engagement of the BME sector and communities in key decision making processes within Wales.

BVSNW has increased its activities of promoting the interests of the BME sector at Ministerial level and facilitates networks to contribute to the following portfolio areas:

· Third Sector Partnership Council (TSPC)

· Heritage

· Children, Education Life Long Learning and Skills

· Health & Social Care

· Finance and Local Government

· Social Justice and Regeneration

· Equalities

BVSNW has facilitated BME sector responses to various key consultation processes throughout the year.

Community cohesion and cultural activities

BVSNW has continued its work promoting community cohesion and supporting intercultural learning through cultural activities and events. Examples of this have included the following:

The Black History Month 2010 event took place in Cardiff and engaged over 6,000 participants in the celebrations. Workshops and activities took place across Wales including Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, Newport, Hay-on-Wye and LLanelli, representatives from all these areas were all present at the finale event. The finale event was covered by the BBC and by HTV’s ‘Wales this Week’ and was attended by various dignitaries including Cllr, Judith Woodman, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM and various media personalities. During the month of October, we delivered 34 workshops throughout Wales around the theme of Black History.
BVSNW worked with key partners within the Chinese community to facilitate the Chinese New year Event at the Wales Millennium Centre in February 2010. Over 5,000 participants were engaged in mainland and folk Chinese cultural activities and shared in the celebrations.
BVSNW worked with the ‘Romani Cultural and Arts Company Wales’ to deliver the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month event that was held at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay in May 2010.
BVSNW Delivered 2 Kwanzaa events that brought together and engaged young people from Cardiff and Swansea.

BVSNW Supported the ‘BME Women's Film Club’ which has its roots in the Wales One World Film Festival, providing regular showings and offers BME women the opportunity to watch contemporary films from their own cultures as well as films from other cultures that they may not normally have access to; It also provides the women with an opportunity to come together, meet and socialise in a safe and culturally friendly environment.

In addition BVSNW have worked in partnership with and have been funded by the Arts Council of Wales to deliver the “BME arts development project” that has provided support and developmental opportunities to over 154 BME artists across Wales and have supported mainstream arts agencies in improving their engagement with BME communities. The project has developed an online database of BME artists that currently has 80 live profiles. We have facilitated 4major consultation events throughout Wales this year. The database has effectively created opportunities for artists to be employed and deliver performances and workshops across sectors and key areas within Wales.

Cross Cutting Theme – Information, Communication, Training and Consultancy

BVSNW has continued to provide up to date and relevant information to the BME and mainstream sector, this work has mainly been through the medium of our website, monthly e-bulletins (1,821 destination) and the regular publication of our newsletter.

From January until November this year, our web site visitors accessed a total of 258,551 pages. This service has proven to be a highly valuable resource for the BME and mainstream sector. BVSNW has supported various community groups and organisations in identifying needs and relevant information and supporting them in effectively marketing their projects and services to their target audience and raising their profile within the mainstream. Our communications channels have also been used by Wales-wide voluntary and statutory organisations offering employment opportunities.

BVSNW have supported various academic and community based pieces of research and have encouraged BME community participation within these.

BVSNW has enhanced our training and consultancy work and has delivered training on equalities and participation with various local authorities and voluntary sector organisations and has completed a large piece of work engaging over 208 BME members in a consultation process around access and relevance of heritage sites, museums and exhibit content on behalf of CyMAL who are responsible for museums and libraries throughout Wales.

Consultancy

We were commissioned by WAG to carry out a 4 month Equality and Diversity audit of the 16 community First areas of Caerphilly.

We were commissioned by WAG to consult with the BME sector on new WAG initiatives and legislation and delivered a consultation report on Gypsy and Travellers that has fed into WAGs Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy document.

We carried out a consultation activity with Cardiff City Football club to help them address engagement barriers and attract more visitors from the local BME community. We also facilitated a 5-a-side tournament to promote community cohesion and bring together isolated individuals.

We worked in partnership to provide impact assessment and policy development advice to the Forestry Commission, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Big Lottery Fund, HTV and the BBC.

We assisted WAG with the final implementation of their ‘Museums and Libraries Strategy’ document that was developed with our assistance in arranging and facilitating consultation events throughout Wales.

We are currently undergoing a research project, (commissioned by WAG) to look at barriers to service take-up and the inclusive quality of service provision to BME current and ex-offenders in South Wales.

BVSNW Developing a Theatrical Production “Off The Busses”

Particularly innovative is BVSNW’s project highlighting the experiences of being black in Wales in the 1950s. For this project, stories are being collected and shaped into 6 ten-minute plays by Black and Minority Ethnic writers. The finished product will be performed at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at other venues throughout Wales. This project offers a unique opportunity for both aspects of the black experience and new work by minority writers to become better known throughout Wales.

BME Led Theatre in Wales

A Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales & Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) Partnership.

Recently we have been working with writers, actors and theatre practitioners from our BME Artist forum to discuss the possibilities around a BME led Theatre in Wales. A sub group has since been established to take forward a number of ideas based on current needs and research that was carried out in 2006 by Dominic Rai, Artistic Director of Man Mela Theatre Company.

In keeping with the key principles of BVSNW and the Artist Development Programme, BVSNW are working in partnership with RWCMD to:

· Narrate new stories to Welsh audiences in contemporary performance styles

· Celebrate cultural diversity using the many languages of Wales

· Provide a platform of contemporary Welsh identity and debate

· Engage with communities who had no previous access to performing arts

· Provide opportunities in performing arts

· Bring together disparate communities of Wales by sharing stories

· Enabling all people of all ages to contribute to the social, political and cultural life of Wales

Diverse Exhibition and Performance Space

BVSNW in collaboration with the Butetown History & Arts Centre are working to deliver:

• a space for exhibitions and performances

• a studio space for resident artists

• expertise in digital printing and exhibition production

Exhibition Space

There is no centre for multicultural and diversity arts in Wales. While people in various English cities (i.e., London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, etc.) have routine access to high-quality work by artists from ethnically-diverse backgrounds and work that explores issues of race, ethnicity, religion, disability and other forms of diversity, the people of Wales have very few such opportunities. We are working to develop a modest space for an excellent programme of exhibitions, performance and education exploring such issues. It would build on the work of our two organisations and develop and utilise a network of partner organisations (galleries, artists groups, etc.) throughout Wales, the UK and abroad. It would also enable artists producing work concerned with diversity to show and sell their work and develop a higher profile both within and beyond Wales.

Butetown History & Arts Centre now has additional space for public exhibitions, education and events. They have agreed to allocate specific spaces for exhibitions and studio work around the general themes of diversity and interculturalism. Two

rooms, totalling approximately 600 square feet, have been converted into a single space with a patio and entrance onto Lloyd George Avenue, thus potentially integrating the Centre with Craft in the Bay, the Wales Millennium Centre, etc.

The Diversity Gallery would host a series of annual exhibitions, including two major exhibitions produced by artists-in-residence at Butetown History & Arts Centre: (1) an annual Black History Month exhibition in October/November and (2) an annual Women’s Art exhibition – featuring women artists and/or exploring issues of women’s lives in March/April.

During the rest of the year the Diversity Gallery would feature (1) work by artists in Wales on the BME database; (2) work by other Wales-based artists who explore themes concerned with issues of identity and difference; and (3) work by and from refugees; (4) work concerned with disability; and (5) work by international artists and artists based elsewhere in the British Isles (the UK and Ireland).

The Diversity Gallery would serve as a hub for developing collaborations (1) between Wales-based artists and artists from elsewhere, (2) artists at different stages in their careers and (3) artists from different cultural backgrounds.

The Gallery would also facilitate collaborations with (1) other relevant arts organisations in the UK, such as inIVA (the International Association of Visual Artists) and Autograph (the Association of Black Photographers) and (2) other galleries in the UK, Ireland and Europe concerned with diversity and interculturalism (e.g,, the October Gallery in London). It would also link with other galleries in Wales to encourage the touring of exhibitions to other parts of Wales.

While the Gallery would include a strong educational programme, including workshops for young people, schools and adults, it would also recognise that the arts also need to increasingly generate income for artists and venues. Thus, there would be an emphasis on both education and income-generation – through sale of work, workshop fees, etc.

Performance Space

The gallery space would also serve as a performance space for a rich programme of diverse performing arts ranging across music, theatre, storytelling, performance poetry and dance. Here, too, programming would both draw on the database and include performing artists visiting from elsewhere.

Studio Space

In addition to the gallery, we are working to provide a studio space for resident artists. This would house the artist-in-residence programme, which would play a key role in developing the careers, skills, visibility and profiles of artists on the database and others. There would be two residencies a year. The artists-in-residence would be of two kinds: well established artists and younger, less established artists. Well established artists would be asked to do some mentoring as part of their residency.

Developing Services.

We are working very closely with many service providers, and provide many valuable services free of charge. We are currently engaging in conversation with these organisations to move our relationships forward into creating service provision contracts.

We aim to provide each organisation with a valuable and realistic portfolio of services where we can help them achieve the most inclusive take up by BME individuals and communities throughout Wales.

We would like to combine a number of small service contracts together to help provide the core support to BVSNW, and help us attract sustainable match funding for the next 3 years.

We are currently very much involved with the development of the Cardiff Voluntary Sector Centre, and hope to be an integral service provider through the Centre from April 2012.

The following are a number of developing services that we are pursuing:

Funding seeking - Developing our capacity to identify needs and matching them to possible funding sources.

Providing a funding advice service to BME individuals and groups throughout Wales

Parc Prison, Cardiff Prison and the National Probation Service - Delivering Equality and Diversity training, conflict resolution, engagement advice, service quality control through a service delivery agreement.

BBC - Providing Equality, Engagement and Diversity advice as consultants and providing access to developed audience demographics i.e. BME young people.

Lamajo - Working In partnership to deliver broader and more intense training around Equality and Diversity policy and implementation.

Voluntary Action Cardiff - BME Community development work through a service level agreement for BME communities.

Equalities Assessment Group - In partnership with Age Cymru, CVCDP, Stonewall Cymru and several independent consultants; Delivering a one stop service around Equality and Diversity impact assessment to statutory organisations on a fee basis.

Big Lottery/Heritage Lottery - Providing a Positive Action Service to promote funding opportunities and encourage BME individuals and organisations to apply for funding, and also to help them through the process.

Cardiff Council - Provide community development work around community cohesion and BME community development and assisting them with community engagement and facilitating cultural events

SEWREC - Joint work around community cohesion.

Helping to manage the Pil Millennium Centre, Newport

WCVA - Participation and consultation work via TSPC and other networks and developing the Black Voluntary Sector.

Membership Drive - Encouraging active membership in BVSNW.

In-house Training - Providing training on a needs driven basis.

Welsh Government - Assisting WAG in community BME engagement, consultation, identifying issues and barriers to active citizenship and participation, developing policy, impact accessing policy, implementing and communicating policy.

We wish to be integral in assisting WAG in ensuring that diverse and hard to reach individuals and communities have access to digital technology and are enabled to be actively involved in the Digital Wales process.

Communities First - Developing a support service for reporters of race hate crime. Acting as an intermediately between the public and the police.

Research - Carrying out commissioned research projects around community engagement and barriers to participation.

Anti-extremism training - Working in partnership to deliver workshops at Cardiff Prison and through the Probation Services to short term offenders.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Services - Supporting SWFRS in engaging with the business sector of the Chinese community in S.Wales.

ACW :

Re-branding the project to develop a self-contained service to the sector and providing continuation of the Artist Development Programme after having identified needs and new service opportunities.

Providing more training that has been identified through the consultation gathered.

Supporting ACW funded organisations.

Facilitating cultural events.

Helping ACW fully mainstream equality and diversity throughout their organisation.

Helping to develop the capacity of young people to engage with and develop a professional relationship with the arts.

Platforma Project - We have been contracted to be the South Wales representative for this National Arts Council of England project to engage refugees in the arts. This is a natural progression through our existing ACW Artist development project.

Self Generation

· Providing access to hot desking.

· Providing a fully inclusive and accessible communications advice and training service (Web site development, multi-media communications e.t.c.) to small charity organisations and service providers.

· Renting out of conference/training room to local organisations.

· Providing engagement advice to service providers Wales wide.

· Providing a consultancy service to advise on facilitating fully inclusive and diverse festivals, consultation events and activities.

Developing BVSNW Social enterprise projects:

1) BVSNW - led Design Company

We should look into setting up a social enterprise offering social design/service design to the public and 3^rd sector.

The enterprise will specialise in ‘design for social impact’. It uses design methods (co-design) to develop innovative solutions that lead to positive social (Cultural, economic and environmental) change.

Two good ways to demonstrate this approach would be:

1. For our volunteers to co-design their own crèche service.

2. Develop service improvement and design services for the new local health board.

2) BVSNW - BME led Crèche

There is a need to train and qualify child care BME individuals and create a fully inclusive crèche run by these individuals and volunteers. We can target the 3^rd sector organisations in advertising its functions. The crèche can be at a static location with the option of providing crèche care at many different locations at a reasonable rate.

BVSNW can find the training funding with the caveat that each newly qualified person should dedicate a certain amount of his or her professional working time working for the enterprise.

3) BVSNW/Ex-Offender led – Social enterprise

There is a need to create an offender led social enterprise, giving ex-offenders the capacity, confidence and chance (as a business) to collectively bid for work contracts around their identified and nurtured skills.

BVSNW can find the training funding with the caveat that each newly qualified person should dedicate a certain amount of his or her professional working time working/volunteering as prevention role models both inside and outside secure units.