1.1 Project Background
Derbyshire County Council’s BME Engagement Work
As a result of the established working relationships with BME groups and its track record in delivering race equality work, in Autumn 2005, Links was commissioned by Derbyshire County Council to carry out a piece of consultancy work to find out the views of BME groups/ communities regarding the following Derbyshire County Council’s policy documents:
a. The (Draft) Race Equality Scheme 2005-08
b. The (Draft) Corporate Equality Plan 2005-08
c. The (Draft) Community Strategy Priorities Summary Version 2006-09
d. The (Draft) Derbyshire County Council – Council Plan Version 0.17,
A two-part detailed report was produced in December 2005 to document all the views and comments made by representatives of BME community groups across the county. The BME consultancy report highlighted a strong support for the establishment of a BME consultative forum that would enable the County Council to consult and engage with BME community groups on issues relating to policy and service developments.
Subsequently, in late 2006, Links submitted a tender proposal to Derbyshire County Council for the delivery of the BME Infrastructure, Consultation and Engagement Project. In early 2007, Links was selected to deliver this project. The project was initially designed to develop a support model to cultivate the active engagement of BME community groups in contributing feedback and comments on the county council’s policy and service developments.
A key aim of this project was to fill the gaps identified by the earlier consultancy work. For example, prior to the project, there wasn’t any mechanism that the county council could use to consult BME communities on policy and service developments.
This project was developed as a direct result of the suggestions made by representatives of those BME groups who participated in the previous BME consultation project conducted by Links CVS on behalf of Derbyshire County Council in the winter of 2005.
One aspect of the project is to facilitate the establishment and development of an overall BME consultative forum representing BME communities across the county. It enables the county council to build a two-way communication channel to work closely with BME groups on a wide range of corporate and service departmental issues. The forum mechanism forms an essential part of this proactive consultation and engagement model.
For practical reasons, it was decided that there should be a local forum covering North Eastern Derbyshire and surrounding districts, and a local forum covering Southern Derbyshire.
Each of the two forums meet six times a year on a bi-monthly basis to discuss policy and service delivery issues relevant to Derbyshire County Council, and their potential implications on BME communities living or working in different parts of the county.
See section 1.3 for more information about dates & meetings times of each BME Forum.
The second aspect of the project is the provision of the one-to-one capacity building support for individual BME groups. This element aims to enable BME groups to become more aware of the county council’s existing policies and services; to become more confident in raising concerns; to become more equipped in gathering feedback from their own community members regarding, whether the county council’s policy and service developments are meeting their needs; and to become more skilful and confident in advocating the needs of their own communities when engaging in group discussions and policy consultations.
1.2
Partnership approach to engage BME groups in Derbyshire Source: Derbyshire County Council's Staff Magazine September 2011 Issue
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1.3 Latest updates/events
Advice Derbyshire
Consultation with Derbyshire BME Forums.
Advice Derbyshire is seeking to improve access and greater take up of BME users to a range of advice services in the county.An informal consultation will be held for BME community associations. If you require further details, please do not hesitate to contact James Lee (Links’ Strategic Development Manager) via lcm2000s@yahoo.com or tel: 01246 274844
Date: Tuesday 28 February 2012
- Venue:
- African Carribbean Community Association
- 6 Ashgate Road
- Chesterfield
- S40 4AA
Time: 11:30-2:30pm
Southern Derbyshire BME Forum
Date: Monday 12 March 2012
- Venue: Tbc
Time: 11-2pm
North Eastern Derbyshire BME Forum
Date: Tuesday 13 March 2012
- Venue:
- Asian Association
- Penmore Business Centre
- Saxton Close
- Hasland Road
- Chesterfield
- S41 OSJ
Time: 12-3pm
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1.4 Consultations
Derbyshire County Council invites comments on their draft Equality Objectives
Please click the following link below for more information and the deadline is from 09/01/12 to 04/03/12
Derbyshire County Council proposed Equality Objectives Consultation
If you require any assistance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact James Lee (Links’ Strategic Development Manager) via lcm2000s@yahoo.com or tel: 01246 274844
Derbyshire County Council invites comments on Youth Services
Please click the following link below for more information and the deadline is from 09/01/12 to 19/03/12
Future of youth activities in Derbyshire
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2. Derbyshire's BME Population
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The graph shows the estimated BME population fiqures of BME people living in Derbyshire's eight borough and district areas.The information is based on percentage estimates calculated by the Office of National Statistics 2007. The fiqures exclude Derby city. The total BME population for Derbyshire is 40,184. Amber Valley, Erewash & South Derbyshire, based in the south of the county and in close proximity of Derby city, have the highest numbers of BME people. The areas with lowest figures are Bolsover and Derbyshire Dales. Contrary to once popular perception, the more rural area of High Peak with a population of 5428 has a marginally higher population than the town of Chesterfield which has a BME population of 5030.
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BME Population distribution across Derbyshire's boroughs & districts
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