Dean T Huggins

1

• Dean T Huggins
• Development Officer

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How did we start?

• SBMEN originally emerged in 2003 in response to
  enhanced Government interest in BME communities
• SBMEN became a constituted body in 2005 with
  support from Becon
• The project was part of the Sunderland ChangeUp
  to strengthen the infrastructure of the voluntary
  and community sector

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Context

• Black and Minority Ethnic Voluntary Community
  Sector in Sunderland is under-resourced
• No or very low strategic participation
• None receive grant funding from the local
  authority and never will
• Three have SLA with the statutory sector
• Marginalised within the whole VCS

4
Development work

• The SBMEN awarded a contract to Praxis - work
  started in October 2005 to develop
• organisational and management capacity
• a business plan, funding strategy and work plan
• explore opportunities for partnership working in
  Sunderland
• Address issues around longevity
• Organising a study visit to Bradfords COEMO in
  March 2006

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What we have done so far

• Organise networking events (eg Training)
• Support individual members in preparing and
  presenting reports and business plans
• Ensure black and minority ethnic participation in
  strategic activities (eg developing the
  Sunderland Strategy)
• Participation in Sunderlands Community Network

6
Funding

• Funds have been secured from a variety of sources
  over the years ChangeUp, NLDC and the Northern
  Rock Foundation (small and large grants)
• Lack of success with Big Lottery and Capacity
  Builders
• Seek funding opportunities for members
  Connecting Communities Plus, Grassroots Grants,
  Community Leadership Fund

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Where are we now?

• A network of 16 black and minority ethnic
  organisations and groups in Sunderland
• Two staff members 1.5 posts
• Funded until March 2009 by the Northern Rock
  Foundation
• Working in partnership with other infrastructure
  organisations and agencies

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The Future

• Increase awareness of the Network and its
  provision
• Focus on member support the Network is only as
  strong as its members
• Strengthen the networking between members
• There are questions about the value of strategic
  work can the Network really impact on public
  agencies? (They want us, but wont pay)
• Increasing activity within The Sunderland Network
• Secure funding for work beyond March 2009

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• Acknowledgements
• Praxis
• Northern Rock Foundation
• Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities
• Continuum
• BECON
• Sunderland City Council SRB 6
• The Sunderland Community Network / SCVS
• Member organisations Management Committee

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• Thank you for listening