We want to hear from you!

If any of the resources concern you, please you, or completely confuse you, we'd like to know. Your views help us to better understand the challenges that BME third sector organisations face. We'll then use this information to lobby and influence the people who make decisions about the places we live, work and play in. Use our 'feedback' page to register your comments.

 

Click on any of the titles below to upload a copy of the document

 

Unlocking the talent of our communities

This consultation paper, published by the Department of Communities and Local Government seeks the views of as wide a group of people as possible, including practitioners and activists in the communities sector, local government, public services and policy areas across central government.

 

Responses to this consultation will inform the development of the Government's Empowerment White Paper, which will set out a new framework for commmunity engagagement that seeks to encourage active citizenship and revive civic engagement and local demoncracy. The White Paper will be published this summer - look out for it on this page!

 

Why is it important for the BME Third Sector?

 

The recommendations made in the white paper will be important to your beneficiaries as it will set out opportunities for local people to become more involved in their communities by participating in decision-making processes about the places that they live in.

 

The recommendations will also be important to BME Third Sector organisations who may be looked upon to support the actions set out in the white paper, so it's important to get on top of it and be ready to support your beneficiaries to understand the implications of the community empowerment paper.

 

Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration & Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration

 

The sub-national review outlines the government's vision of economic development and regeneration in our regions and sub-regions, a vision which clearly prioritises and values a partnership approach to delivering better outcomes for people and communities, as well as tackling social deprivation and inequality in England. The review set out the structures and processes through which local authorities would enhance and promote the economic potential of a region, and places the accountability for such agendas firmly in the hands of Local Authorities.

 

Why is it important for the BME Third Sector?

 

The review also sets out some clear roles for the third sector both as partners in the process and delivery agents of the review recommendations, therefore it is essential that third sector organisations in Birmingham understand the changes afoot, especially those related to Local Area Agreements and Multi Area Agreements.

 

Prosperous Places sets out and seeks views on the proposals detailed in the Sub-National Review.  Although the reform measures set out in the consultation do not have direct or immediate implications for the BME Third sector (or the wider third sector) the changes to sub-regional decision-making processes is likely to have an indirect impact on the way in which we are able to operate in terms of funidng opportunities and partnership opportunities. 

 

Consultation runs till the 20th of June - should you have any concerns of ideas relating to the reforms proposed in Prosperous places, please let us know via our 'feedback' page. Your views are essential to the success of our role in the region to lobby for and on behalf of the BME Third Sector.

 

An Action Plan for Community Empowerment: Building on Success

 

This joint action plan describes how the Department for Communities and Local Government in partnership with the Local Government Association will promote and improve community empowerment, focusing on three priorities:

• Achieve greater participation, collective action and engagement in democracy
• Encourage changes in attitudes towards community empowerment
• Improve performance of public sevices & quality of life

Why is it important for the BME Third Sector?

 

The BME Third Sector has a key role to play in ensuring that the communities and people they work with are aware of how they can benefit from and contribute to community empowerment processes. Evidence demonstrates that often disadvanataged groups are either unaware of or unable to contribute to opportunities to influence decision making processes, and it is only through communicating opportunities widely and preparing people for engagament, that a broader range of people will benefit from the process

 

It is also important that BME third sector organisations are well informed and able to voice their concerns around issues that stand to have an impact on outcomes for BME people and communities.