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REWM on the move
New premises
Love Lane sheltered REWM for about three years but when the building had passed its ‘sale by date’, the Aston Science Park, our landlord, told us that for our health and safety reasons, relocation was imperative. It was with sadness that we packed our boxes.
We are now in a new section of the Science Park, the iBIC building. It is newly renovated and very nice indeed. It is more spacious because we have graduated from the one large room at Love Lane to three well-proportioned rooms at Holt Court South. The major bonus is that we can now see the light of day! Two of the rooms have windows along all of one wall, a far cry from the previous office which was not even blessed with a skylight. Click on our location links (under Contact us) to spot us.
Expansion of the REWM’s team
Not only did our space expand, but the staff did too. REWM now has a complement of 4 core staff members: The Director, Fieldwork and Projects Officer, Training and Development Officer and Secretary. There are four graduate and undergraduate trainees, and the services of three consultants are retained for various projects. Up is where we are heading from now onwards! Click on REWM structure for more.
Training
REWM has some exciting training programmes with a race and faith focus. The issues covered are topical and the presenters are in the main renowned academics, businessmen/women, and highly respected public figures. Click on the Training link (under Capacity building) for details.
Publications
REWM keeps abreast of what’s happening at policy and strategic levels, and produces well researched related papers and Digests to inform and guide user-groups and other interested parties. RED 14 July Planning for Multi-strand Equality work is a very useful reference for anyone pondering the future of race equality councils in relation to the newly introduced Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). Matters relating to Gypsies and Travellers are ever current. RED 15 August Gypsies and Travellers: Disadvantage and Discrimination How Race Equality Councils and other Voluntary Bodies can Help, as the title implies, examines the situation of Gypsies and Travellers and explores how race equality councils can help. Hard copies of publications can usually be provided on request. Click on our Research reports link (under Research) for a complete list of publications.
New Services
Our most recent regional service is The West Midlands Discrimination Advisory Service which is run as a partnership with the University of Wolverhampton. It provides a channel for those experiencing discrimination to take matters to tribunal stage.
Contact: 01902 321 632
Support Groups
REWM offers secretarial support, convenes and facilitates meetings for such groups as British Federation of Race Equality Councils (BFOREC), West Midlands Local Authorities’ Regional Race Equality Implementation Group, the West Midlands Local Strategic Partnership Race Equality and Community Cohesion Support Group.
New Partners
REWM continues to lead from the front. We at REWM are strong believers in partnership/joined up working. We have formed partnerships with major community and voluntary organisations to develop and deliver projects. We encourage partnerships and are always open to them. Partnerships are also being forged with faith groups for the delivery of race awareness training. We are receptive to all interested in meaningful partnerships.
New Active Projects
1. The Wolverhampton Race Equality Steering Group is a response to the expressed need of the community of Wolverhampton for a new organisation to champion the cause of race equality and minority communities. REWM, with key stakeholders and community representatives, are steaming along with developing and establishing the organisation. It is going to be a race organisation with a difference.
2. ChangeUp project was won in partnership with Birmingham Race Action Partnership (BRAP), Race Equality Sandwell (RES) and North Staffordshire Race Equality Council (NSREC). The aim is to help communities to strengthen their capacity to access services, particularly in the public sector. It is a new government initiative to empower first tier agencies and also strengthen the capacity of second tier organisations to assist first tier organisations. REWM hopes to make a positive difference in that arena.
Projects in the pipeline
The energetic trainees, are busily performing needs assessment tasks and developing project proposals and writing funding bids. Fingers crossed that their efforts will bear fruit.
Midlands Equality Champion Network.
Watch this space! An interactive programme for people to share their views, pose questions, leave messages etc is in the making.
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