GREC NEWS NEW LOOK
Equality when you really need it Registered Scottish Charity: SC 001823 Produced by: www.grecgraphics.com
INSIDE: > Welcome the NEW GRECRUITS > Cairngorms - A Grand (GREC) Day Out > Director's Departure
COMPLIMENTARY
ISSUE 35, 2008
> Help for Armenia > Casework's New Service > The Anne Frank Awards > Community Planning - Special Feature > New Disability Characters > The Quiet Cup CafĂŠ > The EMF Conference > Holocaust Memorial Day > Plus lots more!
Designed by: Richard Foster
ISSUE 35, 2008
THE NEW LOOK - GREC NEWS
W E L C O M E !
As you can see from the Poster on the right wenhavenmanagednto say this in 48 languages! Indeed a very warm welcome to all our readers. The format has changed (again) more from a Newsletter into a Magazine, we have so many interesting articles and images to deal with that we continue to aspire to fit them into the best format. Throughout this 28 page document you will not only find news regarding GREC, its staff, committee members, volunteers & friends, but lots more besides. Please have a flick through and then a good read (along with a hot drink?) of all the articles such as the special feature on Community Planning; Casework's new service; The Anne Frank Awards & messages from staff & volunteers at The Quiet Cup cafè to name just a few. We must also sadly, say farewell to some familiar faces at GREC who will be missed by us all - Barney Crockett (stays with us as a Board Member), Mary Leech, Ken Munro & Christa Reid have all moved on and we wish them well. We have articles from all but Ken who we hope to catch-up with for the next issue. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome on board 4 new grecruits (see next page). Do feel free to pass on your comments & any future event details, articles, etc for the next issue to me (Richard) at:
Email: info@grecgraphics.co.uk Thank you.
Looking for a 'Welcome' Poster for you or your company? Contact Richard Foster at: www.grecgraphics.com
If you require this newsletter in an alternative format or language - please advise us. Please note: all views expressed throughout this document are the views of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of GREC. If you would like more copies or know someone who would like to be added to the mailing list for GREC News, please send details stating how many copies you would like, your name, organisation, address, telephone number and email to:
GREC, 168 Market Street, Aberdeen AB11 5PP t: 01224 595505 e: info@grec.co.uk 1
WELCOME THE NEW GRECRUITS CAIRNGORMS Hello! I am Sarah Campbell, the new Senior Race Equality Officer (SREO). I joined the GREC team in March 2008. I have a varied employment history ranging from health and social care research to NHS work to housing support (mental health)! I’m sure my diverse employment history will ensure I meet the various challenges of my new role at GREC! I look forward, with enthusiasm to the opportunities that lie ahead! Sarah
Noor
Ines
Amanda
Hello, my name is Noor Mohd-Nor. I just recently joined GREC initially on a part time basis as a Coordinator. My tasks and responsibilities involve coordinating requests for interpreting & translation, responding to the client’s specific needs on issues such as housing (enquiries), employment, education, immigration and many others by sign-posting and referring them to the relevant parties and agencies as well as liaising with volunteers. I am also involved in training courses for cultural awareness issues for various agencies and I also coordinate and conduct training courses in promoting good practice for interpreters and translators. Hi, my name is Ines Shek - my main duties include working with volunteers at The Quiet Cup Café as Relief Café Manager & in the GREC office helping clients with English language problems (such as filling out forms, etc) & translating. I have many responsibilties such as taking care of over 20 volunteers & helping 3 supervisors - so I am kept busy! Hi, my name is Amanda Walker and I am the new Receptionist/ Admin Assistant at GREC. I started here in February, and am really enjoying the variety of work involved. When you phone GREC’s main number you will speak to me, and I will happily deal with your query or pass you on to the appropriate member of staff if necessary. Since starting at GREC, I have had the chance to meet many different people from a variety of backgrounds, which has definitely been one of the highlights! I was involved in the organising of The Ethnic Minority Forum event in Peterhead, which was a great success. I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day. I am constantly learning new things, and finding that there is a lot of depth to the work GREC does. I am thrilled to be part of such a committed organisation, and hope to be taking your calls for a long time to come. 'I look forward to hearing from you soon!'
A Grand (GREC) Day Out - All Aboard!
On Friday, 11th of July nineteen of us including staff, committee members, volunteers & friends of GREC all braved the 'dreekit' skies to head off to the heights of the Cairngorms for our away day. The plan was to take the hired bus to the Cairngorms and then travel by funicular to the very top to admire those spectacular views & then it would be a good old fashioned steam train ride from Strathspey to Aviemore... The rain persisted as we approached our first pit-stop at Keith, but the GREC team are made of stong stuff and we did not let that deter us. We arrived safely at the Cairngorms and boarded the funicular which took us to the top - the views we are told are amazing, but the weather Iwas found muchWe more stillthis overcast. hadchallenging, a good look partly because it was at and around the visitors centre,a 3rd browsed final year study level onto but the mostly the gift shop and then top because was is a theoretical deck café itwhich 1097m abovetype sea sociological approach to faith level & had hot food to keep us going. and religion (you’d think I’d have Later a slight malfunction with the learned this by my first year’s wheelchair ramp on the bus meant experience of study!) a delay in catching the steam train However, delightjustI as was - we arrivedtoat my the station it successful and as a result of having left, undeterred we followed it to the utilised the Open with University’s next stop at Broomhill someone “Credit Transfer”'Cut system forpass!' all jokingly shouting: it off at the forms of study, I already had half as we gained on it. The sun came out the n the about coursesstation visit: as wecredits arrived at 'Glenbogle' www.open.ac.uk (as seen in the TV series Monarch of the Glen). The steam train was great and worth the chase. A memorable day was had by all. When's the next one?
2
in the wake of the Macpherson Report. The quality of our training won plaudits. However, more turbulent times lay ahead as the Commission for Racial Equality radically changed its priorities. Locally our support remained strong and our leadership sought to re-centre our work with some success.
Barney Crockett
16 years as Director
Director's Departure Before I came to Aberdeen in 1991 to begin my long stint as Director of GREC, I was the headteacher at a Highland secondary school. My career move came as a shock to my colleagues and many others. “Race equality in Grampian… won’t that be like being the snakecatcher of Iceland?”
Executive Committee members who interviewed me are still supportive of the organisation and part of a network of support that runs strong throughout our area. This continuity of support has been based on commitment and integrity shown by all the staff over the last seventeen years.
I came in the belief that migration and race relations would be of much greater importance to our country and in particular to our area than had been the case. I believed that GREC, fledgling as it then was, could prove of strategic importance, and that I, as an educationalist with a strong knowledge of history, could make an influential contribution.
For the first half of my sixteen years in post things moved, however erratically, in the right direction. Our central relationship was with the Commission for Racial Equality which then shared our drive towards efficiency, and an orientation on the individual in need.
One fortunate circumstance was the quality of leadership at the time which has proved extraordinarily steadfast.sAstonishingly, all the 3
We hit many high points.sWe made legal history at Employment Tribunal.sWe won awards at national level. In partnership with Grampian Police we organised a landmark conference for Scotland
Over a period of years, though, it became clear that, while one half of my early prediction, that migration and race relations would rise in importance for our area, was proved true in a radical sense, it also became apparent to me that my mix of skills and background was less appropriate than I had originally believed. Nevertheless I hope I played a role in the development of GREC and the development of all the people associated with it, and I am sure GREC will go onto ever-greater things. As for me, irrepressively I am carrying on my role as a local councillor … and looking at migration from a different angle! I also continue on the Board of GREC, which again completes a circle of a kind. Barney Crockett, Former Director of GREC.
Barney receiving his friendship quaich as a parting gift from all at GREC.
Police are stepping up their presence in pubs and clubs throughout the north-east following a surge in racist crimes.
CAMPAIGN POSTERS & STICKERS
The move comes as new figures show the number of racist incidents in Grampian has soared over the last five years and there have been almost 2,000 cases since 2003.
Recently, a north-east MSP said the “hugely concerning” figures could be a sign of growing racial disharmony in many communities.
It is a similar picture in Aberdeenshire, where incidents have shot up from 50 in 2003-04 to 70, 78, 95 and 96 last year. In Moray, race-related crimes have risen from 27 to 35, 52 and 53 in 2006-07. However, there was a slight drop to 45 incidents in the last year. Grampian Police revealed that they are to launch an anti-racism campaign in pubs and clubs during the summer to try to curb the problem. The force said there was no single reason for the rise, but pointed to increased public confidence in the police and the growing number of people from ethnic minorities moving to the area as major factors. Chief Inspector Adrian Berkeley said: “Wherever a trend is identified
“It may be partially because the police are having greater success in detecting these crimes but that itself cannot explain the figure nearly doubling. “There has been an increase in people from eastern Europe moving into the north-east and they may account for some of the increase in these crimes but, given the great contribution these people make to our local economy, it would be extremely worrying if they were deterred from working in our area in the future.”
In the last year, Grampian Police have had to deal with 462 incidents – a sharp increase from the 275 it dealt with in 2003-04.
Across Grampian, the number of recorded incidents has grown in each of the last five years. In Aberdeen, incidents have risen from 198 in 2003-04 to 279, 284, 312 and finally 321 in 2007-08.
Grampian,” he said.
through regular, careful monitoring, steps are taken to address the issue. “A considerable number of incidents take place in licensed premises, often late at night. The response to this is an anti-racism campaign, with *Posters and *Stickers which will be displayed in shops and licensed premises and a higher-profile policing presence. “The campaign, run in conjunction with the Grampian Racist Incident Partnership Group and supported by the local authority licensing boards, began in May. “The force has also worked hard to bring the perpetrators of hate crime to justice, and the force detection rate for such crimes in 2007-08 was 67%.” Labour MSP Richard Baker felt the massive rise in the number of migrant workers living in the north-east could be behind the figures. “This rise in race-related crimes is hugely concerning and this might be evidence of growing racial tensions in
One notable case was last July when 11-year-old Polish boy Robert Strazek was assaulted outside his home at St Ninian’s Court, Seaton, Aberdeen, in an attack police described at the time as racially motivated. The youngster said he had been the target of racial insults before being punched and kicked repeatedly while playing with friends. A youth has since been reported to the Children’s Panel. Jeannie Felsinger, Director of GREC (Grampian Racial Equality Council), said many more incidents went unreported. “As with nearly all crime, there is significant underreporting of racist incidents and crime,” she said. “The fact that there has been an increase in the number of crimes reported is largely due to the efforts of the police and public bodies in raising awareness amongst the general population.” NB: If you haven't received a Poster yet, please use the one on the back page. *Designed by GREC Graphics. (Article cited in the Press and Journal).
4
To help change your city! YAC Aims • Give young people a voice in decision making processes • Provide an avenue for young people to tackle issues that affect them • Support the set up and development of local youth forums • Meet with other groups of young people across the city • Provide a support network for any young person across the city • Provide the council and voluntary organisations with information about the needs of young people
Join the Youth Action Committee Membership is open to all 14-25 year olds in Aberdeen
Charity no: SCO3118
5
Contact details Hamish youthaction@aberdeencity.gov.uk Tel 01224 523410
www.scottishyouthparliament.org.uk Tel 0131 313 2488
YAC Meetings are held in the Town House, once a month, 6-8pm. We can also come and visit your club or project on request.
www.dialogueyouth.org Tel 01224 489000
www.silvercitysurfers.com Aberdeen’s Silver City Surfers have been awarded a grant by the Allen Lane Foundation in order to develop the service to reach older people throughout Aberdeen. They offer opportunities for people aged 55 and over to become confident in the use of computers and in particular in using email and the internet. The sessions are friendly & informal. Newcomers are always made welcome - why not give it a go? Contact the surfers on: 01224 707368
Ramona's Return "Hello everyone at GREC!" It was very nice seeing you all again and experiencing GREC as welcoming and friendly as usual. This picture shows me with a leaflet of the organisation called 'Netz' where I am at the moment involved in some voluntary work. Netz is committed to challenging racist attitudes and rightwing extremists in the area of Gera in Germany. For almost 5 years this organisation has provided support to victims of racial harassment and discrimination. They also offer help with other issuses i.e. housing, benefits & employment to migrants and assisting people from ethnic minorities to integrate with society. I like to see that positive action happens in different places to promote equality and cultural diversity. Keep up the good work everybody and best wishes from Ramona! (ex-socialwork placement at GREC).
HELP FOR ARMENIA In 1988, a major earthquake hit Armenia, killing over 45,000 people. 80% of all medical staff in the country – doctors, nurses, etc. were killed, when hospitals collapsed. As a result, no medical help was immediately available. Over 380 schools were destroyed, killing around 30,000 children. The tragedy was that, had the earthquake happened just 5 minutes later, then those children would have left school for the morning. Whole villages were completely wiped-out. Former GREC socialwork student on placement, Angie Mutch, will be leading a medical team (2 nurses and 2 doctors) going to Armenia in October to help set up an earthquake rescue centre. Because hospitals had to be rebuilt, and new nurses and doctors trained, most medical help in Armenia has come from other countries. The country now has “home-grown” staff that need specialist training in trauma and earthquake care. As a result, the team have been asked to train nursing and medical staff in advanced trauma care, both prehospital and hospital-based. The team will also be teaching villagers, school teachers, church members and village leaders in the main earthquake zone, social care and first-aid. Facilities in Armenia are very basic, so the team hope to be able to provide medical and social care equipment for up to 4 villages. All the members of the team are trying to raise enough money, not only to cover the team's travel costs, but also to provide medical equipment for one village each. The team estimate we each need to raise £3000. In May this year Angie learnt to swim (especially to raise money for Armenia) with the aim of doing a sponsored swim of 30 lengths she did 43 lengths. She said: "I lost count half-way through so just kept on going, until eventually the lifeguard came up to me and asked if I realised that I had passed 30 half-an-hour ago, and told me I was on lap 43 - I could have wept!". She has managed to raise in excess of £1,000 for Armenia already, if you are interested in helping to raise the much needed funds then please contact Angie directly by email. Please also tell your friends and/or local companies – it would be great if they also wanted to help! Publicity could be organised for any company interested in giving their support - thank you. Best wishes to Angie and the team travelling to assist in Armenia from everyone at GREC. For more information on Armenia & to contact Angie please email: mutchreeve@btinternet.com 6
Visit our website for information on our extensive range of Full-time, Part-time and Open & Online Learning courses.
Tel 01224 612330 Email enquiry@abcol.ac.uk
THE STUDENTS' CHARITIES CAMPAIGN The Students' Charities Campaign (Charities) is one of the largest and most successful RAGs in Scotland. Charities has a history dating over 85 years and incorporates students from the three higher institutions of Aberdeen: The University of Aberdeen, The Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen College. Each year the campaign runs a variety of events; from the famous Torcher Parade and Student Show to schools collections, tea dances, charity skydives, a fashion show and Jailbreak (where students have to get as far away from Aberdeen without spending any money). 7
A
former
president
said:
'If you want to do something at University, join a society or sports club; if you want to do everything join Charities!' In previous years over £80,000 was raised with amounts ranging from £50 to £8,000 being disbursed to local charities and groups catering for a diverse range of needs. Thissyearstheysaresaimingsto disburse £100,000 and make the next Torcher Parade even bigger than before, involving more of the community. If you would like to find out more information on the events that they do or donate money to the
Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign, visit their website at:
www.abdn.ac.uk/charities You can also donate money by texting “ANGUS,” to 84424 (texts cost £1.50 at least £1 going to charity).
CHRISTA'S CHRISTMAS SURPRISE GRADUATION at a third and final year study level but mostly because it was a theoretical type sociological approach to faith and religion (you’d think I’d have learned this by my first year’s experience of study!)
"Congratulations!" to former Police Secondee at GREC, Christa Reid, who recently graduated from Open University with a BA (Open) Degree, having studied with the OU for 3 Academic years, over a 7 year time period. We caught up with Christa and she had this to say to GREC News... I studied Social Sciences the first year, thinking I might want to do Social Work when I retired from the Police, but quickly came to realise that wasn’t to be my future profession! In 2006 I resumed my studies and did a 2nd year course on the six main Religions of the World, as a direct result of the many peoples I’d met during my time at GREC, an awareness of my own faith as a Christian and a desire to get to know more about other people’s religions or faiths.
However, to my delight I was successful and as a result of having utilised the Open University’s “Credit Transfer” system for all forms of study, I already had half the credits necessary for an “Open” Degree – which simply means that I’ve studied more than one subject and rather than taking 5 years to complete the course, I’ve only taken 3 years, due to the credit transfer system – I found myself with a lovely surprise letter, just in time for Christmas, to advise me that I had successfully completed my Degree!! I attended the Degree Ceremony at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in May, along with 2 colleagues from Grampian Police. My family and some friends also attended and to say it was a special and memorable and very proud day for me is a slight understatement! For more information about Open University courses visit:
w w w.open.ac.uk
(Rad - GREC Volunteer from Thailand).
To broaden my education, I dreamed of coming to Aberdeen, the city of ‘OIL’. Eventually I made it here in June 2005. There are about 100 Thai nationals in Aberdeen and I have such an enjoyable life here in terms of academic, social life & my parttime work at a few eateries and also at GREC - working as an Interpreter. My academic life started at the language centre in the University of Aberdeen. In the language school, I met so many foreign students from many countries such as China, Poland, Nigeria, Egypt & many more and also people from my home country - Thailand, this brought me to the Thai students group in Aberdeen. During my 1.5 years here studying an MSc Econ in Property Degree - the course was tough, eventually I made it through & one of the memories that I will never forget is on 23 of November 2007, my graduation day. I was introduced by one of my colleagues from Poland to work as a volunteer at GREC. Here at GREC, I have learned loads of new things and gained loads of expereince. With my experience I can expand into new fields. I will never forget GREC & Aberdeen - the city of ‘OIL’ and my throughly enjoyable time here. I wish everyone well and will see you again in the near future, Rad Meeboonanke.
I thoroughly enjoyed this course and was so pleased to get a good pass and decided to carry on studying Religion and did a 3rd year course on the Sociology of Religion - studying: Tradition, Modernity and Change. I found this much more challenging, partly because it was 8
Photographs by: Richard Foster
THE ANNE FRANK AWARDS
Congratulations to everyone that took part in this years Anne Frank Awards. A record 17 schools entered with Inverurie Academy & Middlefield Primary sharing Joint Winners position and Newmachar Primary (pictured above) winning the Runnersup award. The judges had a very difficult time this year as the quality of work submitted continued to be very high. Some schools entered paintings & drawings, poems, calendars, etc while others created films and interviewed each other on issues such as bullying. GREC volunteer John Cooper did an excellent job of organising and chairing the event held at Aberdeen's Town House. The Lord Provost, Peter Stephen, was in attendance along with the three judges: Sybil 9
Semple, Mike Gall & Julian Bell. GREC committee member, Vicky Mckenzie,ahandedaoutatheaglass trophies; the certificates and the Anne Frank astatue itself - the two wnning schools will share the statue & display it for six months each. The Honorary Consul for the Netherlands, Ian Parkinson, oversaw the proceedings.
The teachers & pupils had an enjoyable morning in the prestigious old part of the Town House as the Lord Provost gave a talk and then the judges spoke about some of the schools' entries. Once again GREC would like to thank each and every school for their valuable contribution towards racial & cultural awareness and equality. Visit: www.grec.co.uk to view photos.
EVERYONE'S A WINNER
'I felt the awards ceremony was a successful and uplifting event for everyone involved, and especially for the participating schools'. - John Cooper. Joint Winners 2008: Middlefield Primary
There is usually only one winning entry for the awards, but we're sure you will agree it's the taking part that really counts. Every school receives a framed Achievement Award certificate.
Joint Winners 2008: Inverurie Academy
Enter your school for the 2009 Awards A Poster campaign will be sent out nearer the time in 2009 to remind schools throughout the Northeast about the Awards. Meanwhile you can think of ways to take part - previous projects have included: artwork, poems, drama, videos/DVD’s, clothes,
food, cultural awareness week, dance, play, cultural studies and interviews (to name a few to get you started). If your school is interested please email GREC at: info@grec.co.uk or call: 01224 595505 for more details and we wish you "good luck!" 10
COMMUNITY PLANNING Funding from the Scottish Government Equality Unit to SAREC (Scottish Alliance for Racial Equality Councils)/GREC has enabled GREC to engage more fully with Community Planning and most importantly help make a realapositive difference to our communities and people's lives.a What is Community Planning?:
Localsinvolvementsandsthe engagement of communities is at the heart of Community Planning: ‘Community planning is a process through which a council and its public sector partners, in consultation with the voluntary and private sector, and the community, can agree a strategic vision for the area and the action which each of the partners will take in pursuit of that vision.’ (ref.: Scottish Executive/ CoSLA Task Force report 1998) "If you want to know how the shoe fits, ask the person who is wearing it, not the one who made it." (ref.: Community PlanningsHandbook,shttp:// www.communityplanning.net/ aboutcomm.htm, 2008). The two main aims of Community Planning are: •aMaking sure people and com m u n it i e ss a res genuinely engaged in the decisions made on public services which affect them. and •Ascommitmentsfrom organisations to work together in providing better services. ThesLocalsGovernmentsin Scotland Act (2003) provides the legal framework for Community 11
Planning. Each local authority area in Scotland, in partnership with other key agencies e.g.: the NHS, Police, Fire and Rescue Services, voluntary sector etc. and the community, is responsible for setting out a vision for their area with agreed objectives and outcomes. The Concordat recently agreed by the Scottish Government and Local Authorities will also have a significant impact on Community Planning in the future. What GREC done so far:
has
The funding from the ScottishsGovernment hassenabledsGREC,sin partnershipswithsCommunity Planning Partners in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, to gain people's involvement and make a concrete difference to the North of Scotland’s diverse communities in line with the objectives of the Scottish Alliance of Racial Equality Councils (SAREC) and our mission of: ‘Working with others to ensure that everyone is valued for who they are and is able to contribute with encouragement and without fear of discrimination or unfair treatment.’ Key areas of work and outcomes we have been able to progress so far include: Community Engagement:
Planning
&
√nHelpingsensuresthat Community Planning reflects d i ve r s i t y s a n d s e q u a l i t y. s Fo r instance, GREC has been actively
****SPECIAL FEATURE**** involved in providing and finding representationsfor Moray Council’s recently established Moray Equality Forum. √nEnable Community Planning Partners to engage with ‘hard to reach groups’. For instance, a recent report by GREC “Community Planning in the North East of Scotland: Action Talks Louder Than Words” publishes research carried out with minority ethnic communities across the Grampian region. A total of 55 people participated in the research which consulted groups on issues such as health and social care, homes, safety and the environment. √nGainsgreatersparticipation of minority ethnic people and migrant communities in decisions and policies. For instance, GREC is currently undertaking an enquiry into local residents' views of Travel and Transportation in Aberdeenshire. This began on 15th March 2008 with a focus group in Fraserburgh aimed at Eastern European workers. The respondents tended to work in unskilled jobs within the fish processing sector. To date the majority of respondents were Polish but there were attendees from both Latvia and Russia. This part of the study is on-going as we await additional questionnaire responses. Further study will include investigation into accessibility and experiences of council services in Aberdeen City. The target population is tripartite namely; Hindu (skilled professionals),sMuslims(older
COMMUNITY PLANNING - MAKING A DIFFERENCE & ENSURING EQUALITY people) and Young Polish Women (18-25). Focus groups were held at the end of April 2008. The council services covered in the enquiry were: •aSocial Work Services •aHousing •aEducation •aTransport •aRecreation and Leisure √ Building positive links between new migrant communities, establishedsminorit ysethnic communities and the general population. For instance, GREC currently manages ‘The Quiet Cup Café’, a Fairtrade café, situated in Aberdeen Central Library. It is supported by a team of GREC volunteers and paid supervisors. It has been successful in building the capacity of minority ethnic people and migrant workers to volunteer in their local community and supporting volunteers into employment. Collaborative Work Equality Groups:
Across
√ s I d e n t i f y i n g s c ro s s - c u t t i n g equality issues for collaborative work and action. For instance, an Equality Forum made up of representatives from the different equality strands within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has been established to work jointly on issues of common interest. √sCollaboratively driving forward equalities work in line with Scottish Government strategic objectives. For instance, a training session on the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework was delivered to GREC’s Executive
Committee in May 2008. √tAssistingsdifferent representative groups – faith, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age etc. – to participate more effectively in the CommunitysPlanningsprocess. For tinstance,tthesGREC/ SARECtconferencetregarding ‘CommunitysPlanning Partnerships and the Race Equality Duty: An Opportunity to Identify Issues and Plan Future Solutions’ involved representatives from across the Equalities spectrum, including a specific ‘Equalities Panel Question Time’ with representatives from each of the equality strands. The links established at this have been maintained and will continue to be further developed in the future.
to 19 consultations so far this year-ranging from consultations regarding the Census, Social Work Services, Equality Schemes, Policy and Procedures for Managing Unauthorised Gypsy/ Traveller Encampments and the One Scotland Many Cultures campaign.
Co n s u l t a t i o n s a n d Representation:
√tProvide qualitative information on community trends and social conditions. For example the recent GREC consultation report ‘Community Planning in the North East of Scotland: Action Talks Louder than Words: EngagingsEthnicsMinority CommunitiestintthetCommunity PlanningsProcess’;smost respondents were determined in their wish to be consulted about issues relating to the provision and growth of services in their local areas; however this was tempered significantly by feelings that once comments and views were expressed, very often little seemed to change. Community PlanningsPartnerships, t h e re fo re,s n e e d s to s i d e nt i f y ways of ensuring continued support from ethnic minority and new migrant communities bytdemonstratingtimprovements 12
√tParticipating in relevant conferences and events. For instance GREC facilitated a Café Table Discussion concerning Racial Equality at the Community Planning-Aberdeen: a Fair and Just City conference, participated insCommunitysPlanningsin Aberdeen Conference - "Focus on Community Planning" - Refreshing the Community Plan Stakeholders Conference and are currently organisingsascommunity engagementseventswith CommunitysPlannings Partners o n s t h e s R a c e s E q u a l i t y s D u t y. √tResponding to local and national consultations and ensuring that pertinent issues are highlighted and shared with key partners for progress. For instance, GREC has contributed
Monitoring Impact-Identifying Future Actions: √tIn consultation with our diverse communities, monitor the impact of work and feed back areas for future actions. For instance, GREC now sits on the Buchan Community Planning Group and GREC’s partnership project Teamwork Against Racist Crime (TARC), which monitors racist incidents, is now included in the Buchan Local Community Plan.
COMMUNITY PLANNING - MAKING A DIFFERENCE & ENSURING EQUALITY and outcomes. Additionally very few respondents were aware that Community Planning and Partnerships existed in their areas. Partnerships, therefore, need to consider alternative ways of promoting Community Planning to “hard to reach” communities. √tHelping enhance the ability of Community Planning Partnerships to make a positive difference. What we Plan to do Next: Work undertaken so far through the Scottish Government funding has enabled us to make significant progress and has identified areas where further work is required. Our focus in the next 3 months will be: •tMaintain the momentum of work that has been undertaken so far and further develop and build upon this. For instance: -tFormally publish and launch the research GREC has undertaken in 2007 concerning ‘Community Planning in the North East of Scotland: Action Talks Louder than Words-Engaging Ethnic Minority Communities in the Community Planning Process’, and consult with minority ethnic communities and Community Planning partners regarding the best ways to take forward work to address the main findings of the research.
of SAREC and assist with the development of its Business Plan. •tAssist Community Planning Partners in effectively consulting/ engaging with minority ethnic communities and ensure that pertinent outcomes and actions which emanate from this are delivered. •tTake forward work with the newly established Equality Forum to the next stage - building closer and more collaborative effective work and outcomes across the equalities spectrum. •tSettuptatSAREC/Community Planning section on GREC’s website to disseminate information and encourage people to engage in local Community Planning processes and feedback their experiences. •tContinue to respond to pertinentoconsultations concerning equality/community planning matters, ensuring that organisations are meeting the expectations and aspirations of people with respect to equality and that good practice is shared, developed and disseminated. GREC will monitor and evaluate progress in achieving the work/outcomes and its impact in accordance with our core standards and through mechanisms such as:
-tTake forward outcomes identified as a priority at the GREC/ SAREC conference-‘Community Planning Partnerships & the Race Equality Duty: An Opportunity to Collectively Identify Issues and Plan Future Solutions’.
•tEvaluationssurveyssof participants at events.
-tContinue to participate in and strengthen the governance
•tReports at Community Planning Partnership meetings and GREC
13
•tConsultation and feedback from CommunitytPlanningtpartners, participants and GREC service users.
Executive Committee meetings. •tOngoing liaison with SAREC and Scottish Government Equality Unit and formal reporting to the Scottish Government. Below are the cover images of the Summary Leaflet and Community Planning Report. If you wish to receive copies - please contact us, thank you. Email: info@grec.co.uk Tel: 01224 595505
NEW CHARACTERS FOR DISABILITY Leonard Cheshire Disability unveiled six brand new Creature Discomforts characters during July, for a six week campaign to change attitudes to disability. www.CreatureDiscomforts.org Disabled people have the same desires and aspirations as non-disabled people, in work, education and relationships. The new animations will challenge the people’s low expectations about what disabled people can do. The new characters are based on the unscripted voices of young disabled people talking about the issues that affect their lives. One animation challenges public perceptions of disabled people, relationships and sex.
* Two thirds (68 per cent) of disabled respondents have relationships with non-disabled people. *Both disabled and non-disabled people have low expectations of disabled people’s relationships. The Aardman team has created another four characters for the charity’s campaign including a blind chameleon, an owl and a shrimp in wheelchairs, and a hearing impaired Cheshire cat. Bryan Dutton, Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Director General said: “Disabled people experience unnecessary social barriers which are created largely through ignorance. The public’s low expectations, especially of their
“You can’t help who you fall in love with.” It opens with a mouse with a physical impairment saying: “Some people think because you have a disability you should be with someone with a disability. It doesn’t always work like that.” An elephant steps into the frame and kisses the mouse on the head as she says: “You can’t help who you fall in love with.” The animation cuts to a field full of baby rabbits, with a female rabbit in a wheelchair saying: “Well, they think that if you’re disabled you can’t have a love life. That’s not true though. I can have sex!” [she giggles]. Leonard Cheshire Disability’s new report on perceptions of disability and relationships, Up Close and Personal, challenges longheld assumptions that disabled people don’t – or can’t – have a relationship. Key findings include: * Disabled people have exactly the same hopes and anxieties about relationships as nondisabled people.
The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs, organised by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, is for disabled entrepreneurs who can demonstrate how winning would make a significant difference to their business. Entry is open to any entrepreneur who has a recognised disability. They must own at least 25% of a business that has been trading for between two and five years, and has an annual turnover of more than £10,000.
Amount - a first prize of £50,000 Contact details and an application form are available online at:
www.lcdisability.org/stelios
ability to have relationships, play a big part in this. “We want people to change the way they see disability, to think and act differently and to engage with disabled people in all aspects of life.” To view the campaign visit: www.CreatureDiscomforts.org. The characters are / have been appearing in adverts on ITV, online and at bus stops since the summer. NB: Creature Discomforts is based on the hallmark plasticine characters created by Aardman animations for their original Creature Comforts series.
Breaking Down Barriers A new long term approach to help improve the daily lives of disabled people, backed by £600,000 from the Scottish Government, was announced in June 2008. Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell promised to ensure that disabled people would feel valued as individuals and have the same choice, control and freedom as any citizen. The Government and public sector bodies will work together to identify ways to break down the barriers which stop disabled people fulfilling their full potential in areas such as housing, transport, employment and education. An expert group, including disabled people, will meet (by the end of the summer) to help shape the way forward.
www.scotland.gov.uk/News 14
THE REGENERATION AIM Aberdeen Airport Currently there are proposals at Aberdeen Airport to upgrade the runway by adding 300 metres in length. This would potentially be long enough to accommodate long haul Boeing 747 aircraft, although the purpose is to create a better landing strip for smaller though equally long haul aircraft reaching North America and the Caribbean. There are also plans to upgrade the terminal, the first phase of which is nearing completion with an extension of the departure lounge with a new cafe and an increased number of shopping units. There has been a significant negative response to the proposals from environmental campaigners.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is the proposed Aberdeen road bypass. With a costing estimated in excess of £300 million the project has seen much controversy from locals & environmentalists. Having been on the cards for a number of years the bypass looks finally to get the go ahead and will likely be completed around 2010.
Shiprow Development On Shiprow the old ‘What Everyone Wants’ building that also houses an NCP car park is undergoing a £27 million development (pictured) which is transforming the building (voted one of Aberdeen’s worst seven buildings in a poll) which will see it get a face lift from the current late 20th century modern facade and have a 107 room hotel and casino built inside. 15
Photograph by: Richard Foster - Article edited from information found online at: http://en.wikipedia.org
Union Green The Green just off Union Street is proposed for redevelopment. Currently a small area attracts boutique shops, the dilapidated Aberdeen Market that some say blights the area has been proposed for an upgrade or indeed demolition to pave the way for retail regeneration of the area.
Guild Square For a number of years the Union Square (Renamed "Guild Square" in June 2008) shopping centre project has been a start-stop development with various problems attracting tenants to the new centre and lengthy discussions with the nearby train and bus stations. Due to be completed in autumn (October) 2009, the estimated 250 million pound project will provide Scotland's second-largest shopping centre, complete with a Cineworld multiplex cinema, a 200 bedroom hotel, 1,700 parking spaces and links to a new transport hub at the
nearby Aberdeen railway station and the Guild Street bus station. Confirmed retailers for the new mall are: Next, New Look, Border Books, WH Smith, Clarks, H&M, and Arcadia. Restaurants include: Ma Potters, KFC, and Pizza Hut so far.
Next Issue The above are a few of the major developments currently happening or aiming to happen in Aberdeen, we hope to have more including the latest updates on the Bon-Accord Quarter, Trump Golf Links, the Chris Anderson Stadium and Pittodrie Stadium in the next issue of GREC News. If you would like to comment or have further information or photos, etc of Aberdeen's on-going regeneration we would like to hear from you. Also if you live in Aberdeenshire let us know what's happening in your area - thank you.
Email: info@grecgraphics.co.uk
Aberdeen Lions Club Aberdeen’s first ever
Duthie Duthie Park Park 12 12 –– 44 pm pm Sunday Sunday th September 28 28th September T ls N E tal V E S , E e E FR Danc , c i s u All profits to M Supported by
International Charities
To involve / promote your community or cultural group call: Abidah Ilyas (0796 6929249), Chris Southworth (01224 869557 evenings) Email: FunLions@aberdeenlions.org.uk
25 Aug 08
To promote a spirit of understanding amongst the communities of Aberdeen 16
THE QUIET CUP The Central Library, Rosemount, Aberdeen.
Supervisor @ The Quiet Cup (Luz - GREC volunteer from the Philippines).
Mei-Wa
Mary
Tao
Bereket
Gizela
Luz
Hello, my name is Luz and I come from Cebu city in the central Philippines and have lived in Aberdeen for one year. I began in the Quiet Cup as a volunteer and am now a Supervisor and help train volunteers to gain skills in taking orders from customers, food handling and preparation, etc. The Quiet Cup is situated in the Media Centre at Aberdeen Central Library. We serve a variety of food and hot drinks such as filter coffee, cappuccino, latte, tea, cold drinks, paninis, baked potatoes, sandwiches and toasties.
'I see this as the place where I can integrate with the citizens of Aberdeen...'
CAFÉ CULTURES @ The Quiet Cup Café
My first encounter with GREC
(Gizela - GREC volunteer from Poland). When I came to Aberdeen I didn't there, very slowly I have learned to speak English. I learnt some English speak English. I investigated GREC at home, but I have no experience in and what its mission entails and I using the language. My friend asked me began to take notice of the Upward to go along to the Migrant Open Day Steps project. Two years down the Event. There I met Mary Leech. Mary line, I now work for GREC part-time, talked about GREC and the work of I find myself improving every day. GREC. And she recruited me to work Now I speak to our customers about as a volunteer at the Quiet Cup. At the weather, about food and whatever the cafe, I met Lisa Lee, she was really the topic of the day is. I also work as nice and very patient. Her English was a volunteer interpreter for GREC in perfect. She spoke to me and showed Russian & Polish on housing issues, me what I should do, sometimes 3 or 4 race discrimination and health. times. I’ve started to learn slowly, it was I enjoy working with people who come a hard job for Lisa and for me, because to the café and to GREC and I see she does not speak Polish and I don’t this as the place where I can integrate speak English. I started to attend to with the citizens of Aberdeen. the customers, I asked questions, from 17
Customers enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the café where they can read a book or newspaper. Our prices are very competitive and we offer discounts to holders of access to leisure cards. The café is run by volunteers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Algeria and Poland. The Quiet Cup has enabled me to feel part of the city of Aberdeen and gain many friends from different parts of the world. I usually open the café at 9.30 am & I'm ready to serve customers. I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen helping to prepare food for orders. Volunteers get an opportunity to prepare food, handle cash and take orders from the customers. The biggest problem facing volunteers is the language barrier and gaining confidence to learn new skills. I look after the stock levels of food and help with reordering from local suppliers. Why not come along for a visit to the café and enjoy a tasty 'piece in peace'? For more information visit: www.thequietcup.com
2
2 YEARS OF THE QC The Quiet Cup café has been welcoming customers and training its staff & volunteers with worthwhile life experience in people skills, working for a business and English, etc for two whole years now (as of May 29th).
Bereket - Volunteer @ The Quiet Cup Café (Bereket - GREC Volunteer from Northeast Africa). My name is Bereket Hagos, I am people from the Philippines, 17 years old from Eritrea. I am Thailand, China, Poland, Hong a volunteer at The Quiet Cup Kong and Nepal. We exchange Café. knowledge from our own At The Quiet Cup, I was taught countries and they explain to how to make sandwiches, soups, me things that I don’t know. toasties, panini, teas and coffees. I am also taught how to use the cash register and I have learnt to take money from customers & give the correct change. At The Quiet Cup I meet loads of people from different countries and also from Aberdeen. Some of the customers speak to me and I enjoy talking to them because I want to learn to speak English well. There are other volunteers at The Quiet Cup. There are
A lot of volunteers & staff from 'Taiwan to Torry,' as was once said by Barney Crockett, have been behind & in front of the counter at the Central Library location. As you can see by the images here and the articles written by the staff & volunteers themselves the 'QC' has become an institution.
My best friend is Tao. He is also 17 and we sometimes go to play football at Duthie Park. Tao introduced me to his friends and we have a game of football. By working as a volunteer at The Quiet Cup, I hope I can improve my English skills and one day be able to find a good job. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer - please contact us, details are on the Poster above. 18
HIGHLANDS R US Inverness Festival to Celebrate Highland Diversity
An action packed event took place in Inverness city centre on July 8th in celebration of the continuing diversit yaofatheaH ighland’s p o p u l a t i o n . G R E C ’s a S e n i o r REO Sarah Campbell had the opportunity to offer support and assistance at the Highlands R Us event, organised by the Highlands & Islands Equality Forum (HIEF) an ESF funded project of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute. Morag Redwood, HIEF’s Project Leader said: “We are creating something new and exciting here, where we can all learn from each other, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, abilities and race. It is not a case of “Us and them”, but of creating an inclusive community that celebrates difference.” Discussing the programme of events she added: “We always welcome back the traditional favourites of Highland dancers and pipers, but this year we had a Highland funk band, African drumming, Egyptian and Russian dancing, and a Chinese lion dance... a great day out for the family.”
The event was both celebratory and educational with a stage set in Falcon Square, workshops and seminars held in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel and exhibition stalls in the Eastgate Centre. Moray Firth Radio presented an outdoor broadcast at the free event and Angus Dick, Chairman of the Inverness Highland Games Committee and Andrew Laing, Highland Area Procurator Fiscal were the participating dignitaries. The objective of the event was to celebrate a diverse Highland culture in which difference is viewed as positive; something to be proud of. The main theme was promotion of positive aspects of diversity, aiming to feature two underlying themes of rurality and access to services. The day was a blend of carnival and celebration along with opportunities to learn more about equality and diversity in a rural area through seminars. Sarah was glad to have been able to support this event!.
NOTE OF THANKS Director of GREC, Jeannie Felsinger, holds training workshops in diversity (amongst others - please see: www.grec.co.uk for a full listing). She recently delivered training to the Aberdeenshire Childcare Partnership. The staff were all from nursery settings across the region. An attendee named Sarah took part in the workshop & sent in this response...
Hi Jeannie, I am still thinking about the workshop you did today. I really enjoyed the whole day, but the session you did and the challenges of thinking about the worksheet have really impacted on my thinking. It was the most deeply reflective workshop I've ever attended - so thank you for that. I'm a pretty positive person, generally very open and love people and am happy to work with them - and thankfully most of them seem to thrive in my setting ...and move on to good things afterwards!! But I'm going to school on Monday with a different perspective to really consider the impact of what I say. We can crush so easily with a few words or suggestions as the video clearly showed and sadly building up is much harder work! Hope the other sessions went as well as the first one did. Very best wishes for your work - what a valuable job you do and you do it very well!! Thanks again,
www.infoscotland.com/noplace
No place for racism
Sarah - workshop at Kintore.
Got something to say? - send your event details, comments, etc to: info@grecgraphics.co.uk 19
PROMOTING GOOD RELATIONS On June 21st 2008 the Ethnic Minority Forum (EMF) held a conference in Peterhead on 'Promoting Good Relations - Have Your Say!' (see pictures to the right). The Ethnic Minority Forum was established in 1997. The purpose of the Forum is to act as a communication channel between minority ethnic communities and Community Planning Partners in Aberdeen City and the Shire, with the primary aim of ensuring that we all work together more effectively. The one day community event to promote Race Equality was a great success with over 150 people attending. Individuals, groups and organisations from all over the Northeast were able to give their views on setting the Race Equality agenda in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
One of the guest speakers at the event was Ros Micklem, Scotland Director of the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) who had travelled from Glasgow to attend. Along with a large gathering of ethnic minority representatives, Romanians in the North-East of Scotland were for the first time present at an Ethnic Minority Forum event. The Scottish Romanian Society had this to report: '...the most important part of the day was spent in group discussions on the priorities and challenges perceived by members of the communities in the North-East of Scotland, with respect to the different headings of the equality agenda. It was highly interesting to see how the various views and experiences so often converged, but also, how individual and varied experiences informed and reshaped priorities. In general terms, a strong component of the discussions was the need to educate all communities in our local areas to respect one another, to support young people towards socialisation and achievement, to increase the availability of affordable housing and support the voluntary sector through direct involvement by individuals from all backgrounds and ages, as well as through easier access through funding. However, beyond the opportunity for all to express their views and concerns, this excellently organised event gave participants a chance to share their experiences with one another, and make new friends from an impressive array of diverse backgrounds.' A considerable amount of material was gathered on the day which will prove to be very useful.
For more information visit: www.ethnicminorityforum.org.uk
Photographs by: Ron Falconer & Jeannie Felsinger
They discussed topics such as Housing, Education, Health & Social Care, Community Safety and the Voluntary Sector. The aim of the event was to help set priorities for the new revised Race Equality schemes which will be published later this year.
20
POLICE SECONDEE MOVES ON Christa Reid was the longest serving Police Secondee (to date) with GREC, the position is normally a year's secondment, but we were delighted to have her with us for 3 years. Here is her GREC News report... I came to GREC in 2005, having been a Race Relations Officer within Aberdeen Division, so was aware of GREC's work. The first year passed so quickly and I settled into my role very quickly, thanks mostly to all the staff and contacts I began making at GREC. I had watched Barney give some Educational inputs on Race & Diversity and thought, "I could do that", having been a School Liaison Officer for 5 years - so that's what I learned to do, with help from Barney and a previous staff member, Lorraine, and so began my travels across the length and breadth of the Grampian area, delivering Race & Diversity inputs to both Primary and Secondary school pupils and staff. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of my role and believe it was so important to educate children and youngsters that 'it is unacceptable to NOT treat people equally and fairly, infact it is a crime', which as a Police Officer, was my "tag line". I also had responsibility for being the link between my own Police colleagues and GREC and worked closely with an ex colleague, Ron Falconer, whom you all know and love!! Ron was an excellent colleague and in turn, we worked closely with my other Race Relations 21
Officer colleagues and other Public Bodies and Agencies. I met so many people, from so many different countries and of many different faiths and beliefs - hence the reason for deciding to re-start my Open University studies, having abandoned them for 2/3 years and chose Religious Studies, the 6 Main Religions of the World and latterly, the Sociology of Religion. Yes the studying, on top of a full time job was difficult and time consuming, in fact, all consuming, in that other things, like my social life and my involvement with some things at my local church, were put on hold. However, I loved it really and learned so much, especially about the faiths and beliefs of others, which helped me a great deal in my work at GREC. This culminated in me graduating from the OU with a BA (Open) Degree at the end of 2007 (see feature earlier on page 8) and the ceremony itself taking place in Glasgow, in May this year - I was thrilled to bits with myself! However, by the end of last year, despite having spent 3 wonderful years at GREC, I decided it was time for pastures new and new challenges and therefore, with some sadness, I left GREC, to become a Diversity Officer within Grampian Police. Rest assured I will not lose all contact with my former colleagues and friends at GREC. I wish you all every success in the future and pray that GREC goes from strength to strength in the field of fairness and equality.
ADAPT - RESOURCE PACK We have to report that funding for the intervention Anti-Discriminatory Awareness Programme Training or 'ADAPT' has come to an end, but fortunately there are sufficient funds for the work carried out & co-ordinated by GREC Director, Jeannie Felsigner, to be written-up into a Resource Pack with session notes, plans, aims, objectives and materials for sending out to criminal justice teams & workers in the City and Shire. Feedback from clients has been positive. Clients have commented that the programme has challenged their thinking and that they are able to see things from the perspective of the victim: The ADAPT programme is structured, focussed and specific. As a Criminal Justice Social Worker, the work carried out by the Co-ordinator has been invaluable in addressing the racially motivated and aggravated offences. It is a service delivered with professionalism & expertise. One client stated that he 'is able to see things differently' and is 'more aware of the things he says and how it affects others'. It will be a significant loss that funding has not been secured, in particular, given the increase of racially aggravated offences heard before the Courts.
Email: jfelsinger@grec.co.uk
Q & A with MARY from MALAYSIA
Sadly (for us) Mary Leech left GREC earlier this year when her husband, Duncan, was offered a job in her hometown of MIRI in Malaysia. GREC News caught up with her for a Q & A session about her time at GREC & what she is up to now... GN: When did you start at GREC? I came to work at GREC around May 2000. This was my second time around working for GREC. The first time was for 18 months. This time was to set-up 'The Upward Steps Project'. I joined as a Project Co-ordinator, initially part-time, later developing into a full time position. It was a very challenging, but rewarding job. GN: Describe a 'typical' day A typical day would start at around 8.45 a.m. Clients started to come in between 9.00 & 9.45 a.m. There were various issues clients would need help with - it could have been reading letters from schools, hospitals or their GP for example or assisting them with filling in forms, making phone-calls for appointments, making requests for interpreters or communicating with their employers, etc. The majority of my time was spent with clients who had health problems and needed
to communicate with the hospital or their GPs. Although NHS Grampian do provide interpreters, clients would come to GREC as a first point of contact. I believe without this the clients would not be able to reach the stage of requesting an interpreter. My ‘typical’ day would end between 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. with paperwork, lots of paperwork and I still couldn’t catch-up with the paperwork on the day I left GREC in May 2008... Sorry to my friends at GREC who had to pick up the pieces! GN: Tell us about The Quiet Cup The Quiet Cup Café is another project that I was involved with, I enjoyed going to the Quiet Cup helping to train clients and getting them ready to work. I would meetup with regular customers who were there most days and enjoyed being there. At the beginning, it was mostly the unemployed and elderly who came in for cups of hot drinks, later we would get more families and then office workers. GN: Anything else on top of this? I also did translating & interpreting on behalf of GREC for various agencies and health services. My year at GREC dealing with languages has made me an expert in this field. I must say thanks to our last Director Mr. Barney Crockett. He taught me how to identify different languages, encouraged learning and gave me continued support... Barney can tell you how many tears were shed during my supervision time! I would also tiein the Upward Steps objectives by encouraging clients to be more independent, getting them to go to English classes, go for job training and later I would help them to find
work. The ‘unemployable’ soon learnt - they found work. Besides doing that, I also set up Health & Safety classes and Driving classes. I'm happy to say I have successfully put eight non-English speakers for driving classes & they all passed the DVLA driving test. Some even passed first time! GN: Was there job satisfaction? I must be mad to say ‘Yes!’, but I did get satisfaction from doing the job. Some people think I am mad because I did have some very tough clients, but when I was able to crack through a ‘hard shell’ I got enjoyment out of it. When I saw happy clients coming back to thank me for something I had done - usually bearing a thank you ‘gift’ for me. I did not encourage this as I am paid to do my job, but I thanked them for the kind gesture. GN: What are you doing now? Sitting in Borneo, a place called MIRI. It is an oil town like Aberdeen. This is where I was born and where all my family are. My husband – Duncan has a secondment here. I don’t do much, I recently lost my dad - so I spend a lot of time with my mum, brothers & sisters, supporting each other through this tough time. On a good day (if it is not too hot - temperatures can go up to 32˚c) I will go sit by the pool, or go out in the garden to plant some orchids and if Duncan has a day off we will set off to somewhere nice... like Kuala Lumpur – the Capital of Malaysia (that’s us pictured). I do miss the lovely cool temperature of Aberdeen and look forward to returning sometime in November for a visit. "Thanks & enjoy the rest of the year!" All those who know Mary, please write to: mary.leech@gmail.com 22
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY '07 We said “Never Again” after the true extent of the Holocaust was revealed to post-war Britain. Then more recently “Never Again, Again” after events in the Balkans and Rwanda during the 1990s. Now, can we allow ourselves to say “Never Again, Again, Again” whilst observing the events in Africa? The Holocaust is not purely a historical issue. Events taking place in Sudan and other regions across the globe show us that it is an issue for today and tomorrow. Prejudice and discrimination are problems that will most likely dog our grandchildren’s grandchildren. The warped ideologies behind the Holocaust still exist in 21st century Europe... the genocide and ethniccleansing of the 1940s may have ceased, but it is not dead worldwide.
Registered Scottish Charity: SC 001823
www.holocaustmemorialday.co.uk
THE DIGNITY OF DIFFERENCE
Leading on from this point neatly, a new Booklet and Website have been produced by GREC (with thanks to funds from Awards for All) to give an update on the Holocaust Memorial Day that took place on Friday 26th January 2007 - one day before the official Memorial Day. With funding from Aberdeen City Council, the event was organised by GREC and held at The Tunnels. Interestingly for GREC, the 2007 theme celebrated ‘The Dignity of Difference’, allowing the organisation to look at the many groups targeted under Nazi persecution.
T h e s e s g r o u p s s i n c l u d e d s t h e s J e w i s h s c o m m u n i t y, s R o m a s a n d Sinti,sEasternsEuropeans,sFreemasons,sJehovah’ssWitnesses, Tr a d e s U n i o n i s t s , s C o m m u n i s t s , s G a y s a n d s L e s b i a n s s p e o p l e , African,speoplesofsasMixedsRacesandsDisabledspeople. TheseventsalsosincludedsJewishsandsEasternsEuropean foodssandsasperformancesfromsGypsy/Travellersmusicians. The Tunnels were an appropriate venue choice, very atmospheric. The venue, food and staff were all absolutely outstanding on the Memorial Day. Sixty years may have passed since the atrocities during World War II but, as detailed by the numerous speakers at the event, the physical and psychological scars remain. Today’s Generation Z are more than three generations away from the horrors of World Word II, but the issues are still fresh, still important and still need to be examined.
HMD 2008 On January 26th 2008 GREC & Aberdeen City Council hosted the city's official Holocaust Memorial Day at Aberdeen Town House. Roddy MacTaggart, Strategist with the Community Planning & Regeneration Dept. of Aberdeen City Council, introduced the proceedings & Jeannie Felsinger, Director of GREC, welcomed everyone. GREC volunteer Kamil Boniecki from Poland gave a presentation on this year's theme: 'Remember, Reflect, React'. He showed photographs taken during the Holocaust & compared them to photos of people in Aberdeen going about 'everyday life' today how would we have reacted? Lada Copic from Bosnia gave a talk on her experiences during the recent atrocities and showed images of what she and her family had to endure. T&G Unite representative, Tommy Campbell, also gave a talk followed by Lord Provost, Peter Stephen. There was a minutes silence and later a question & answer session hosted by Jeannie. To end the day - the official film was shown and then refreshments were served by volunteers & staff of The Quiet Cup Café. A very moving and memorable occasion.
The Booklet & Website include some of the photographs taken on the day, speeches & comments from the participants and hopefully gives an overall insight of the holocaust and the groups targeted. GREC have secured www.holocaustmemorialday.co.uk for this purpose along with the Booklet. An official launch is planned for the end of the year with a ceremony taking place in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council. Please check GREC's Website: www.grec.co.uk for further updates. 23
Jeannie Felsinger pictured with the Speakers on the Day: Lada Copic, Kamil Boniecki and Tommy Campbell.
GURUDEO'S GET WELL WISHES GREC committee member and leading Aberdeenshire councillor, Gurudeo Saluja OBE, is recovering after a stroke. Everyone at GREC wishes him a rapid recovery. Councillor Saluja - Scotland's first Sikh councillor has been representing the Westhill area since 1999 and is also chairman of the social work and housing committee. Fellow ward councillor Ron McKail said his colleague had a loyal following in the area: 'When I heard the news I was saddened and shocked. He's such a nice guy and he has a very loyal support from constituents in the Westhill ward. I wish him a speedy recovery and return to council business.' Brian Johnstone, a member of Strathview Residents' Association, at Elrick, said: 'He's a well known councillor in the area and anybody who has had dealings with him seems happy with his work. I really do wish him well and hope to see him back in his job in the not too distant future.' Quotes as cited in: The Press and Journal 08.08.08
POPULATION RISES
Scotland’s population is at its highest level for 25 years, according to statistics published in July 2008.
The statistics show that the estimated population of Scotland as of June 2007 was 5,144,200, which was a rise of 27,300 from the previous year. Commenting on the publication of "Mid-2007 Population Estimates, Scotland", Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven said: "By June 2007, Scotland's population reached its highest level since 1983. Part of the reason for the increase was because the number of births was 1,100 higher than the number of deaths - the first year there have been more births than deaths since 1996-97.� However, he said the increase was mostly due to migration. In the 12 months leading up to 30 June 2007 51,500 people came to Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 42,700 left Scotland to go in the opposite
direction. Overall, however, there was a net migration gain of 26,800, which included a net gain of 8,800 people from the rest of the UK, 16,800 from overseas (including asylum seekers) and 1,200 members of the armed forces. Macniven continued: "More than 63,000 people left Scotland - but nearly 90,000 came here, mostly from the rest of the UK. The net migration gain was over 26,000, with 9,000 coming from the rest of the UK and 17,000 from overseas. That is the highest net in-migration figure since our records began in the early 1950s. "And migrants helped increase the birth rate too. Mothers from Eastern Europe accounted for one in three of the increase in the number of births between 2006 and 2007, although only one in fifty of all births in Scotland was to a mother from Eastern Europe." As cited on: www.holyrood.com
GET WELL PHILIP GREC's Chair, Dr Philip Muinde DL OBE, is also recovering at the moment after falling ill in America. Everyone at GREC wishes him a quick return to form and we hope to see him soon. We will have a full follow-up in the next issue of GREC News. Got a news item to send us?
Equality Britain Annual Directory The eighth edition of the Equality Britain National annual Directory, aimed at promoting opportunities to people from all sections of the community, is due out in October. You can register to be sent a copy of the forthcoming directory at: w w w.equalitybritain.co.uk
Send an email: info@grec.co.uk
GIVE, GET GIVEN A great new idea to encourage volunteers is 'Orange RockCorps' it's all about you giving back to your community. It's about transforming and rebuilding your local area. The idea is you give just 4 hours of your time to your community, and you Get Given 1 ticket to a concert featuring some of the best acts around. It could be working with graffiti artists to paint a super-sized mural; shifting fifty tons of earth to create an urban garden for kids; providing an extreme makeover to a community centre. After that, you could be going to the Royal Albert Hall for the gig of the year! It is that simple. You can't buy a ticket. You have to earn the ticket. Are you in?... For details in your area: w w w. o r a n g e r o c k c o r p s . c o. u k
24
CASEWORK'S NEW SERVICE STARTS Since the last newsletter the casework service has continued to be busy despite a slight reduction in the number of referrals mostly via the Racist Incident MonitoringsForm process. Best use is being made of the case conference processesswith notable success. The advantage of calling ascasesconference, normally chaired by GREC, is that it concentrates the efforts of partner agencies to address referrals of long term racism where the actions of a single agency has failed to produce results. One long term referral taken to the Employment Tribunal was finally resolved earlier in the year when the respondent settled prior to the Tribunal and the claimant received £5,500 in compensation. GREC’s Casework service has now been expanded to include cases of discrimination on the grounds of religion, faith or belief.
Efforts are now concentrated on another employment related case, but efforts are being frustrated as the respondent has failed to provide the complainant with the result of her appeal against dismissal on 15 January 2008. This is being actively pursued. Religious discrimination occurs when someone treats another less favourably because of their religion or belief, or because they have no religious beliefs. 25
is
associated
with.
Harassment can occur where there is a culture in the workplace e.g. telling jokes about a certain religion, might amount to harassment.
Theresares4stypes ofsdiscriminationson grounds of religion or belief. o Direct discrimination Somebody does not like your religious or philosophical beliefs, you don't have the same religious or philosophical beliefs as someone else, or you have none; Somebody associates you with somebody whose religious or philosophical beliefs they do not like. o Indirect Discrimination If an organisation has policies, criteria or processes that put you at a disadvantage because of your religious or philosophical beliefs, or because you have none, this may be indirect discrimination. o Harassment Harassment on grounds of religion or belief may be obvious bullying, or it can be unintentional or hidden. It can be aimedyatyyourybeliefs or religious practice, the religion or philosophical belief itself, a religion or belief that a person
osVictimisation Occurs when a person is treated badly because they have made a complaintaabout discrimination oryhaveygiven evidence in a discrimination case. osHatesCrimes If someone assaults you or subjected you to verbal abuse because of your religion or belief (or lack of )sthis may amount to hate crime and could include, physical attacks or damage to property, offensive correspondence (letters, emails) intimidation, insults or offensivesleafletssorsposters, bullying at school or work. This new service is to be promoted via the distribution of flyers (see above) and representation to faith groups across the area served by GREC. If you want to know more about GREC's new casework service or wish to use the service - please contact Mr. Ron Falconer directly:
Email: rfalconer@grec.co.uk or Tel: 01224 576799 Thank you.
5 A DAY
1 medium apple
2 broccoli florets
2 halves of canned peaches
1 handful of grapes
1 medium banana
3 heaped tablespoons of peas
1 medium glass of orange juice
Just Eat More (fruit & veg)
www.doh.gov.uk/fiveaday
7 strawberries
3 heaped tablespoons of cooked kidney beans
3 whole dried apricots
16 okra
Eating more fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced diet: All adults and children over five years of age are encouraged to eat a varied, balanced diet that is low in fat, salt and added sugars. This means a diet which includes a wide variety of foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables and starchy foods (such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta), moderate amounts of meat and/or alternatives and moderate amounts of milk and dairy products. Children under five should be given a mixed and varied diet that includes a variety of fruit and vegetables. One portion of fruit is, for example, half a large grapefruit, or a slice of melon, or 2 satsumas. One portion of dried fruit counts (1 portion = for example 3 dried apricots, or 1 tablespoon of raisins), but other types of fruit and vegetables should be eaten to meet the rest of the 5 A DAY target. A glass of 100% juice (fruit or vegetable juice) counts as 1 portion. But you can only count juice as 1 portion a day, however much you drink. This is because it has very little fibre. For more information on 5 a day visit: w w w. d o h . g o v. u k / f i v e a d a y
Š Crown copyright 2003
26