ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCES 2017-2018
WE SEE AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION
Hello There! West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) is working towards a fairer society where people can live, learn and work free from discrimination or fear. WSREC has over 45 years experience of engaging with some of the most diverse communities in Scotland.
Our Aims • To work towards the elimination of discrimination in all forms in the West of Scotland • To reduce inequalities and promote a culture of human rights • To promote good community relations between all people of all communities living in the West of Scotland
What We Do
Our Vision We see an inclusive society free from discimination
At WSREC we have a diverse range of projects promoting good relations, reducing isolation and challenging discrimination. We run a drop in service and advice surgery for the Central and Eastern European residents. Through our training and consultancy we offer tailor-made community engagement packages, research in diverse communities within the West of Scotland and bespoke training on the Equality Act, diversity and human rights. A number of diverse organisations have accessed these services and highly praised the professionalism, quality of information and friendly staff.
SQA Approved Centre
Contents -
Board Members 2017/2018 ......................................................03 Board Members In Action ........................................................04 Chair’s Report...............................................................................05 Executive Director’s Report ....................................................06 Treasurer’s Report.......................................................................07
Projects - Connected Communities Challenging Hate .....................09 - Good Community Relations Project ................................10-12 - Hate Crime ..........................................................................10 - New Migrants ......................................................................11 - Renfrewshire .......................................................................12 - Cook, Grow, Sew & Change ......................................................13 - Living Equality................................................................................15 - Minority Ethnic Employment Training & Support ............16 - Minority Ethnic Silver Surfers ..................................................17 - Qurbani Food Initiative ..............................................................18 - Remember Us ................................................................................19 - Roots Scotland ............................................................................20 Other - Financial Inclusion Report .........................................................21 - SAREC Report ..............................................................................22 - Admin Report ...............................................................................23 - Hate Crime Report ......................................................................24 - WSREC User Statistics ..............................................................25 - Future Development ..................................................................26 - Healthy Working Lives...............................................................27 - WSREC Core Staff.......................................................................28 - Project Support Workers & Volunteers ...............................29
3 Board Reports
Board Members 2016 / 2017
Cllr Hanzala Malik
Dr. Malcolm Green VICE CHAIR
TREASURER
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE CHAIR
Syed Jafri
Cllr Anne McTaggart
Cllr Rashid Hussain
Onkar Singh Jandu
CHAIR
Harriette Campbell
Tunweer Malik
Antony Kozlowski
John Service
Munir A. Choudry
Co-opted Members
Sheela Mukherjee
Vince Chudy
Sharon Schlesinger SECRETARY
Haji Mohammed Munir
Dr. Javed Gill
4 2017-2018 Annual Report
Board Members In Action
Harriette Campbell handing out certificates to volunteers at the ‘Celebrating Volunteering Event’
Syed Jafri, Dr. Javed Gill and Cllr Rashid Hussain at the WSREC AGM
WSREC Chair Hanzala Malik at the WSREC AGM Mohammed Razaq with Malcolm Green and Syed Jafri at WSREC’s Away Day
WSREC Vice Chair Malcolm Green giving a speech at the WSREC AGM
WSREC Treasurer Harriette Campbell and ACWA’s Chair Patricia Iredia at the Living Equality Celebratory Event
5 Board Reports
Executive Director’s Report 2017-18 has once again been an exciting year with the transformation towards higher performance at WSREC. We achieved our main aim of excellent service delivery to all our stakeholders by meeting every outcome for all of our projects. In some cases we have, in fact, exceeded our own expectations. We have delivered new and innovative projects whilst maintaining the majority of our previous years’ work. We strive to continue with our positive journey towards achieving the true potential of WSREC by identifying inequality and discrimination and working towards their elimination. Pursuing our Vision – to work towards a society free from discrimination we are on the road to becoming the preferred organisation/partner for many funders and voluntary sector organisations to deliver on equality for all. As an organisation we have taken actions in 2017-18 that have made WSREC a stronger, respected and reliable organisation. With the support of the Board, staff have identified further gaps in services which need to be addressed and we are striving to deliver these. Indentifying and providing new services for additional minority communities has become a trademark for our organisation. An example of this is our successful application to provide advocacy services in the new financial year. As an organisation we have been successful in sustaining our existing services and developing new and innovative delivery. This is an incredible outcome in the face of austerity and the backdrop of reductions by grant making bodies including Public, Charities and Foundations. One area of focus in the year has been the support (or lack of) for victims of hate crime, Islamophobia and antiSemitism. WSREC has been consistently and at every opportunity raising awareness of this issue at grassroots and strategic policy level such as local councils, Scottish and Westminster Governments. This has also been evident as members of the Scottish Alliance of Regional Equality Councils (SAREC) and more recently though the Scottish Governments Cross Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia. Our proposal is to continue challenging discrimination and hate as an organisation by seeking additional resources which provide practical support for victims and challenge negative perceptions and reporting in the media. Turning to our many achievements during the year, I have the pleasure to report that WSREC has responded effectively by meeting challenges and made excellent progress towards its organisational objectives. Supported
by
the
Scottish
Governments
Tackling
Sectarianism fund and working in partnership with Glasgow Women’s Library, we successfully produced a Mainstreaming Sectarianism into Equalities Toolkit which will be widely disseminated in 2018-19 We have continued to tackle unemployment within minority ethnic communities for the third and final year of the employability project ‘Minority Ethnic Employment and Training Support’ funded by the Big Lottery’s, which has for the 3rd year in a row exceeded expectations in its required outcomes, i.e. supporting in excess of 2000 individuals over the life of the project in actively seeking employment and supporting 355 successfully into employment/volunteering or further education. As an organisation committed to developing staff as well as service provision, a proud achievement included WSREC being awarded the ‘Gold’ standard by Investors in People. It is incredible that this year our many projects have provided 1797 individuals with advice and information alone. Through community engagements, social and online media, events, activities, one-to-one and dissemination, this figure is in the region of 10,000 individuals from diverse communities. A breakdown and analysis of advice and information is on page 25 of the annual report. My thanks to all of our staff and not to forget the invaluable contributions of our volunteers during the year. Finally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Directors, our many funders, partner organisations and individuals for their support and assistance in making it yet another extremely successful year.
Mohammed Razaq Executive Director
6 2017-2018 Annual Report
Chair’s Report I am pleased to introduce WSREC’s annual report for year ended March 2018. It has been an exciting year and seems to have gone in a flash since my last report. Over these twelve months, there has been a great deal of activity at WSREC, much of which has been looking to make sure that WSREC’s vision of ‘a society free from discrimination’ was delivered through its many projects i.e. one-to-one support in relation to employment, support for victims of hate crime, advice and information for our Eastern European communities, energy efficiency, capacity building ethnic minority women and also looking to any future challenges. Emerging future challenges for the organisation are: tackling Islamophobia by supporting victims, challenging the negative media portrayal of Muslims and also increasing independent support for victims of hate crime and discrimination. It is absolutely crucial that funding is realised in supporting ethnic minority employment across Scotland and organisations need to understand that there is a real challenge that faces the younger generation from minority communities who feel undervalued and under threat as a result of new and emerging growing trends of discrimination.
satisfaction in the achievement of our existing and new projects; successful delivery of our projects reflects well on the organisation as a whole. These achievements reveal the positive result of teamwork involving WSREC’s Board of Directors, staff, partners and WSREC affiliated organisations. Thus, I look forward to continuing to work with the Board, our staff, volunteers and the communities and organisations out there that genuinely wish to engage with us in the field of equality for all. In conclusion, I would wish to record my thanks to the Board, staff and our partner organisations in yet again making it another successful year.
Brexit lends itself to additional challenges and what that means in the wider context, including the important question of our European migrant communities here in the West of Scotland. Once again what goes hand in hand is the issue of investment in harmonising new and old communities in terms of employment education and integration Personally I have always been an advocate for advancing an organisations vision by working with others therefore, it has been important and fruitful to be have been working with and supporting the Scottish Government Cross Party Group in Racial Equality, Scottish Alliance of Regional Equality Councils (SAREC); Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER); Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO), Glasgow City/ Kelvin Colleges and more recently with Scottish Government Cross Party Group in Tackling Islamophobia through policy and development. It goes without saying that we keep working within fora and on Board membership of other organisations to support and enhance WSREC’s vision. Once more and, as in all my previous reports WSREC’s Board of Directors and our team of staff have taken great
Hanzala Malik WSREC Chair
7 Board Reports
Treasurer’s Report This is my ninth year as treasurer and report an income this year of £577,883 from £667,234 last year a reduction of £89,351 (13.4%). We have maintained financial stability by securing funding for some ongoing and new projects. The income and expenditure statement shows income for the year as £577,883 whereas total expenditure was £604,454. Staff salaries and related costs account for £464,736 (77%) of total expenditure with the balance of £139,718 (23%) being administrative and running costs, this represents a decrease of £9,298 (6%) from £149,016 last year. This decrease is due to some project funding being reduced or coming to an end within the year.
Summarised Statement of Financial Activities for the Year End 31st March 2018
WSREC successfully completed its third and final year of the grant funding from Big Lottery totalling £427,925 (2015-2018) for our Minority Ethnic Employment and Training Support project (MEETS).
Income Grants Other Income
2018(£) 575,451 2,432
2017(£) 665,557 1,677
Total income
557,883
667,234
I am pleased to advise members that our existing Cook, Grow, Sew and Change project has been successful in obtaining grant funding for a further 2 years (201820) with a grant totalling £294,000 and Connecting Communities and Challenging Hate Project (3CH) funding of £25,000 for a further one year. There are a number of live applications awaiting decision with a value of £221,000. The organisation is always looking at ways to improve and expand its funding base as is required for a progressive organisation like WSREC. This is the 4th successive year that WSREC has been subject to a ‘full audit’ of its financial accounts due to its income threshold of having annual income in excess of five hundred thousand pounds. Also I wish to report that WSREC continues to be fully compliant with auto enrolment legislation for pensions I am delighted to note the support of WSREC’s Board and our staff in seeking improved and better avenues of support and development to enhance the organisations financial standing.
Harriette Campbell Treasurer
Expenditure Charitable Activities
(604,454) (620,027)
Total Expenditure
(604,454) (620,027)
Net Movement in Funds Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension scheme
(26,571)
47,207
(16,000)
88,000
99,169 56,598
(36,038) 99,169
Funds Balance brought forward Balance carried forward
Abbreviated Balance Sheet at 31st March 2018 1
1
110,461
128,939
(23,864)
(23,771)
85,598
105,169
Less: Pension Reserve Fund (30,000) 56,598 Net Assets/(Liabilities)
(6,000) 99,169
Fixed Assets Current Assets Current Liabilities Net Current Assets
Projects >>>
9 Project Reports
Connected Communities Challenging Hate (3CH)
3CH Toolkit Development Focus Group Glasgow Women’s Library
Our year long programme aimed to; 1) encourage anti-sectarianism and wider equalities stakeholders to work together to identify and overcome barriers to mainstreaming antisectarianism work and 2) ensure public; third sector and local authority representatives were better equipped to begin mainstreaming anti-sectarianism work within wider equalities areas. From May 2017 to March 2018 the project delivered the following:
100 organisations across scotland directly received the toolkit through social media channels and website. It has also been renferenced within the joint WSREC and Glasgow University publication ‘Engaging with LGBT and migrant equalities - A Youth and Community Practitioner Toolkit’. We have also disseminated this publication at high profile events such as the Cumberland Lodge ‘A Generation Without Hate’ conference and the EHRC 2017’ Discrimination in Education’ event and to Lord Bracadale’s Hate Crime legislation review team.
•
Conducted a preliminary analysis of: existing resources to challenge sectarianism though an equalities lens; and existing equalities frameworks in Scotland to identify the challenges and potential pathways for mainstreaming anti-sectarianism within policy and practice in Scotland’.
•
Carried out engagement and consultation on the Toolkit content with: local authorities; public service providers; academics; policy makers; and third sector practitioners with expertise in this area.
•
Launched the 70 page Toolkit entitled: ‘Mainstreaming Anti-Sectarianism in Equalities’ available for free download on the Action on Sectarianism web portal and on our website here: http://wsrec.co.uk/mainstreaming-anti-sectarianism-in-equalitiestoolkit.pdf This includes: analysis; background research; methodological recommendations for practitioners; and resources to enable organisations to begin discussions around mainstreaming work to challenge sectarianism within their existing policies and practices.
15
public, third sector and local authority representatives received a half day training course.
3CH Toolkit Development Focus Group Glasgow Women’s Library
Funded by
3CH Toolkit Development Focus Group Glasgow Women’s Library
Monique Campbell Project Co-ordinator
10 2017-2018 Annual Report
Good Community Relations Project Hate Crime
Glasgow Media Literacy Workshop
From July 2017, this project has worked to: increase awareness of hate crime among minority ethnic communities, increase media literacy skills, and to support individuals to report hate crime and discrimination through advocacy work. In order to do this, we have delivered the following:
20 individuals supported with issues of hate crime and discrimination on an ongoing basis. For example, we have assisted in writing letters of complaint to institutions potentially in breach of the Equality Act 2010, highlighted potential issues in relation to police procedures, and helped clients to clarify what they feel the issues at stake are.
Arrochar Media Literacy Workshop
Arrochar Media Literacy Workshop
2
media literacy workshops delivered to 22 diverse intergenerational participants in Glasgow and Arrochar, focusing predominantly on media portrayals of Muslim communities.
2
Glasgow Media Literacy Workshop
hate crime awareness workshops delivered to the British Red Cross family reunion groups.
1 volunteer + 1 sessional worker trained and supported to deliver hate crime awareness workshops.
In addition we: continue to partake in Glasgow’s Hate Crime Working Group (HCWG) and Third Party Reporting Network, and form part of the Voluntary Action Fund coordinated Scottish Alliance Against Prejudice and Hate Crime (SAAPaHC). We also co-produced Glasgow Refugee and Asylum Network’s (GRAMNet) ‘Engaging with LGBT and migrant equalities - A Youth and Community Practitioner Toolkit’.
Funded by
Monique Campbell Project Co-ordinator
11 Project Reports
Good Community Relations Project New Migrants
Polish Focus Group
Since 2008 the GCRP has been supporting members of the Central and Eastern European Migrant communities. The main remit of the project has been and continues to be to provide advice and support within these communities, also encouraging active community engagement. Over the last year there have been a number of initiatives focusing on different aspects of day-to-day life. In September the project organised two focus groups to find out what community members felt were the most pressing needs. Pensions, isolation (loneliness) and the impact of Brexit were the most popular topics.
The project also delivered a recycling workshop in partnership with the Cook Grow Sew and Change Project (CGSC) to members of the Polish community. This was a taster session to see if the Polish community might be interested in this type of event. It was well received and as a result, future partnership working with CGSC is in planning.
In the year 2017/18, GCRP New Migrants responded to:
380 enquiries from members of the Central Eastern community providing support on a range of issues.
Based on ideas proposed during the focus group meeting, the project delivered ‘Pensions Explained: EU Pensions Rights in the UK’, this being a Q&A Session in partnership with Maryhill and Possilpark CAB in November 2017. After the event participants were emailed written answers to their questions which were also detailed online. The Project delivered a British Citizenship & Permanent Residency Information event in partnership with Glasgow North West CAB and The Sikorski Memorial House in Glasgow in March 2018 the. As with the other events, this was also well received.
Ramute and Mira at Brexit Information Event
In December 2017 the project helped to organise a Christmas decorations themed workshop for Lithuanians in Scotland Community (LISA). This was a well received event
Pensions Information Workshop
Funded by
Coaster Making Event
Joanna Kieran Project Co-ordinator
12 2017-2018 Annual Report
Good Community Relations Project Renfrewshire
Celebrating volunteering, diversity and integration at the Equality in Practice event
GCRP Renfrewshire project has continued to develop its capacity to positively influence the mainstreaming of equalities for diverse minority groups in Renfrewshire. The project has been delivering a support pilot initiative dubbed ‘passage to success’. The initiative seeks to address the current imbalances in representation in all aspects and levels of public life including education, and employment and civic participation to better reflect the composition of the Renfrewshire community. GCRP taking kids to watch a live St Mirren game courtesy of tickets from St. Mirren Independent Supporters Association (SMiSA)
The project has made its activities known to excess of 1000 individuals within Renfrewshire and has built important new networks with partners like Job Centre Plus, Engage Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Council and its Environmental Training Team (ETT), Renfrewshire Effort to Empower Minorities (REEM), Association of Africans Communities in Renfrewshire (AACR) and Pachedu
to name a few. It has also has a seat on various community shaping forums like Paisley 2021 community engagement work stream, DEAR group, volunteer manager’s forum, grey space and others. The project would like to wish Dr Manal Eshelli all the best as she undertakes a new post within WSREC. The highlight for the project this year was the event held on the 28th of March 2018 to celebrate the progress of the individuals and people that have been supported. Over 100 people participated, activities included speeches from two of the volunteers, Marwa Kanaan and Tinashe Sango and certificate presentations for volunteering led by the Chief Executive of Engage Renfrewshire Allan McNiven, some entertainment and community discussions about volunteering, diversity and community cohesion. We also heard speeches on mental health from Rachel McLean from Renfrewshire Association of Mental Health and Oluwatoyin Opeloyeru from Scotland Mental Health First Aid – Young People.
Campbell. Last but not least hats off to Ian Williams and Karen Miller and REEM for helping to making the event a success.
Since its inception in June 2016, GCRP has assisted:
76 individuals with diverse needs, including employability support, building self esteem and confidence, understanding the UK system to set up a business or charity, English as a Second Language (ESOL), volunteering and access to sporting opportunities and skills courses.
Celebrating volunteering event at St Ninians Church Hall
GCRP wishes acknowledge the support at the event by the Deputy Director of WSREC Ghzala Khan and member of the Board Harriette
Funded by
Johannes Gonani Project Co-ordinator
13 Project Reports
Cook, Grow, Sew & Change & Change
Napiershall Street Garden
Funded by the Climate Challenge Fund, the project in its current form supports new and existing minority ethnic communities, across Glasgow, Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire in taking effective steps to reduce community and personal carbon emissions. Over the past two years the project achieved the following:
4.75
tonnes of clothes diverted from landfill through swap shops
1708
participants supported through various measures
7857
made aware of project (face to face and through social media)
362
Training / workshop sessions delivered
2559
community members engaged with on climate change through different activities
This is through measures such as energy efficiency, efficient cooking practices, upcycling textiles, pop up swap shops, growing food in urban spaces, and recycling. These activities help to encourage and over time embed positive behaviour changes. The project is supported in the delivery of its outcomes by grant managers Keep Scotland Beautiful and delivery partners such as Home Energy Scotland, GHeat, Crossroads, Woodlands Community Garden, Govanhill Baths, Rags to Riches, NG Homes, RSPB, Drive Sense, ASRA, Shanti Bhavan Cultural & Social Centre, Freedom for Torture, Pachedu, Campus, Linkes Community Centre, Saheliya Women Centre, Govan Help and Home Start Women Group. The project has built on the foundation laid by the Let’s Cook Grow Sew Together project over the last twenty
four months through innovative and bespoke activities. Our key highlights from this year include: The pop up swap shops were a huge success with the local community. Through the four swap shops delivered the project managed to divert 2.35 tonnes of clothing from landfill. Energy Efficiency: The project gives support to numerous households in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire in becoming energy efficient and reducing fuel bills by applying for discounts and switching providers. In the last 12 months the project worked with 150 households and supported 82 households living in fuel poverty to access the warm home discount.
108
volunteers supported the project
£27,112
worth of savings made for clients through energy efficiency support
Cook, Grow, Sew’s popular swap shop event
14 2017-2018 Annual Report
Garden Festival
Eco driving training is given free to participants who are able to drive and to reduce their fuel consumption, this support is provided by our partners Drive Sense. Six sessions were delivered in which 30 individuals participated. Potential financial savings were £5,099 which is equivalent to 10.527 tonnes of CO2 emitted.
Furthermore the up cycled fashion show involved members of the local community in which volunteers designed and created upcycled clothing. In an evening of fun, food and entertainment, the fashion show managed to raise £150 through its ticket sales, the proceeds of which will go to a local soup kitchen.
Community Garden: A number of activities and awareness raising sessions took place at WSREC’s Napiershall street garden and other partnership gardens. This is a concrete garden where food is grown in recycled wood planters made by the project volunteers. 193.57kg of food was grown across our gardening strand which includes gardening sessions, assigned personnel planters and home growers. Zero Waste Sewing is a popular strand of the project where the project delivers six week sewing courses and drop in sessions. The participants are taught various up cycling techniques with re-used fabric. The sewing volunteers and project workers worked together to deliver an up cycled fashion show ‘Threading It Up’ celebrating Pass It on Week. The material diverted from landfill was 362.65kg this material was used within the fashion show and sewing classes. A total of 134 participants from diverse communities accessed activities in this strand.
Cook, Grow & Sew’s latest Fashion Show
Foraging Session
We also received compliments from dignitaries including Patrick Grady MP, and Bailie Martin Bartos from Glasgow City Council on the professionalism and quality of the event. Given our project’s proven track record of delivery via partnerships we were asked to facilitate a community consultation on the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Bill alongside the Scottish Communities Climate Change Action Network.
Funded by
Refurbishing Course: In partnership with Rags to Riches
The bill proposes to update Scottish CO2 emission targets in light of the Paris Agreement of which the UK is a signatory. The consultation was well attended by our partners and members from multiple minority ethnic communities. The event helped our project to increase awareness but also to give those who are normally not engaged within consultation processes, a voice. This further contributed to our work on increasing climate change awareness.
Dilraj S. Watson Project Co-ordinator
15 Project Reports
Living Equality
MEWPP members cascading learning to Muslim Womens group in North Lanarkshire
The project was successful in obtaining 3 years funding from the Scottish Government on the basis of our previous achievements. The project outcomes are that diverse minority ethnic women across all ‘protected characteristics’ in the West of Scotland have; increased opportunities to access democratic processes and civic life; confidence in being part of civic and democratic processes. Through mainstreaming equalities; Public, Voluntary and Community Organisations across urban and rural areas improve opportunities for minority ethnic women to contribute to civic life. The Big Success Story:
2
volunteers became mentors and are now paid workers with the project
8
Minority Ethnic Women’s Participation (Civic) Project (MEWPP) members have been mentored / enabled to become confident to deliver presentations and cascade their learning
100
ME women have gained awareness and understanding of civic participation
6
ME women joined boards and forums of well known organisations
7
public meetings were attended by MWEPP members
New recruitment In August 2017 marketing material was developed for a new recruitment drive involving existing MEWPP members. The marketing material produced was user friendly and appealing resulting in 18 new members joining MEWPP. The Living Equality Facebook page was created to enhance the spread of the project’s work and to increase the awareness of civic participation as well as to engage with the women online. Leaflets were used for branding and marketing the work, offering information about the civic participation, skills development and benefits of time commitment. The page encouraged the women to take part and spread the word on the projects ongoing good work, managing to reach 169 women from diverse communities with 53 engaged. Many women were interested to have more information and asked about training opportunities that were offered by the project. MEWPP Capacity building programme After assessment of all 28 members of MEWPP, a needs report was produced
Funded by
and a training plan was devised and delivered with a total of 6 sessions for both level 1 and 2. Members also received on-going information, opportunities and attended various external training and seminars. Cascade learning on civic participation To further capacity build existing MEWPP members the project supported and empowered 8 out of 10 members to cascade their learning to other ME women’s groups. A total of 8 women’s groups have been provided workshops on awareness sessions on civic participation with the MEWPP group with a total of 100 women attending and 8 MEWPP members being involved in imparting their knowledge .
Certificate ceremony for MEWPP members
Bushra Iqbal MBE Project Co-ordinator
16 2017-2018 Annual Report
Minority Ethnic Employment & Training Support (MEETS)
meets minority ethnic employment & training support
CV Development / Interview Skills training workshop
The project supported individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds into employment through the provision of soft skills training as well as one-to-one intensive support. The project worked strategically with a range of partners including Glasgow City Council, Jobcentres, local colleges, training providers and regeneration agencies to support the pathways of target beneficiaries
through the provision of training, work placement and advisory services.The project is represented within the Black and Minority Ethnic Employability Strategic Steering Group.
Over the last 3 years the project: Total over 3 years
4531 Total over 3 years
2003 Total over 3 years
3148 Total over 3 years
1488
1394 in 17/18 individuals registered with the project
649 in 17/18 clients supported in actively seeking employment
1514 in 17/18 people made aware of employment opportunities
473 in 17/18 clients received intensive one to one support and soft skills training
“I really feel confident and looking forward to my job interview.” “Highly recommend to all job seekers. Thank you.”
Total over 3 years
191 Total over 3 years
77 Total over 3 years
3 Total over 3 years
85
61 in 17/18 people supported to enter further education
38 in 17/18
MEETS winning the ‘Impact in Employment Award’ at the CEMVO Impact Awards 2017
people supported into employment
2 in 17/18 people supported into a work placement
22 in 17/18 people supported into volunteering opportunities
‘’Even after just one meeting I feel more positive about getting a job already’’
Funded by
Training session at West College Scotland Paisley Campus
“The course was very helpful and I learned a lot of new things about how to make a good CV.”
Nadeem Hanif Projects Manager
17 Project Reports
Minority Ethnic Silver Surfers (MESS)
MESS team supporting clients at the Hindu Mandir
In the final year of the Transformation Fund, the Minority Ethnic Silver Surfers (MESS) project once again made a key impact on older South Asian communities in Glasgow. Striving to integrate older people with modern day technology, the project worked with communities in a group and one-to-one basis. Support included training on computers/laptops/ tablets and mobile phones. Staying connected and increasing health and wellbeing was the main focus and from our end delivery included setting up calendars, emails, social media, calling abroad, online shopping etc. The impact of the project enabled isolated individuals being able to stay connected with family and friends more easily and also meeting mainstream service providers when we organised quarterly events. This year a feasibility study was also carried out focusing on ‘bridging the gap between health service users and communities’ The key theme that
emerged included long term aims to combat isolation which often lead to poor physical and mental wellbeing. The key recommendations of this study, therefore, highlighted that there is more focus required on older communities to be supported in life skills, health and wellbeing activities and further opportunities to get smart through modern day technology. Unfortunately the Transformation Fund came to an end on 31st March 2018. WSREC will continue to seek resources to continue this invaluable good work.
The Project Supported:
97 people over a period of 3 years.
33 individuals in training within various community settings such as at the Hindu Temple, ASRA, Al Meezan and Gurdwara.
27 individuals were provided with one to one support
Clients participanting on the MESS walk
Funded by
Client 1-2-1 session
Javed Sattar Project Co-ordinator
18 2017-2018 Annual Report
Qurbani (sacrifice) Food Initiative F O O D I N I T I AT I V E
Glasgow Central Mosque
The project continued its work with Lodging House Mission (LHM) in Glasgow and Fusion Scotland in Edinburgh to help the destitute communities during the celebration of Eid Ul-Adha “Festival of Sacrifice” Success of the project means positive partnership work in Glasgow and Edinburgh bringing communities together. The aspiration for next year is to encourage the setting up of similar initiative in Aberdeen. Successfully running for 8 years in Glasgow and for 4 years in Edinburgh, Muslim communities have come to support some of the most vulnerable and excluded individuals with donations this year.
367 kilo’s donated this year. There was a slight decrease in donations this year due to the Eid Ul Adha falling on a Friday and the delivery of Qurbani meat to the butchers was a bit disjointed.
Qurbani means sacrifice in Arabic and the celebration of Eid Ul-Adha commemorates the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son (Ismail) as an act of obedience to God. Abraham agreed to follow God’s command, however, God intervened and informed him that his sacrifice had been accepted. This celebration takes part during the month of Hajj when millions of Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca. The meat from the sacrifice is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor.
1568
meals on average can be provided from the amount donated A huge achievement!
‘Poverty is not like an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man made and can be removed by the actions of human beings’ Nelson Mandela
Partnered by
LHM taking delivery of the Qurbani meat
Funded by
Mohammed Razaq with Farrah Malik of AWAZ FM Mother Teresa promoting the Qurbani Initiative
Mohammed Razaq Executive Director
19 Project Reports
Remember Us Muslim Communities and the First World War
Remember Us Exhibition Festival of Light
This Heritage Lottery funded 6 month project began in May and ran until Oct 31st 2017. The aims of the project were 1) to increase public awareness of the little-known contributions of Muslim communities to the First World War and 2) through creating a community exhibition, contribute to a more inclusive understanding of a shared history in order to challenge negative attitudes and behaviours often faced by Muslim communities. The project delivered the following: •
Curated a community exhibition launched at WSREC offices (Oct 2018) then housed at the Festival of Light in Pollokshields East Quad, the Project Cafe and then Historic Environment Scotland’s Community Heritage conference
•
Researched and developed a programme of creative research workshops
•
Delivered 8 sessions in Arrochar (1 hour per session) and 6 extended sessions in Glasgow (average of 3 hours per session). Sessions included: training in photography; research skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and identifying primary and secondary sources; analysis of primary and secondary sources sourced from: The British Muslim Heritage Centre; The Imperial War Museum; and The British Library for example; and visits to Glasgow Central Mosque and Scotland Street Museum to see The Colourful Heritage Projects’ ‘Glaswegasians exhibition.
•
Created a Video
3 volunteers from diverse backgrounds recruited, supported and trained to support the delivery of creative, participatory research and photography workshops
28
diverse, intergenerational participants across Glasgow and Arrochar recruited to take part in research, photography and exhibition curation workshops, delving into the little know history of at least 400,000 Muslim soldiers involved in WW1 and responding to their findings through photos and words
https://youtu.be/ZkaTA0ofHtU Digitised the exhibition https://youtu.be/HzoVqUz4OJI
Arrochar Muslim Soldiers Intro Workshop
Macro Photography Workshop
Funded by
Remember Us Exhibition Launch
Monique Campbell Project Co-ordinator
20 2017-2018 Annual Report
Roots Scotland
Participants learning how to measure a building during the SUP Workshop
We are really pleased to report that we were successfully funded for another 3 years by Historic Environment Scotland to continue our delivery towards supporting diverse minority ethnic communities across Scotland. The main aim of the delivery is to enhance personal experiences of Scottish history and its environment whilst increasing knowledge, supporting social and intercultural cohesion. Over the last year, we have continued to work with our partners outwith the West of Scotland to reach out to individuals and encourage participation through guided walks delivered by local volunteers who have been capacity built. The project has also provided guidance and mentoring to two minority ethnic led groups in applying for historic focused projects. The project has also ran a number of focus groups and a survey for the development of Roots Scotland’s very own Mobile App which will be launched late spring of 2018. This app will encourage individuals and community groups to upload information of personal historic
Ghzala, our Roots Scotland Project Co-ordinator, gathering ideas from a focus group participant
Funded by
experiences and share these with the wider communities. We look forward to the app coming to life. Along with our existing partners we have worked with Scotland’s Urban Past delivering workshops in Glasgow. These capacity building workshops provide training and up-skilling of community members to learn more about our offices – Napiershall Street Centre and its valuable history as a primary school. The training includes; research, community mapping and resourcing, survey and recording historic stories. We hope that this will lead to the project officially applying for the next ‘Open Doors Day’ in September 2018.
The skylight in our office building. Photo taken by one of four participants during the SUP Workshop
Participants of the SUP Workshop were learning how to document a heritage building
Suzanne Bingham Development Officer
Ghzala Khan Project Co-ordinator
21 WSREC Reports
Financial Inclusion Programme
Our project working in partnership with Money Advice Scotland and CEMVO has been successful again this year. We continued to offer Financial and Debt advice every Friday morning for 2 hours. Service users benefitted from this service with the programme supporting 45 clients and 80 cases and a financial gain in 2017-18 of ÂŁ18,000 up from ÂŁ8,050, more than doubling from the previous year (reclaimed in benefit entitlement & backdated benefits). This has also supported us in our efforts in working towards our Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice with an Audit on the 15th March 2018. Issues dealt with were as follows: Jobseekers Allowance; Pensions Credits, Working Tax Credits; Child Tax Credits; Housing Benefit; Council Tax Reduction; Discretionary Housing Payments; Employment support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment Unfortunately this partnership came to an end on 31st March 2018 however we endeavour to seek other avenues of funding in the hope of retaining this vital service for our client group.
Brenda Gillies Benefits Advisor Money Advice Scotland
22 2017-2018 Annual Report
Scottish Alliance of Regional Equality Councils (SAREC)
WSREC is one of the four founder members of this national organisation. Others include Edinburgh and Lothian, Grampian and Central Scotland equality councils. The main activities of SAREC include: •
Offer assistance to individual Regional Equality Councils to ensure they are well resourced and support them in raising funding for specific projects
•
Influencing policy and establishing relationships with the UK and Scottish Governments as well as with key stakeholders in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.
•
Building effective links between minority and majority communities across all equality dimensions
Partnership: Following from the previous year’s research into ‘hate crime’ and its reporting or lack of funded through Awards for All, the report was disseminated widely all over Scotland. I am pleased report that it was utilised by Lord Bracadale’s for his hate crime legislation review. SAREC in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation is looking to work towards accessing funds to take forward the reports recommendations with the addition of counselling support for victims. People’s Choice Fund: SAREC was successful with a grant from this fund which has assisted in increasing capacity of all four REC’s with ongoing work on the subject of hate crime. Also please note that the Secretariat function for SAREC has passed on from WSREC to CSREC in November 2017.
Mohammed Razaq Executive Director
23 WSREC Reports
Admin Report The Admin Team consists of the Office Manager, 2 Administrative Assistants and Resource & IT Officer. The Team continues to support all the projects within WSREC and the day to day running of the office. The team assists projects with HR, IT and general administration support. This year WSREC has continued to work in partnership with Community Jobs Scotland, offering two young individuals the opportunity of working with WSREC’s Admin Team and the Cook, Grow, Sew and Change Project. WSREC continues to auto-enrol members of staff into the Pension Scheme as and when they become eligible. Contributions are being paid in line with the Statutory Legislation. The Admin Team has been successful in securing funding from Hillhead Area Partnership to assist with the installation of Fibre Optic within the Office. This will increase internet speeds from 3mb/s to 300mb/s giving an increase of 100%. This will also allow WSREC to update the server from Windows Small Business Server 2011 to Office 365. The most important aspect of this addtional speed is that staff will not require to wait long periods for internet access or files being saved or uploaded. Volunteers are always welcome in addition to WSREC’s Admin Team and there has been a continuous flow over the last year, with some volunteers moving on to paid work with one of the many WSREC projects.
Farrah Rashid Office Manager Community Job Scotland Report Coming to WSREC through Community Jobs Scotland has drastically increased my confidence. WSREC is a welcoming and encouraging environment. Since I first started in October 2017, the staff have made me feel included and comfortable asking questions or for help. WSREC is my first introduction to the working environment, and has allowed me to get work experience that meets my skills and fits the subjects of my qualifications. Working at WSREC has also provided me with a range of new learning opportunities, from an in-depth view of the recruitment process and the amount of hard work that goes into gaining funding in the third sector, to creating database mock-ups and recording funding application submissions. The trust that has been placed in me to complete tasks such as submitting an application for fibre optic and arranging the interview timetables for the new Cook Grow and Sew – Branching Out, has greatly increased my personal confidence, as well as my confidence in my abilities at work.
Ashleigh Alexander Fundraising Assistant
24 2017-2018 Annual Report
Hate Crime Project - SAREC
The project outcome was to increase capacity of the existing Good Community Relations Project to support victims of hate crime since August 2017 and has been very successful in doing just that. Over the period it has been successful in terms of raising awareness of Hate crime and it’s reporting along with 3rd Party Reporting amongst minority ethnic communities. This work was carried out through community workshops and partnership working with both statutory and voluntary sectors by way of delivering a number of workshops to organisations such as Saheliya, British Red Cross and Kurdish Women’s group, 39 participants benefited from this training. Additionally information stalls were set up to raise awareness at 3 community events such as; Glasgow Central Mosque Eid bazaar, Connecting Communities and challenging Hate Event with Airdrie Mosque and Lets Cook, Grow and Sew Swap Shop. The project directly supported 10 victims of hate crime with a holistic perspective and did not just successfully make 3rd party reports on their behalf but also supported them with building their capacity and confidence to improve wellbeing. Another outcome was fully met by the project in successfully forming Advisory Panel consisting of 13 individuals from various organisations such as Cope Scotland, Jewish Society, Glasgow Kelvin College, Lamlash Nursery, Amina women’s Resource Centre, Scottish Police Muslim Association and the Polish Society of Britain to name a few. The panel collectively discussed service provision and ways to improve hate crime reporting amongst communities which was then fed into various fora WSREC has regular contact with i.e. Glasgow Hate Crime Working Group, Cross Party Group on Racial Equality and more recently the Cross Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia. As part of the Advisory Panel we had successfully arranged a consultation on the review of Hate Crime Legislation with Lord Bracadale and his team. Scottish Police Muslim Association had also delivered a presentation on Hate Crime at the consultation. The findings of the consultation will hopefully in some way shape Lord Bracadales final review of the hate crime legislation. All in all the project resource has been very helpful in increasing capacity of the GCRP hate crime project and has assisted in supporting an additional number of victims and also was very instrumental in raising awareness and provided an excellent input into the hate crime legislative review.
Rabeea Qureshi Victim Support Officer
25 WSREC Reports
User Statistics
The data we gather within WSREC look at how diverse our service users are and how we can improve on engaging with the wider community. Within our data we look at: ethnicity, nature of enquiry, gender, age and local authorities within the West of Scotland. Scottish
23%
Central & Eastern European
410
Chinese
2%
23%
TOTAL
28
1797
418
Other
12% 211
Caribbean
1%
Pakistani
16
Indian
4%
ETHNICITY
9% 165
70
Middle Eastern
As shown in the above graphic the majority of service users were from either Central / Eastern European, Scottish or Middle Eastern background. WSREC continues to receive high numbers of enquiries from people from a Central and Eastern European background which can be attributed to the successful projects that we run which supports Migrant Workers.
19% African
7%
344
124
NATURE OF ENQUIRY As depicted in the above table in the period April 2017 to March 2018 the majority of service users were seeking ‘Advice and information’. This can be attributed to the fact that WSREC continues to run successful projects including the provision of advice and information to Eastern European Migrant communities in the West of Scotland.
GENDER Info of External Services
2% 31
Advice & Information
82% 1482
Info on WSREC Services
10% 173
54% 978
Other
6% 111
There has been an increase in service users seeking information on WSREC services which can be attributed to the Minority Ethnic Employment Training Support project.
46% 819
0%
MALE
FEMALE
NOT DISCLOSED
0
3% (52)
>65
AGE
There has been a decrease of 5% in males and an increase of 5% in females in this category from last year
<1% (1) <17
3% (49) 60-64
7% (123) 18-24
As seen in the pie chart to the right the highest proportion of service users who chose to disclose their age were from the 30-44 age bracket which accounted for 39% of service users. This was followed by the 25-29 age and 45-59 age brackets which accounted for 24% of service users. In comparison to the same period last year where individuals had disclosed their age the 30-44 age bracket remained the most prominent with the 25-29 age and 45-59 age group joint second place.
24% (431) 45-59
24% (429) 39% (712) 30-44
25-29
26 2017-2018 Annual Report
Future Development
Over the last few year years, the Board of Directors and staff have gathered to recognise achievements within service delivery in all areas and identify gaps that could be reduced further with the communities that we serve. In 2017, future development areas raised by all included: 1.
Providing further support to tackle poverty and low income
2. An increase in faith related work i.e. tackling Islamophobia 3. Support individuals victims further within hate crime and discrimination 4. Advocacy support to empower and enable ethnic minority individuals 5. To support victims and families of honor abuse and other areas of concern which are prevalent within minority ethnic groups WSREC has worked hard to bring resources to address the above issues as reported last year we were successful in obtaining some resources to work towards addressing issues 1, 2 and 3 and during this year we have been successful with grant funding from Scottish Government/ESF to work on addressing issue number 4 in the coming year. Through 2017-18 we have applied for diverse funds to support areas of work across a number of strands. Many of our existing projects have been given further opportunities and we look forward to reporting results next year. Staff and WSREC Board members have again been looking at areas of concern or development for the coming year and the following has been identified:a. Continue to seek increased resources to support victims of hate crime and discrimination and our Minority Ethnic Employment Training and Support as funding from Big Lotteries ended March 2018. b. Continue building on partnership delivery to obtain resources to raise awareness of honor abuse with mediation support to victims and families. c. Focus on seeking resources to support victims of Islamophobia. WSREC Board and staff remain committed in providing equal opportunities to all communities and we will continue to endeavour bridging the gap in service provision by meeting regularly and focusing on community needs and barriers. One of the new concerns is not about direct service delivery but the WSREC offices, our main venue for delivering our services. The landlord, City Property has advised that by the end of this calendar year they will be making a decision in relation to the repairs to the building which need to be carried out for the building to have any future. This would mean disruption for stakeholders, therefore, it will be an area that the Board will keep an eye on and explore various options to keep any disruption to a minimum.
Mohammed Razaq Executive Director
27 WSREC Reports
Healthy Working Lives
The WSREC team have excelled this year yet again in maintaining Healthy Working Lives (HWL) at Bronze Level. Recognising that it is vital to have staff that are looking after their health and well-being physically and mentally the HWL steering group supported information campaigns and activities. Information and resources were provided during the year on a number of topics such as Cancer, HIV, Healthy Eating and No smoking etc. Activities and training have included vicarious trauma awareness, mindfulness, introduction to basic photography and first aid training. We continue to promote healthy eating and indulged in winter soups and eating fresh produce from WSREC’s very own community garden. This year we introduced a ‘weigh in @ work’ promoted by Healthy Working Lives. Staff have the opportunity to track their weight, set targets and are given start up information on leading healthier lifestyles. We are committed to take this further and aim to continue achieving the award at Bronze level whilst working towards Silver.
Ghzala Khan Deputy Director
28 2017-2018 Annual Report
WSREC Core Staff 2017/18
Mohammed Razaq Executive Director
Ghzala Khan Deputy Director
Farrah Rashid Office Manager
Monique Campbell Projects Manager
Maymoona Awan Activities & Engagement Officer
Suzanne Bingham Development Officer
Ashleigh Alexander Fundraising Assistant
Johannes Gonani Project Co-ordinator
Bo Hickey Outreach & Activities Assistant
Mahmoud Ibrahim Assistant IT Officer
Bushra Iqbal Project Co-ordinator
Dilraj S. Watson Project Co-ordinator
Anana Kayani Employment Advisor
Tauseef Khan IT, Resource & Administration Officer
Joanna Kieran Project Co-ordinator
Choi Tin Lee Clerical Assistant
Joe Makangu Sustainable Communities Assistant
Javed Sattar Project Co-ordinator
Ian Gallagher Environmental Activities Assistant
Nadeem Hanif Projects Manager
29 WSREC Reports
Project Support Workers
Angela Aranghelovici
Umair Akthar
Manal Eshelli
Erik Gazi
Zain Ahmed
Mohith Lakhanpal
Jamilah Hassan
Edith Ogen
Jurate Piepolyte
Karla Pérez Portilla
Ben Williams
Ambreen Hussain
Rabeea Qureshi
Mira Waligora
Ghazala Ansar
Faisal Mohammed
Shabana Ali
WSREC Volunteers Our work would not be possible without the work of our dedicated volunteers. Volunteers have helped out in a great many ways; assisting our media team, providing translations, liaising with the public on our behalf, and many other tasks. Because of this invaluable contribution, we’re eager to say a big public “Thank you volunteers! We salute you!” to our volunteers - some of whom are listed below. Ramute Lagunaviciute Javarea Imran Patricia Iredia Nassima Rahman Tahirah Alix Rothnie Deniz Uster Marc Mazoyer Paul Watson
Noemie Cherqui Percebois Richard Fedorko Rita Pacheco Svenja Meyerricks Leanne McAllister Gemma Love Rahul Hughes Stella Phipps Izabella Merkowska
Kenneth Merkowska Noemi Giupponi Douglas Cape Rohan Mehra Brioney Ogle David Bomark Norma Ahmed Bahareh Keshavarz Fauzia Mehmood
PROUD TO SUPPORT WSREC Excellent housing in vibrant communities. Queens Cross Housing Association 45 Firhill Road, Glasgow G20 7BE Telephone: 0808 143 2002
Website: www.qcha.org.uk Email: contactus@qcha.org.uk
Thank you to our Partners & Funders THIRD SECTOR FORUM The voice of Glasgowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Third Sector
COM M ON WEAL
THE ENDRICK TRUST
West of Scotland Regional Equality Council The Napiershall Centre, 39 Napiershall Street, Glasgow, G20 6EZ
0141 337 6626
0141 339 2647
www.wsrec.co.uk
Scottish Charity No: SC025038 Scottish Company No: SC292009
admin@wsrec.co.uk