BMER advice network launched for West London residents A network of voluntary bodies has come together to create a source of good quality legal, welfare and other advice for black, minority ethnic and refugee people living or working in West London. The West London BMER Advice Network was launched this week (Thursday 27th June) in Ealing. Groups from Hammersmith & Fulham and Brent boroughs are also among its founding members. The organisation has been formed in response to a drastic cut in funding available to voluntary groups who have traditionally provided advice, support and guidance to their diverse communities. “In the current funding and economic climate when there is so much change taking place with the benefits system, legal aid and the NHS, it is imperative that BMER groups cooperate even closer and use this as an opportunity to shape the future of advice provision in West London while at the same time safeguarding the statutory rights of their communities and clients,” said Misak Ohanian, the network’s chair. The organisation was launched at the Centre for Armenian Information and Advice (CAIA) in Acton. Two dozen local organisations were present, as well as representatives from the Refugee Council and the Migrant’s Rights Network. The six founding members of the new advice body are CAIA; The Havelock Family Centre, Southall; the Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre, Brent; the Iraqi Association, Shepherd’s Bush; the East European Advice Centre, Hammersmith; and the Iranian Association which has offices in Ealing and Hammersmith. Speaking at the launch, Wesley Harcourt of Advice UK said many traditional funding suppliers were moving away from providing support for BMER groups, including London Councils which had removed all financial support earlier this year. “We need to look at the issues affecting BMER people who are disproportionately affected by many of the policy changes now taking place,” he said. Examples included the fact that BMER households were three times more likely to become homeless than white households and unemployment levels in London were 13% among BMER residents compared with 5-6% for white residents. There was also a lack of confidence in mainstream advice provision and cultural differences and a lack of understanding about how bureaucracy worked were problems that needed overcoming. This is where the new advice network would make a difference. There now begins a period of training for members of the various bodies that make up the network, approaches to other voluntary groups inviting them to join, and meetings with funding providers throughout the West London boroughs. The plan is to cover the six West London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hounslow, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hammersmith & Fulham. Ends Contact details: Misak Ohanian West London BMER Advice Network C/O Hayashen 105a Mill Hill Road London W3 8JF Tel: 0208 992 4621 E mail: [email protected] or Phil Cooper, Media Officer, Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum 07889 949173
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 10:38:15 +0000
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