Dear reader,

Introducing Myself as New Director

Hello! I came into post as Director of the REC on 7 July 2003 from my previous work as Manager at Fast Track Trust Ltd in Bristol. I am happy to have the privilege to contribute to the efforts for greater inclusion, racial harmony, and equality of opportunity in Bath and North East Somerset and the West of England.

I am impressed at the high level of racial tolerance and co-operation on my first impression of Bath.

Accordingly, I aim to be incisive in my support for anyone from any community who comes to the REC with complaints about racial discrimination or harassment. On the other hand I am also diplomatic and helpful in my approach to local community groups, agencies, partners and rivals in working out lasting solutions.

In addition to our service to individuals and agencies, you should know that we are also going to be involved in an internal modernisation programme imposed by external forces, which I hope will produce enhanced standard of service to our communities over the medium to long term.

If you wish to contact us for a chat or for support or information (or to help out by joining our board or volunteering), please phone us on 01225 442352, or email us at REC@bathnesrec.freeserve.co.uk

You should also know that volunteering and working on the RECs board, for any person seeking career opportunities or merely to improve quality of life in the West of England, these methods provide unrivalled access to decision making experience and exposure, and as I have used these methods myself I can recommend them to any young or aspiring person.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Yours sincerely

Rosco Jones
Director
Bath & NES REC
14 August 2003

The Voice of a Child
'Article 12' of the UN convention on the Rights of a Child, looks at giving young people a chance to have a say in the things that affect them. Processes and procedures have been set into place to allow young people to voice their opinions but the phonetic tones of our BME young people are without translation. This is to say that BME youths (who are often the most disaffected or disadvantaged) have not satisfactorily been involved in discussion making and consultation processes. However things have started to move in the right direction, with many organisations acknowledging the lack of BME youth representation.

The Multicultural Youth Forum
The Bath & N.E.S Racial Equality Council are one such organisation and through Russell Thomas (the current Sports Equality & Diversity Officer), they have set up a Multicultural Youth Forum which will repre

CRE Commissioner appointment heralds a new relationship with business

The CRE has welcomed the appointment of Digby Jones, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), as a CRE Commissioner.

Existing Commissioners Sarah Spencer and Kay Hampton have been appointed Deputy Chairs, and Commissioner Cherry Short has been re-appointed to serve for a further three years.

The appointments were announced by the Home Secretary David Blunkett.

CRE Chair Trevor Phillips said:

"I very much welcome these appointments to the CRE. It is an indication of the future direction of the CRE: open to different and high level input and a stronger, more open relationship with the private sector.

"The experience that Digby brings to the CRE will be greatly valued and is a clear example that the CRE now means business.

"We also have two excellent Deputy Chairs who bring a wealth of experience to the CRE. I look forward to working with them all."

Banner is touring its new production, Migrant Voices, in October this year--to coincide with Black History Month - and invites trades councils, trade unions, local authorities, arts promoters & venues and campaign groups to book this new hard-hitting show about the plight and experience of asylum seekers in contemporary Britain.

The show was developed earlier this year with Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers and refugees living in Salford in Greater Manchester and also reflects work undertaken by Banner in a similar project with Iranian asylum seekers in Sandwell in the West Midlands last year.
Based on audio and video interviews with Iraqi Kurds ­ and combining video footage and interview extracts with live music, drama and song - Migrant Voices offers insight into the real lives of asylum seekers, to counter the myths about them contained in much of the tabloid press.
Migrant Voices toured in March in the West Midlands and the north-west and again in June during Refugee Week in the West Midlands and the south-west. The show also toured in Canada during May, where it received standing ovations.   
At a time when racial tension and intolerance is growing at home and abroad, Migrant Voices puts the displacement of Middle Eastern asylum seekers and refugees into a historical context and demonstrates that they seek refuge "over here" because Western governments were often interfering "over there".
Migrant Voices can be booked for £700.00 and provides a 75-minute show and post-performance discussion to explore the issues it raises and offer insight into the creation of a thought-provoking piece of contemporary theatre.
To book the show or find out more please contact Charlie Davis on 0121 682 0730
or email to: c.emmanuel@blueyonder.co.uk.

South West TUC Women's Committee Workshop
Saturday 13 September 2003
St George's Hall, Market Street, Exeter  EX1 1BW

This seminar is open to any woman who wants to be more confident and/or help someone else do the same.  The seminar has been developed to offer women from the region the opportunity to meet in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.  The day will include workshops offering 'taster sessions' on assertiveness and personal development.
For more information, or to reserve a place, please contact:
South West TUC, Church House, Church Road, Filton, Brstol  BS34 7BD
Tel: 0117 947 0521;  Fax: 0117 947 0523;  Email: southwest@tuc.org.uk

Bath & Wells Diocesan Council of D/deaf People in partnership with deaf People in Somerset are developing a new project, the Somerset D/deaf Forum.  This will be a group where D/deaf people can share their experiences and support each other.  It will look at the barriers that D/deaf people face and will think about how Deaf people could better access services and facilities if improvements and changes were made.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Somerset D/deaf Forum or if you would like more information, please contact:
Bath & Wells Diocesan Council of D/deaf People, PO Box 3260, Radstock, BA3 5WL
Tel/Fax: 1761 239272;  Minicom: 01761 239273;  SMS: 07811 424 430
Email: claire.crowley@ukonline.co.uk;

Head of Strategic Projects and Policy Evaluation Unit
£60,177

21st Century London. Culturally diverse. Ever-changing and evolving. Open to the world. As government
to this most vibrant and cosmopolitan of cities, the GLA has a responsibility to both reflect and lead the
pace of change. Ours is a fast-moving and forward-thinking environment, a microcosm of the exciting
capital we serve. Can you keep up with us?

This is a high profile role, heading the unit that will evaluate, review and champion successful major
transport infrastructure proposals - such as Crossrail and proposed new Thames river crossings.
The unit will also provide expertise in the economic, regulatory and wider policy frameworks within
which major projects are brought forward and implemented.

Degree/post-graduate qualified in a relevant discipline, you will have at least 10 years' experience of
working at policy and operational levels in public or private sectors. Familiar working at a senior level,
you will also have substantial experience of policy analysis and evaluation - plus a demonstrable ability to
deliver projects and objectives effectively. An understanding of key policy areas (land use, development,
transport and sustainable development) is vital. The ability to work with people from a range of
disciplines is invaluable.

For a full job description and application details, please visit our web site or call our recruitment team
on 020 7983 4143 (text phone/4157) quoting reference MO83/G.
Closing date for receipt of completed applications: noon 26 August 2003.
www.london.gov.uk

Research and Statistical Analyst
Demography Specialist
£27,303

21st Century London. Culturally diverse. Ever changing and evolving. Open to the world. As government to this most vibrant and cosmopolitan of cities, the GLA has a responsibility both to reflect and lead the pace of change. Ours is a fast-moving and forward-thinking environment, a microcosm of the exciting capital we serve. Can you keep up with us?

We are seeking to recruit a highly numerate analyst with a good knowledge of British - and particularly London - urban demography.

Your main tasks will include maintaining and developing databases of vital statistics and migration and using this data when operating GLA demographic models to produce estimates and projections of the population, households and resident labour force in each London borough and ward.

You will be an experienced spreadsheet user at an advanced level, with a good knowledge of the range of data sources available, and at least a year's post-undergraduate experience of analysing and interpreting large data sets. You will also be expected to demonstrate an ability to write a range of reports and give presentations based on such analysis. You will be encouraged to develop your expertise across your specialist topics, and will contribute to a spread of work in these areas, including contract commissions.

For a full job description and application details, please visit our web site or call our recruitment team on 020 7983 4143 (text phone/4157) quoting reference CSDM09/G.
Closing date for receipt of applications: noon 1 September 2003.
www.london.gov.uk

Bath & North East Somerset Racial Equality Council actively encourages all service users to share their views and opinions about the services we provide.  We also welcome new volunteers and members.

Please feel free to contact the Director if you have any views you would like to discuss, or if you would like further details about volunteering opportunities available in the organisation.