Sikh Conference - City Hall, London: 1 Feb 2006

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

ARE PUBLIC BODIES FAILING SIKHS?

DECISION MAKERS TOLD SEPARATE MONITORING IS ESSENTIAL

Last week a major conference took place at City Hall in central London organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) and hosted by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Around 100 Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations sent delegates with representatives from government departments, such as the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and national agencies such as the Charity Commission, Passport Office and Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The conference titled 'Making Sikhs Visible to Decision Makers' was addressed by the Mayor. He spoke about the background to the conference and the importance for decision makers to recognise the needs of the Sikh community who make a huge contribution not only in London, but throughout the UK. The purpose of the conference was to raise awareness within decision making bodies about the Sikh community and consider key issues and concerns faced by the community today.

Last year the Mayor met with Sikh representatives at a meeting organised by the Sikh Federation to discuss the need to organise the first ever conference to promote greater recognition and understanding of the Sikh identity. The Mayor committed to work with representatives from the Sikh community to encourage public bodies to recognise and monitor Sikhs as a separate and distinct ethnic minority for the purposes of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. As a first and important step he agreed that the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) and the London Development Agency (LDA) would set an example and start to separately monitor Sikhs for not only employment purposes, but also as regards monitoring so there is fair provision of public services.

Sukhvinder Singh from the Sikh Federation (UK) spoke after the Mayor and provided some background to the day, highlighting some of the key issues to be covered and setting the scene for the remainder of the day. Ravinder Kaur from Young Sikhs (UK) then spoke of the enormous contribution of Sikhs reminding those present about the long Anglo-Sikh history, the importance of the Sikh identity, prominent British Sikh figures and the contribution of Sikhs to mankind. The first session was concluded by Detective Kolhi a representative from the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association (MPSA) and currently working in CID. He spoke about his experience as a visible Sikh working in the Met for the last 16 years and the role of the MPSA.

Dr Harkirtan Singh-Raud, widely tipped to become the first visible Sikh to enter the UK Parliament began the next session on 'Key issues facing Sikhs today'. He presented well researched evidence to show Sikhs were the largest and most visible ethnic minority. This left those present in no doubt that public bodies needed to start separately monitoring Sikhs as soon as possible.

Rob Marris MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs made clear that there was overwhelming cross party support for Sikhs to be separately monitored and for the Sikh identity to be properly understood and safeguarded. Dominic Grieve MP, the Shadow Attorney General reminded decision makers from public bodies the legal justification for Sikhs to be separately recognised and monitored on the basis of the 1983 Mandla v Lee decision in the House of Lords.

In the afternoon the conference touched upon the European challenge to the British model of diversity and how this was causing difficulties for Sikhs not only in mainland Europe, but also Sikhs in the UK. The freedom of Sikhs to travel across Europe was being compromised and European regulations were also affecting the rights of Sikhs to freely practice their faith in the UK. Stephen Grosz, one of the leading human rights solicitors in the country outlined the European challenge. He was followed by Mejindarpal Kaur from United Sikhs who gave examples where Sikhs in the UK were facing difficulties involving their identity. The conference then heard a passionate appeal from Karamvir Singh who travelled from France to highlight the discrimination Sikh children and elders were increasingly facing.

The conference was chaired by Dabinderjit Singh who concluded by posing a series of simple questions to decision makers concerning Sikh numbers and provision of public services. He indicted if they were struggling to answer these questions it indicted public bodies were failing the Sikh community.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: "We are delighted that the conference has given us an opportunity to explain to key decision makers why proper recognition and monitoring is vitally important, not only to the Sikh community but also to public bodies. A report setting out the key outcomes from the conference will be shared with national and local decision makers throughout the UK so we can push forward in gaining the recognition that we deserve."

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[S1ngh]

Picture 8

150207[/snapback]

Is that phaenjee from UNITED SIKHS ? (unitedsikhs.org).. Needed the caption for SSNews update..

[Inderpal]

Indeed paaji that is Mejinderpal Kaur Penji of United Sikhs - who delivered a brilliant speechon Wednesday.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

See link:

http://www.sawaddinews.com/england/ukpublic.html

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Please visit:

http://www.lda.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.789

Diversity Events Sponsorship

Closing Date: 14.00, 17th March 2006

At the London Development Agency (LDA) we support London’s sustainable economic growth and development. We believe economic development must be inclusive. This is why we want to ensure that everyone shares in London’s prosperity.

Funding for 2006 -2007

The diversity events sponsorship programme is being launched on 20 January 2006. There will be one round of competitive bidding, for all events taking place from 1 May 2006 to 30 April 2007. The deadline for completed applications will be: 17 March 2006.

Aim of Diversity Events Sponsorship

Barriers to economic participation and support greatly affect London’s growing minority communities. All supported events must be in line with the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy (EDS) and the LDA’s Corporate Plan’s cross cutting theme of diversity.

This means events must support our work to build on London’s cultural diversity and make sure every person who lives, works in and visits London is included in the city’s success story. Events must also ensure economic growth is here to last for the long-term, developing successful businesses and improving Londoner’s skills and job prospects.

Through our diversity events sponsorship programme we support events that tackle barriers to employment faced by particular groups, ensure disadvantaged people are able to participate fully in society, improve the skills of the workforce, and support London’s minority owned businesses to increase their chances of survival and productivity.

FAQ’s

What is the deadline?

The deadline for all applications is on Friday 17 March 2006. Your application must be received by 2pm on this date.

Who can seek diversity events sponsorship?

Organisations and individuals seeking sponsorship should be from a diversity group, or be seeking to help those individuals from a diversity group in London. However, the events must satisfy the selection criteria.

How many events can you apply for?

If you wish to apply for sponsorship for more than one event, you will need to complete one application form per event.

How does the LDA evaluate applications?

An impartial panel will be evaluating all applications against the same criteria. In particular we will be looking to ensure you have met parts A and B in Section Two – selection criteria, and also how your event will reach these objectives. Please note all decisions are final.

How will applicants be notified?

You will be notified approximately by 21 April 2006.

How are projects monitored?

Please refer to the projects outputs guidance.

How will updates be passed to applicants?

The LDA may receive queries from prospective applicants during this process. Any relevant additional information furnished to applicants or amendments to this document will be posted on www.lda.gov.uk/diversitysponsorship. All prospective applicants are therefore encouraged to check the website regularly, and prior to submitting a final proposal.

Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act

You need to hold information about individual beneficiaries/delegates of your event that is compliant with the Freedom of Information Act. You can seek independent legal advice. A summary report should be provided to us a maximum of two weeks following the event itself, together with your final claim.

In the event of queries

Please contact by either letter or email the Diversity Sponsorship Project Manager.

Questions – Diversity Events Sponsorship

Nelam Sharma

Diversity Sponsorship Project Manager

London Development Agency

Devon House

58-60 St Katharine’s Way

London E1W 1JX

Email: diversitysponsorship@lda.gov.uk

How can I apply?

To apply you need to read all of the documents below, available to download by clicking on the followinglinks:

Diversity Events Sponsorship Application Form (350 Kb)

Diversity Events Sponsorship Guidance Notes (83 Kb)

Projects Outputs Guidance (152 Kb)

Sikh organisations in and around London or indivual Sikhs with worthwhile projects are urged to take advantage of the funding being provided by the London Development Agency.

[balraj singh khalsa]

Honoured Sikh calls for ethnic recognition

Feb 10 2006

THE youngest ever civilian to receive an OBE has urged Town Hall chiefs to recognise the borough's Sikh population as a distinct ethnic minority.

Dabinderjit Singh, 40, of Kendal Drive, Slough, said the community needs to be monitored as a separate group to ensure it receives its fair share of services.

Mr Singh, pictured, a leading member of the Sikh Federation UK, said: "I am not saying that Sikhs in Slough do not receive a fair share of services.

"But what I am saying is that it is impossible to tell because that information is simply not available because it's not recorded.

"For example, the information that supported the Sikh school bid had to be created from scratch because the local authority did not have it."

Mr Singh, who received his OBE for his work as director of the National Audit Office, made his plea following a major conference organised by the federation last week.

A delegation from the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Slough joined hundreds of groups at City Hall in London for the event - 'Making Sikhs Visible to Decision Makers'.

The conference was hosted by London Mayor Ken Livingstone and called on public bodies to address key issues facing the community. Mr Livingstone promised last year that public bodies in the capital would monitor Sikhs separately.

Sikhs were recognised as a distinct ethnic group by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act in 2001. Slough council and Thames Valley Police will be sent a conference report, but Mr Singh said it was 'disappointing' that neither attended despite invitations.

A spokesman for Slough council said it valued the Sikh community's contribution to the town, which was why it had begun monitoring Sikhs as a distinct ethnic category 18 months ago.

http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100new...-name_page.html

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS OF LEADING CITY SIKH

Date : 10.02.06

By Simon Peevers A LEADING member of the Sikh community in Bristol has accused the city council of failing to recognise the role of people with his faith in society.

Javinder Singh, of the Bristol branch of the Sikh Federation, told a conference that public bodies in the city were discriminating against Sikhs because they did not understand the needs of the community.

The conference, at City Hall in central London, was organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) and hosted by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

About 100 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and Sikh organisations sent delegates, including representatives from the Sikh community in Bristol.

Representatives of Bristol City Council were also invited by Mr Livingstone, but nobody from the local authority attended, according to Mr Singh.

He said: "We are delighted that the conference has given us an opportunity to explain to key decision makers why proper recognition and monitoring is vitally important.

"We are disappointed at the response from public bodies in Bristol as we also presented at a local event in April 2004, but no actions have been forthcoming."

The purpose of the conference, titled 'Key issues facing Sikhs today', was to raise awareness within decision making bodies about the Sikh community.

Among the speakers was Dr Harkirtan Singh-Raud, who is widely tipped to become the first visible Sikh to enter Parliament.

The conference was addressed by Mr Livingstone, who spoke about the background to the conference and the importance for decision-makers to recognise the needs of the Sikh community.

Representatives from central government departments, such as the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attended the event. So too did national agencies such as the Charity Commission, Passport Office and Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Mr Singh said the turn out reflected how seriously the issue has been taken by these agencies.

Jo Davies, spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: "We always welcome the opportunity to learn more about the issues that are important to different communities living in Bristol.

"It was unfortunate that on this occasion the city council was unable to attend the conference.