Bbc Asian Network - Community Coehsion Debate (12.20pm - 24 Augst 2006) - Please Listen

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

The Sikh Federation (UK) has this morning done a pre-recorded interview for the BBC Asian Network to be broadcast today (Thursday 24 August) at around 12.20pm on Community Cohesion.

The following points were made (although some will no doubt be edited out):

1) Community Cohesion is an issue for everyone not just one community, or part of a community.

2) Sikhs because of their visible identity have suffered more than most over the last 5 years following 9/11.

3) The Government has provided little or no support to Sikhs and have failed us in that they should be doing much more to ensure we are properly protected and the public at large are made more aware of who we are and what we stand for.

4) Mudhsuden (Monty) Singh Panesar has been an excellent role model and has achieved more in a few months to promote Sikhs and our identity than the Government has achieved over the last 25 years.

5) All too often the Government ignore Sikhs and our concerns. A good example is we hold a National Sikh Convention in September of each year with over 10,000 Sikhs in attendance - and yet every year Cabinet Ministers find excuses not to attend what is the largest political gathering of Sikhs in the UK.

6) In terms of Community Cohesion, the Government should not concentrate on the negatives, but also look at the positives.

7) We would like the Government to see the Sikh community for what it is and what we stand for - tolerance, honesty, hard work and the fact we are making a huge contribution to the UK as British Sikhs.

8) The Government should be valuing and promoting our differences. We believe many can learn from Sikhs. We should be seen as a 'role model' community.

9) Government need to stop ignoring Sikhs, listen and learn from us and the Sikh way of life.

Please listen in or listen to it afterwards by using the BBC web site. A link will be provided in due course.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[Pakandi baba]

We should address Prince Charles, he's much more understanding of the Sikh religion than others!

[singh_sandhu]

We should address Prince Charles, he's much more understanding of the Sikh religion than others!

has he???

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

(Also to undisclosed BSCF participant organisations and those with interest.)

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru JI Ki Fateh

The following communication from the Sikh Federation is circulated as open BSCF relevant information. It is clear that the Sikhs as a distinct community are not doing too well in the grants league table. We are informed that 8 Sikh organisations were awarded about £250 thousand to strengthen their capacity building "in order to play a fuller part in civil society/community cohesion. In total 582 organisations received some £7.8m." Despite these success stories, the Sikhs as the largest distonct minority, did not do too well.

Perhaps the grant recipients can share information about how the funding was secured (to help other Sikh organisations)and what sort of Sikh milestones were achieved (BSCF accountability objectives). I wonder if some of the problems continually being highlighted by Harmander Singh of Sikhs In England can be covered by these grants, so that Gurmatt research workers are paid at least partly for their time!

(In the meantime BSCF as a information sharing facility remains aloof from overt or covert "agendas" of organisations.)

Gurmukh Singh

British Sikh Consultative Forum (Admin team.)

sikh federation <sikhfederationuk@...> wrote:

Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:44:28 +0100 (BST)

From: sikh federation <sikhfederationuk@...>

Subject: Sikh organisations contributing to the Community Coehsion debate and in receipt of UK Government funds for that purpose

To: Gurmukh Singh 2005 <sewauk2005@...>

Dear Gurmukh Singh

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Having seen your message regarding Sikh participation in Community Cohesion and the need for accountability via the open British Sikh Consultative Forum (BSCF) we thought you as the Administrative Secretary of the BSCF could distribute the following information to participant organisations of the BSCF and Sikhs more generally. The Sikh and Panjabi media may also be interested in sharing this information with their readers.

The 8 Sikh organisations (listed in alphabetical order) below were awarded specific funds from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 (in total around £250k) to strengthen their capacity (capacity building) in order to play a fuller part in civil society/community cohesion. In total 582 organisations received some £7.8m.

It may be reasonable for Sikhs to assume some of those that have been in receipt of large grants from the UK Government will be those making the largest input to the Community Cohesion debate.

1) British Organisation of Sikh Students (BOSS) - London

The group will run a series of weeklong cultural and historical lectures, musical recitals and exhibitions celebrating the Sikh communities' rich cultural heritage across London. These will include awareness raising on social and drug-related problems, career days for all faiths, and working with larger organisations such as the NHS, Police, Army and RAF.

Small Grant - £4,000.00

2) Council of Sikh Gurdwaras Birmingham (CSGB)- West Midlands

The funding will build the capacity of the CSGB organisation itself, and enable the organisation to recruit a development worker with p/t admin support to establish a professional office, submit fundraising bids, manage key projects and develop a sustainable funding strategy.

Large Grant - £49,510.00

3) Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha (Sikh Temple), Maidenhead - South East

To train female/women youth workers to assist 12-20 year olds in the activities. Team building, in multifaith group work

Small Grant - £4,000.00

4) Network of Sikh Organisations UK (NSO) - London

The NSO has employed a p/t information and fundraising officer to give prompt replies to requests for information from government departments, media, local authorities, business communities, schools and colleges and the general public and to raise funds. The group has also employed a p/t women's support group officer to strengthen the new helpline for queries and assistance to support women and has set up a database of women willing and able to assist in counselling.

Large Grant - £37,000.00

5) Nishkam Civic Association - West Midlands

The group will build NCA's capacity to be a highly effective Sikh-led community development organisation in Handsworth, Birmingham. They will train 50+ active volunteers in governance and policy development. They will also set up a programme to bring women and young people into governance.

Large Grant - £25,000.00

6) Sikh Community and Youth Service - East Midlands

This project will aim to empower the organisation to play a fuller part in local authority (promoting services, targeting other faith groups and sharing good practice), create and build better community cohesion (school assemblies, local businesses, community networks), whilst engaging more effectively with public authority bodies so that together we inform future policy decisions.

Large Grant - £41,993.00

7) Sikh Community Forum - West Midlands

The project has two distinct objectives in leadership and management: 1) to develop the organisational systems and structures within SCF to provide defined roles, effectiveness, improved structures and quality systems; 2) to improve community cohesion by improving the capacity of the Sikh community to engage in consultation and interaction with the public and voluntary sectors.

Large Grant - £50,000.00

8) Sikh Nari Manch UK - West Midlands

Through the recruitment of a specialist, the board members will undergo a range of training and development to strengthen their skills and abilities. The specialist will lead the board through a series of development processes leading to the implementation and development of a strategic plan covering policy, procedure, law, governance, volunteers, research, service delivery, evaluation, managing staff and fundraising.

Large Grant - £35,000.00

Hopefully, Sikhs will find this information helpful and more Sikh organisations will apply for funds from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. It is however important that Sikh organisations that receive funds use funds and are seen to use funds to help the Sikh community.

Sikh Federation (UK)