News and Events Archive 2007
MECOPP Annual Report Published
30 October 2007
MECOPP’s Report of Work for the year 2006-2007 is now available for download from our site.
Download 2006-2007 Annual Report (PDF 1.3mb)
Lottery Funding Spells Good News for Older BME People
25 October 2007
A ground-breaking project to help disadvantaged older people from black and ethnic minority (BME) communities in Scotland gain access to pension benefits and services has been awarded a £220,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
The project, part of an Equal Opportunities Programme run jointly by Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield Housing Associations, will benefit at least 600 older people from BME families, helping them to overcome a range of barriers they face in accessing benefits and services through outreach work.
Online Forum for Debate on Current Priorities in Equalities
19 October 2007
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in conjunction with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is hosting an online forum for discussion and debate on the current priorities and strategies in equalities. This blog will host a discussion around key questions in equalities that will inform IPPR work in this area. Please join in by posting your comments and check back regularly for new discussion threads.
Visit the blog at http://ippr.typepad.com/equalities/
MECOPP Article in Scotsman — Integration Must Not Come At Too High A Price
18 October 2007
MECOPP's Manager, Suzanne Munday, discusses the UK Government's proposals for integrating diverse communities into the wider society.
Read the whole piece on the Scotsman's web site.
Carers of People with Mental Health Problems from Minority Ethnic Communities: Donate your Story to New DIPEx Website
27 August 2007
A new study is now underway at DIPEx which explores the experiences of carers of people with mental health problems in Minority Ethnic groups.
DIPEx is a charity that produces an award-winning website (www.dipex.org) with video and audio clips from interviews in which people describe their experiences of health and illness. Unlike most web resources aimed at providing information and support, each DIPEx study is based on rigorous qualitative research. Participants are given a choice as to whether a video, audio or written version of their story appears on the website. They may also use a false name, or have their words spoken by an actor.
The study aims to:
If you are interested in taking part please contact:
Krysia Canvin, telephone: 01865 289306, email: krysia.canvin@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
or Jorun Rugkasa, telephone: 020 79115000 (ext 3919), email: j.rugkasa@westminster.ac.uk
New Disability Research Published
22 August 2007
“Creating an Alternative Future: What does it mean for Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic Communities” was commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). Researched by MECOPP, the report is part of the wider ‘Disability Debate’ undertaken by the DRC. The report examines the relevance of key priorities outlined in the Disability Agenda — Creating an Alternative Future (DRC 2006) in relation to the experience and self-identified needs of Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
Download a copy of the report (220kb)
Democratic Participation Event
10 August 2007
CEMVO SCOTLAND and Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council (ELREC)present:
This event is FREE and open to ethnic minority staff, management committee members, volunteers and users of EM voluntary sector organisations.
Venue: The Scottish Youth Hostel, 9 Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AL
Date: 28th August 2007
Time: 1.00pm - 4.45pm
Lunch/Refreshments will be provided.
For further information and a booking form email admin@elrec.org.uk
Joint Launch: Vulnerable Chinese People and Carers (VCPC) Project; CHLC Disabled Research Report
09 August 2007
30 August 2007 will see the joint launch event for VCPC Project and CHLC disabled research report where the final draft of the report was completed this summer.
Since early June 2007, Chinese Healthy Living Centre has been proud and privileged to host the West Glasgow Community Health & Care Partnership (CHCP) funded VCPC Project.
This partnership project is funded for 12 months and managed by the West Glasgow CHCP. It aims to support vulnerable/disabled Chinese people, especially those experiencing social and economic disadvantage and their carers. The project also aims to make links between Chinese organisations and mainstream agencies. With the advent of the VCPC project within CHLC we are excited at the opportunity of developing new work which will target a group of people with unmet needs.
At the same time CHLC is launching our research report, "Opening the door of the Chinese Healthy Living Centre: Becoming more accessible for physically disabled Chinese adults".
This was a small qualitative study which aimed to identify practical steps which CHLC could take to make information, activities and services more accessible to the group in question. The full report is available to download from our website: www.glasgowchlc.org
The report lists a large number of recommendations. CHLC board and staff are still writing the Action plan which will implement the report recommendations. In some circumstances we will need to work with key partner organisations in the statutory sector in order to bring about changes. We look forward to working with new partners.
CHLC can now confidently introduce new services as well as alter existing services so as to make them more accessible for Disabled people.
For more information about VCPC project or to access the project, contact Helen Mak or Kwan Pang Lee, Project workers at Chinese Healthy Living Centre on 0141-2484388 email vcpc2007@yahoo.co.uk
For more information about Chinese Healthy Living Centre "Opening the Door" Report, contact Stephani Mok, Centre Manager at Chinese Healthy Living Centre on 0141-2484388 email stephanichlc@yahoo.co.uk
If wishing to attend the launch, please contact Carrie Li, Information Resource Officer at Chinese Healthy Living Centre on 0141-2484388 email carrie@glasgowchlc.org
LGBT Awareness Training Course
31 May 2007
Organised by Equality Network and LGBT Youth Scotland the training course will:
Those working with or supporting BME communnities or in the wider area of race and/or LGBT equality should attend.
Dates:
Tuesday 05 June, 1pm to 4pm
Glasgow LGBT Centre
84 Bell Street
Merchant City
Glasgow
Friday 08 June, 9.30am to 12.30pm
LGBT Youth Scotland
21 John Cotton Centre
Sunnyside (off Easter Road)
Edinburgh
To book, email: keith.boyd@lgbtyouth.org.uk
The training is free of charge for charities.
Male Carer Outing
25 May 2007
MECOPP is organising a respite outing for South Asian Male carers on 30th May to St Andrews.
The event is being organised in partnership with the Workers Educational Association and will include practice in photography techniques and an introduction to Scottish history.
Access Initiative Project External Evaluation: Invitation to Tender
17 May 2007
Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project seeks to commission an independent external evaluation of the Access Initiative Project. The evaluation will:
Proposals to undertake the evaluation should be submitted by not later than Friday 15 June to:
Vicky Wan
Access Initiative Development Officer
MECOPP
23 Leith Walk
Edinburgh
EH6 8LN
Or electronically to: vickywan@mecopp.org.uk
Download PDF of full research brief (92kb)
New Research on Link Between Poverty and Ethnicity
01 May 2007
The poverty rate for Britain’s minority ethnic groups stands at 40%, double the 20% found amongst white British people, according to new research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Minority ethnic groups are also being overlooked for jobs and are being paid lower wages, despite improvements in education and qualifications.
Visit the Joseph Rowntree Foundation web site for more information on the reports:
Ethnic Minorities in the Labour Market: Dynamics and Diversity
The Role of Higher Education in Providing Opportunities for South Asian Women
Poverty and Ethnicity in the UK
Long-term Ill Health, Poverty and Ethnicity
Poverty Among Ethnic Groups: How and Why Does it Differ?
New Report on Autism among Minority Ethnic Children
18 April 2007
The National Autistic Society has launched its report "Missing out? Autism, education and ethnicity: the reality for families today" which looks at the discrimination faced by children with autism from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
Download report from the National Autistic Society web site.
Multilingual Advice for Voting in May Elections
12 April 2007
The Electoral Commission has produced information on the forthcoming Scottish elections in May. The leaflet is available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Gaelic, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu. All languages can be downloaded from the VoteScotland web site.
New MECOPP Research Report
10 April 2007
MECOPP has published a report of research it conducted into the size and needs of the Black and Minority Ethnic population in East Lothian.
The report can be accessed from the Downloads section of our web site.
Launch of Edinburgh Library Scheme
27 March 2007
MECOPP took part in the launch of the Edinburgh Libraries Passport Scheme at McDonald Road Library on the 16th March.
The scheme is a network of Edinburgh libraries and information providers. It allows members of one library to access the services of any other participating library, including MECOPP’s.
For more information on the Passport Scheme visit the Edinburgh Libraries Guide at www.edinburghlibrariesagency.info
Chinese New Year Celebration
08 February 2007
MECOPP will hold a New Year celebration for its Chinese carers on Monday 26 February at Buffet King, First Floor 6A Nicolson Street Edinburgh.
The party starts at 12pm and finishes at 2.30pm. Cantonese folk songs will be performed, with lunch provided and a raffle draw.
Attendance is free and carers can also bring those they care for too. To reserve a place please call Rosalina on 0131 467 2996.
Article About MECOPP's Resource Library Published
06 February 2007
An article describing MECOPP's new health and social care library for Minority Ethnic Communities has been published in TACIT, the Edinburgh Libraries and Information Services Agency bulletin.
Download copy of article (590kb)
Visit Edinburgh Libraries and Information Services Agency web site
Scotland's Carers Manifesto 2007
31 January 2007
Produced for the Scottish Parliament Election in 2007 by various national carer organisations in Scotland (Carers Scotland, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Crossroads Caring Scotland, Shared Care Scotland, the Scottish Young Carers Alliance and the Coalition of Carers in Scotland).
The manifesto's demands include the right of every carer to good health, to support, and to breaks from caring.
