The Training for All project is working with third sector BME organisations supporting people with learning disabilities.
The project will support people working in these organisations to access and benefit from high quality training.
We hope that training providers, qualification developers and awarding bodies will review their practice to ensure that training can be accessed by people from a range of ethnic backgrounds.
We have developed protocols for trainers, training developers and third sector organisations to ensure all are providing the best possible outcomes for Black Voluntary Organisations. It is well recognised that the main strength and value of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) lies in its support and delivery of services to BME communities.
The BME voluntary and community sector works to tackle disadvantage and discrimination and to empower communities. It advocates for community and BME individual need, providing the following:
- Support
- Advice
- Assisted signposting
- Information
- Improved quality of life
- Actively involving some of the most socially excluded people in the community.
However, many of the organisations within this sector also encounter inequalities regarding access to resources, information and training opportunities. With the glut of government initiatives aimed at increased community involvement from disadvantaged, marginalised and excluded communities, there has been a growing demand for training, learning, and capacity building to facilitate active participation from communities.
However, their lack of access to and availability of culturally appropriate training can impact on their capacity to work with training/infrastructure organisations (for some of these, training has limited relevance as it is not rooted in the values and principles or experiences of people with learning disabilities from BME communities).
Also, organisations in this sector have to work in a world that demands increasingly professional standards. The voluntary sector is being asked to conform to a myriad of council-imposed targets, league tables, inspectorates, rules and regulations.
With funding from Capacity Builders’ ‘Improving Reach 2008-11’ investment programme ARC has been working with BME VCS social care organisations including learning disabilities and training sector organisations to develop protocols to improve access to and knowledge of the training needs of the BME VCS social care sector.
The development of these protocols will ensure more small BME VCS social care organisations in England receive high-quality support services which are appropriate for them. The protocols will enable them to access nationally recognised training that takes account of their cultural needs, thereby ensuring such organisations are fully able to maximise their potential and increase their day to day focus on services that they deliver to BME people including those with learning disabilities.
Training for All latest information:
- By March 2011: 300 organisations will have agreed to the protocols
- By March 2011: 5 key identified training/infrastructure organisations will be altering policy and practice to better address needs of BME VCS social care sector.
Training for All is funded by The Cabinet Office – Change up Monies and Capacity Builders
Useful Information: