Birmingham & Manchester

Many people need help from their council with housing, schooling, health, employment and in numerous other areas. Some of these problems could easily be solved by knowing who in the local Council offices to contact, and what the procedures are to getting them sorted out.

Getting to know who your councillors and making personal contact with them is invaluable.

But where do you start and who do you turn to?

This common question is why OBV (Operation Black Vote) and BASSAC (British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres) have organised a FREE and unique seminar to equip you with the tools to know how your local Council works.

Come and meet local councillors and find out how they can become an asset to you.

You will explore how your council functions, and look into the roles and responsibilities of a councillor.

The Government spending cuts will adversely affect our communities. But how prepared are you to challenge any effects. Come and learn about local democracy and how to engage with those who make these decisions.

You will understand the process of allocating council resources and investigate options for your own active engagement in local issues, and how to you get your voice to be heard?

The free seminars are designed to increase Black and minority ethnic (BME) awareness and engagement in your local neighbourhood.

Active magistrate Waseem Zaffa JP, a Community CrimeFighter, Unite the Union Union Learning Rep, Chair of Handsworth Central Neighbourhood Forum and a proud Brummie!, is very active in Birmingham, not just as a JP but campaigning on a wide range of issues that affect the community.

Waseem will be speaking at the seminar and he would like to see more locals playing their part. He says: “Community activism is very important, and it is vital that we have engagement from the grass roots level to hold politicians and agencies to account.

“We need a bottom up approach and local people need to get involved politically, especially here in Birmingham where we have only one non-white Cabinet Member within the Council in a city where the majority of its citizens are from minority ethnic communities, as next year’s census will prove”.

Eleanor Pryde, Programmes Coordinator BASSAC said: “BASSAC stands for the right of everyone to have an equal say. We recognise that too often the lion’s share of decisions in the UK’s public life are made for BME citizens instead of with them and this leads to poor policy-making.  We are pleased to support Operation Black Vote’s roadshow to help challenge people of all backgrounds to take part and to have their say in our common life.”

Simon Woolley, Director, OBV said: “Political and social change is occurring at lightening speed. We need to understand it, and where necessary challenge it. OBV and BASSAC firmly believe that local democracy works best when all our communities are involved. This event is part of that process.”

OBV and BASSAC encourage BME individuals who wish to help shape their community to attend this unique event.

• The first seminars will be held in central BIRMINGHAM  - Saturday 20th November 2010 from 11.00am – 3.30pm
• MANCHESTER - date & location to be confirmed.

Two more seminars will be held in:

• London February 2011 (both dates to be confirmed)

To book your place please complete this form and email it to OBV.

For further information please contact: Merlene Carrington on 0208 983 5430 or email: merlene@obv.org.uk quoting ‘Our Future’ in the subject field.

Main picture: Waseem Zaffar distributing Hope Not Hate literature in Birmingham City Centre as part of the Hope Not Hate Action Day last year.