Podcast: Vandna Gohil Director of Voice4Change talks to Bill Freeman
In this podcast Vandna Gohil tells Bill Freeman, Director of Development at NAVCA about the major challenges facing local BME voluntary organisations and community groups. Vandna talks about the impact of recession on BME groups, why the Single Equalities Bill could dilute the advances made by the Race Relations Amendment Act and why she believes the new Compact weakens the position of BME community groups. Vandna also tells us about the major successes Voice4Change has had since they were founded two and a half years and her hopes for 2010.
In this podcast Vandna Gohil tells Bill Freeman, Director of Development at NAVCA about the major challenges facing local BME voluntary organisations and community groups. Vandna talks about the impact of recession on BME groups, why the Single Equalities Bill could dilute the advances made by the Race Relations Amendment Act and why she believes the new Compact weakens the position of BME community groups. Vandna also tells us about the major successes Voice4Change has had since they were founded two and a half years and her hopes for 2010.
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We very much hope the benefit which BME organisations gain from the Compact won't be diluted in the refreshed version (although, of course, we accept that the new Compact doesn't make specific mention of them in the way that the BME Code did).
It now has specific commitments on: combating discrimination and inequality; the Equality Impact Assessment process; and the role of organisations which exclusively serve particular groups. It also retains the commitment on funding redistribution, which should give a basis for BME third sector organisations to argue for funding to stay within the sector.
This will all be bolstered by Implementation Guidance for the BME third sector in early 2010, and we look forward to working with Voice4Change England on that.
Posted by: Nick Drew 2 years ago