Voice4change

EDM number 620 in 2008-09, proposed by Alun Michael on 28/01/2009.
Categorised under the topics of Ethnic groups and Voluntary organisations.

That this House notes the important work done by black and minority ethnic (BME) third sector organisations in delivering services to marginalised communities; recognises that the BME third sector has grown out of a recognition that many of the needs of diverse communities have not been adequately met by mainstream services; welcomes the establishment of the Voice4Change England Partnership by 18 national and regional BME-led organisations with the support of the Office of the Third Sector to co-ordinate the policy advocacy of BME third sector organisations; further notes that independent legal analysis of the BME Code for Commission for the Compact has identified that opportunities to create and deliver BME-specific services, and that a requirement sometimes arises in equality law to create and deliver BME-specific services; considers it wrong that funders are being encouraged to have a presumption against single group funding; believes that such thinking fails to appreciate the work done by BME third sector organisations in building civil society; and calls on the Government to recognise the important contribution made by BME third sector organisations in bonding communities and promoting equality by action at national and regional levels to ensure that BME third sector organisations are adequately and equitably resourced to deliver better outcomes for BME and other communities.

This motion has been signed by a total of 49 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.