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Faced with huge economic and social changes,there is a greater need than ever for communitiesacross the UK to assert their rights andreclaim power.
And as traditional democracy faces everdecreasing levels of engagement, ordinarypeople are keen to find alternative ways to
make a difference.
This is where the Powered by People UK networkcomes in.
These stories from across the network illustrate how
community organising is being used to make
significant changes to our towns, neighbourhoods
and streets. Our members have overcome political
barriers, found funding and changed perceptions.
Why Powered by People UK?
They have successfully worked on a huge number of
issues, including housing, extremism, education,
mental health, and debt.
The fact that many come from poor and
marginalised communities makes their achievements
all the more impressive. Church Action on Poverty
and the Powered by People UK network brings
together these organisations, and their enormous
expertise, into one, unified network.
If you want to bring about change on practical issues
of justice, and are prepared to work in a disciplined
way with others, Powered by People UK can help.
By coming together under one banner, our collective
knowledge can now also be used to tackle issues of
national significance.
We hope that by community organising together
in a way which is free from party-political, religious
or ideological barriers Powered by People UK will
also become a tool for integration, understanding,
and truly sustainable change.
Mark Waters, Coordinator, Powered by PeopleUK, November 2012
Mark Waters, Coordinator, Powered by People UK
I thought I was voiceless.And I felt disempowered. Sowhen I met Thrive it reallymade a difference. Now I cantake anything. I feel sostrong, so, so strong.
Kudzai Rusere, Founder of DASUK,Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
What does Powered by People UK offer?
Powered by People UK is supported and
facilitated by Church Action on Poverty (CAP).
The network offers a range of support for you
to develop community organising in your area.
This includes a variety of training opportunities,
including peer mentoring, and five, two, and
half-day leadership training sessions.
Church Action on Poverty also run a six to 12-week
congregational development programme.
For more information about any aspect ofPowered by People UK, call CoordinatorMark Waters on 0161 226 9321, oremail [email protected]
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What is CommunityOrganising?
Community organising harnesses peoples energyto negotiate with power structures to createsolutions to issues faced by communities.
It is used mainly although not exclusively by
marginalised, poor and disadvantaged groups to
reclaim power back from the institutions which
make the decisions that impact on their lives.
One key aspect of community organising is that it is
non party-political, and brings diverse groups of
people together to work as one.
It enables groups to
work towards a specific
goal, rather than a set of
defined ideals.
Community organising
originated in the US,
and was pioneered by
Saul Alinsky. He
organised the Back ofthe Yards industrial slum
neighbourhood of
Chicago in the 1940s,
successfully working to
improve housing and
working conditions for
those living there.
Greg Galuzzo, of the US-based Gamaliel Foundation,trained Barack Obama in community organising.He now supports the training of communityorganisers across the UK
I would say to communityorganisers; try a gentleapproach first. Its worthdoing creative approaches.Be tenacious.
Graham Clarke, Chief Executive, Buy As You View
Community knows whatcommunity needs. Too often
with policy-makers, theyhave no clue about howpeople live, think, eat, andsleep. So how can they makea decision or policy thataffects peoples lives?
Jackie Burton, the Three As, Manchester
Alinskys techniques have since been replicated
across the US by various organisations, including theGamaliel Foundation.
Barack Obama famously worked as a community
organiser with Gamaliel in the deprived areas of
inner-city Chicago before embarking on his legal
career, a period of time he credits with giving him
the skills to become a successful politician.
Community organisingtraining inStockton-on-Tees,Middlesbrough
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TCC (TOGETHER CREATING COMMUNITIES, ORTREFNU CYMUNEDOL CYMRU), NORTH EAST WALES
Night ShelterWhen rough sleepers started bedding down in their
church grounds, the congregation at Capel y Groes
vowed to help and fought for three years to create
a local night shelter
A New MosqueAfter 20 years of worshipping in portakabins and
above kebab shops, Wrexhams Muslim community
finally found the right building, overcoming bitter
opposition on the way
BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS
iCircle Youth Group
By using dialogue to encourage integration andtackle extremism amongst Birmingham's young
Muslims, the iCircle hopes to create a more united
and genuinely diverse city
Sajida MadniBirmingham Citizens Chief Executive explains why
she thinks community organising is the most
powerful way to create change
THRIVE TEESSIDE
High-interest LendingA group of ordinary women, sick of struggling
with debt, have secured a huge consumer victory
against the multi-million pound high interest, hire
purchase industry
Asylum Seeker HousingAsylum seekers are fighting an ongoing battle to
improve their housing conditions, be treated with
dignity, and find their voice
THRIVE GREATER MANCHESTER
School Exclusions
African-caribbean boys who are expelled are eighttimes more likely to end up in prison, dead, or in a
gang. The Three As group tackles unfair exclusions
and helps children stay in school
Mental HealthCarers of those with addictions and mental health
problems were facing unbearable stress; they are
finally demanding better support for them and their
loved ones
Contents
What is Powered by People UK?
Powered by People UK is a network of four organisations from across thecountry Together Creating Communities in North East Wales;Birmingham Citizens; Thrive Greater Manchester; and Thrive Teesside all of which work with a community organising approach.
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The Wrexham Mosque entrance, below thedistinctive Mine Workers Institute sign
TCC stands for Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru(Wales Community Organising), or TogetherCreating Communities. Based in Wrexham, TCC isthe first community organising group to cover arural area, and is active across the counties ofWrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire.
First established in 1995, with just seven member
groups, it has since grown to include almost 40
members. They include 21 churches, six schools, the
Wrexham Muslim Association, and the Transition
Holywell & District community group.
A broad-based organisation, TCC is made up of
many different faith and secular groups, who work
together to take action on issues affecting their
local communities.
Over the past 17 years, TCC have won several
important victories which have had a positive
impact on the lives of thousands of people.
They campaigned against the establishment of a
waste incinerator, instead supporting the council to
establish a recycling system; taken on big businessto reduce intrusive noise from a local aluminum
factory; and helped residents to increase the safety
of their streets.
In addition, TCC are also campaigning for both
Flintshire and Wrexham Councils to introduce the
Living Wage, the hourly rate that every worker in the
country needs to earn enough to provide their
family with the essentials of life. They have already
successfully campaigned for the Presbyterian Church
and the local Church of Wales diocese to adopt a
Living Wage.
TCC have also taken on doorstep lending and pay
day loans, gathering evidence from those who have
been driven into debt to take action against loan
companies. Working with Wrexham MP Ian Lucas,
they have successfully negotiated with The Money
Shop to persuade them to change the wording on
their website, so customers aren't encouraged to
borrow more than they need.
Local funeral directors are now being scrutinised by
TCC, after members raised the issue of families not
being given pricing when arranging a funeral,meaning they could be left with a bill much higher
than expected.
TCC offers training and support to enable everyone,
especially those who feel powerless, to tell their
stories, and improve their communities for
themselves.
They believe everyone can make a difference, have a
voice, and have power when they work together.
TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities)35-37 Kingsmills RoadWrexhamLL13 8NH
Office: 01978 262588Mobile: 07528525872Web: www.tcc-wales.org.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/TCCWalesTwitter: @TCCWales
T^y Nos emergency night shelter
Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together CreatingCommunities (TCC), North East Wales
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For many years Wrexham town centresCapel y Groes (Chapel of the Cross) hadproblems with rough sleepers bedding down intheir porch and grounds.
A lack of facilities meant that local homelesspeople had nowehere else to sleep. But childrenwere picking up needles discarded in the
grounds; tragically, a rough sleeper died whilsttrying to shelter in the chapel porch.
Something had to be done.
The congregation didnt just want to move people
on; instead they were keen to find a sustainable
solution.
In October 2005, they approached TCC for help, and
became members. TCC held an assembly around the
issue, where church goers and former local homeless
people described their experiences.
Extensive research was carried out, and it was
decided to create a permanent emergency night
shelter in the town. A coalition of local businesses,
church leaders, police, Welsh Assembly members,
housing associations and councillors was formed to
work together to create the shelter.
Wrexham Council donated a building, and Clwyd
Alyn Housing was asked to run the facility. Just over
a year after Capel y Groes first joined TCC, the
temporary shelter was opened in Winter 2006.
But the celebrations were short-lived. The council
decided the shelter was becoming too expensive
and in April 2007, it was closed. Undeterred, the
coalition led by Capel y Groes continued to
fight for a permanent shelter.
After 12 months of frustrating negotiations, Clwyd
Alyn eventually won the council tender. A
permanent emergency night shelter, Ty Nos, was
finally opened December 12, 2008.
The action has galvanised the community to tacklehomelessness. Volunteers now provide a hot meals
service for local homeless people on Thursdays and
during the weekends. Capel y Groes are
campaigning for a day centre, so that homeless
people can access activities during the day when
the shelter is closed.
And there are no longer rough sleepers at
Capel y Groes.
MENNA DAVIES, MEMBER, TCC & CAPEL Y GROES(CHAPEL OF THE CROSS), WRECSAM
Menna Davies, 64, is a retired Welsh teacherfrom Wrexham. She is member of the Capel yGroes congregation and TCC.
Capel y Groes were already members of TCC,and decided to enlist their help with thehomelessness issue.
Menna played a central role in the campaign toget a permanent night shelter established. Sincethen, she has become an active volunteer withthe towns homeless.
One Sunday morning, the caretaker came to open
up for the service and there was a person who had
died in the porch. It was upsetting really, for
everybody involved.
Night ShelterWe didnt just want to phone the police and get them sent on tosomewhere else, because theyd only become a problem to somebody else.
And they would still be homeless.
It does take a long time
to get these things andyouve just got to bedetermined and carry on.
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We were saying, We have to do something about
this, but we didnt just want to phone the police
and get them sent on to somewhere else, because
theyd only become a problem to somebody else.
And they would still be homeless.
We had lots and lots of meetings, and we had a bigassembly, TCC call it. We had a person whod been
homeless on the streets of Wrexham, whod got
himself a business, and whod got himself back
together again. He was able to help us and tell his
story, which was really good.
When the council came on board, things really
started happening. We opened this temporary
hostel, volunteers collected clothes, and it worked
really well. But the shelter had to close in April.
They said it was too expensive to keep it open.
The council sold the building, and it was thendismantled.
Local housing associations had to put a tender in
for the new shelter, and this took well over 12
months. We were really frustrated at the time
because we wanted to get this permanent shelter
ready for the winter.
It was difficult to get a place because we had
opposition from the local residents. We were really
committed to it, but at times, you didnt seem to be
getting anywhere, even though we had different
agencies working together, and co-operation wasreally good.
It does take a long time to get these things and
youve just got to be determined and carry on.
It was really, really exciting when the permanent
shelter opened. And we havent just got the shelterand forgotten about them. Volunteers make hot
meals, and were trying to get a day centre. Its
brought people together.
Its really good how well things are going. We try to
encourage them, and its good to hear of people
who started off in the shelter, who have now got
their own flat. You feel that youve helped them, as
well as helping ourselves. G
Its good to hear ofpeople who started offin the shelter, who have
now got their own flat.You feel that wevehelped them, as well ashelping ourselves.
Menna Davies in Capel y Groes
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A New MosqueEven the day the EDL came to demonstrate in the town - a very smallnumber - they gathered in a pub and were chased out by some old ladies
who said, We dont want you here.
After almost twenty years of worshipping inportakabins and rooms above kebab shops, theWrexham Muslim Association were desperatefor a permanent spiritual home.
Working with TCC, they first had to fight for abuilding; then they had to overcome strongopposition. Now they have made a home in the
formerly derelict Wrexham Miners Institute,one of the towns most historic buildings.
The towns small but significant population of 1,500
Muslims include many staff from the local Wrexham
Maelor hospital, and students of Glyndwr University
(formerly North East Wales Institute (NEWI)). They
originate from around 56 countries. With the nearest
mosques in Rhyl and Chester, most working people
were unable to make Friday prayers.
The towns first mosque, a room above a kebab shop,
was set up 1987, but only housed around sevenpeople. Glyndwr University stepped in in 1995 and
provided a portakabin.
Every Friday, between 100 to 140 Muslims attended
prayers; but a lack of space meant women and
children were unable to take part.
As founder members of TCC, the association
enlisted their help to search for a building. They held
a number of meetings with the council to find a
suitable building to buy without success. A local
church was considered suitable but was sold withplanning permission for housing: a Welsh
Presbyterian church was almost purchased but
covenants rendered the property unsuitable.
But as property prices dropped, more buildings
became available. The Miners Institute had closed in
2008 after a drop in membership; it was derelict
after the owners had gone bankrupt.
Despite concerns about local opposition, the
Wrexham Muslim Association bought the building.
The reaction was negative. The anti-Islam English
Defence League mounted a campaign against themosque, and held a demonstration in the town.
Hundreds of abusive comments were posted on
social media sites.
But, working alongside TCC, the association invited
politicians, councillors and community
representatives to come and see the building, and
hear their imam speak. Supporters spoke out against
the protests, and tensions were diffused.
The association have pledged to preserve the
Institutes rich history, placing the building back in
the heart of the community.
DR IKRAM SHAH, TCC TRUSTEE AND CO-FOUNDEROF THE WREXHAM MUSLIM ASSOCIATION
Dr Shah, 70, arrived in Wrexham from his nativePakistan in 1967. He has worked as a doctor inthe town for 26 years.
As a founder member of TCC, he has been
involved with a number of actions before TCCsupported his bid to establish the mosque.
When we went to negotiate with the council, we
had two other TCC members with us and they were
wearing dog collars. The deputy chief executive said:
Excuse me, Im a bit puzzled, youve come to talk to
us about the mosque, so what are the two clergy
wearing dog collars doing with you? The clergy said:
We support them, we are with them.
Because TCC have group instead of individual
membership, we were all part of the big community rather than an isolated, small, group. People knew
us, they knew our faces, they talked to us, they
understood what we said. It was on an equal basis.
Were here to contributetowards the community.We want to show thedetractors and the people
who are saying bad thingsthe real picture.Dr Jishi
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The first time I asked TCC to help us was when we
were trying with the Council and we were gettingnowhere they were all very nice and very friendly
but nothing got done.
I asked TCC at the strategy meeting whether they
would take it up as one of their projects, so we were
extremely grateful that they agreed. They were with
us all the time.
With their help and support, all the documents
were ready. We had the building which the council
agreed to let us have on a lease. The contract was
ready to sign, so we were lucky. They knew we werelooking for a permanent place, so we were very
fortunate that this place came up and that we were
able to acquire it.
We heard about the EDL and the BNP and these
kinds of people, so we expected some sort of
resistance. But with TCC's help and support, and all
the links in the community, they were all our
supporters.
Even the day the EDL came to demonstrate in the
town a very small number they gathered in a pub
and were chased out by some old ladies who said,We don't want you here. And there was a vigil by
the churches in our support, so we can't thank them
enough for that. It was extremely helpful. G
Fellow mosque co-founder and TCC trustee Dr Farookh Jishi with Dr Shah inthe main prayer room of the new mosque
Cement FactorPollutionPeople were more concerned aboutdust and noise. That is somethingthey can see. Its the unseen wewere concerned about.
There has been a cement factory in Padeswood,Flintshire, for around thirty years; but over thelast decade the community has becomeincreasingly concerned about the dust, noise,
and potentially cancer-causing dioxin emissionsbeing produced by Hanson Cement.
Between 2000 and 2010, more than 2,000official complaints were made about the factory.And in February 2010, Hanson were fined250,000 for noise pollution, releasing 250tonnes of dust, and for two fires which pumpeddangerous fumes into the air.
TCC have been campaigning for better monitoring of
the factory since 2005, and has been meeting regularly
with the Environment Agency (EA).
In June 2010, Public Health Wales launched a
500,000 investigation into claims that dioxins from
the site were causing people to develop cancer and
respiratory diseases.
TCC played a central role in community engagement
meetings set up as part of the investigation,
contributing their views.
In July 2012, the Hanson Cement Investigation
Response Team announced that they had found no
evidence that factory emissions resulted in harm
to peoples health. However, due to dioxin levels
only being measured twice a year, much was
still unknown.
TCC have since succeeded in getting a commitment
from management to introduce 24-hour dioxinmonitoring.
More than 2,000 officialcomplaints were madeabout the factory.
It doesnt matter whether
theyre Conservative,Labour, or Liberal; wehold them to account.These are the skills wehave learnt from the TCC.
Dr Jishi
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The Hanson Cement Factory (credit: Flintshire Leader)
BLODWEN ELLIS, MEMBER, TCC AND HOPEPARISH CHURCH
Blodwen Ellis, 59, is a retired science teacher,and lives in the village of Hope, less than fivemiles from the Hanson plant.
As part of a small team from TCC, she has beeninvolved in negotiations with the EA and HansonCement for seven years.
I quite took to it really, because I have a science
background. And the person who was leading theaction was quite inspirational.
I dont think a lot of people understood what
dioxins are. They were more concerned about dust
and noise. That is something they can see. Its the
unseen we were more concerned about.
Theres a lot of apathy; people dont know the facts
but theyre not willing to go and find out what's
happening. The investigation team hired halls in the
area, telling people that there was going to be
meetings and they could come and ask questions.And in some cases, only two or three people turned
up. So they were really surprised when at the Hope
meeting, TCC members turned up and started asking
proper questions.
The plant was approved to be open continuously,
but now because of the recession, they are starting
up and closing down every other week. We didnt
know what effect this would have on dioxin levels,
so it was a big worry for the community, especially
as dioxins are only measured twice a year.
The 24-hour monitoring is now being developed.If its proved to be good enough, then the EA
will recommend that Hanson switch to continual
dioxin monitoring.
Its extremely important
to be very organisedwhen dealing withpowerful organisations.Then they take youseriously.
If we had not gone and asked questions of the EA,
they would not have followed it up and we wouldnot be having 24-hour monitoring. Management has
changed now and I believe they are more open.
They have a good relationship with the EA. I think
things are improving.
TCCs methodology impressed me. Before we went
to a meeting, we had a meeting. One of us had a
question each, which we were really clued up on.
We would have a meeting afterwards to evaluate
what wed found out, and then decide what we were
going to go next.
Its not a talking shop, its about getting information.
It's extremely important to be very organised when
dealing with powerful organisations like the EA.
Then they take you seriously.
People used to complain before about dust on their
cars, but that doesnt really happen now. They have
put a lot of monitoring equipment in place, and tried
to reduce the noise with insulation.
TCC will keep on going to the liaison meetings, and
see how it all goes. If any issues come up, we are
very fortunate; weve got a good relationship withthe EA. They are quite willing to meet us, because
we come asking proper questions, and we don't
waste their time. G
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Church Action on Poverty (CAP) and Oxfam firststarted working in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees,in November 2004. Thrive Teesside was createdin January 2007, and is now an award-winning,independent organisation, working inpartnership with CAP.
Thrive aim to get the voice of people on themargins of society directly to decision-makers,and effect real transformative change inTeesside. They work to build the economic andsocial resilience of local households and
communities.
Projects are focussed across Middlesbrough and
Stockton, and include Ragworth, Thornaby,
Newtown, North Ormesby and Brambles Farm, areas
which rank amongst the top ten per cent most
deprived nationally.
The regions traditional political and social networks
have been hit hard by the decline in heavy industry,
and an increase in unemployment.
Thrive Teessides work is based on two approaches;by building relationships with the most excluded
households, they identify the issues that keep them
trapped in poverty.
In addition, broad-based community organising gives
people skills and confidence, enabling them to work
together to call for change.
Thrive Teesside has been unique in getting debt
customers not just to manage their finances,
but also to tackle the companies which contribute
to the problem.
Through tough negotiations and campaigning work,
Thrive Teesside have enabled a group of women
from marginalised, low-income households to
fundamentally change the practices of a sector
which in 2011 made profits of over 45 million.
Their achievement in persuading the countrys three
biggest high interest, hire purchase companies to
sign up to a consumer charter has helped almost
325,000 customers across the country.
Through their ground-breaking partnership with theCentre for Responsible Credit, Thrive Teesside
continue to negotiate with the sector for lower
interest rates and better credit sharing practices.
Durham University have teamed up with Thrive
Teesside to research fuel poverty, and further
understand the impact of debt and how to fight it.
Thrive Teesside has been nationally recognised; one
of their members won the Sheila McKechnie
Foundation Take Action 2011 award for her
campaigning work.
Thrive Teesside aim to build on their success,develop more leaders from the community, and
create a truly sustainable future for the organisation.
Thrive TeessideThornaby Methodist Church, Stanstead WayThornaby TS17 9DZ
Telephone: 01642 769 570Email: [email protected]: www.thrive-teesside.org.ukFacebook: facebook.com/thrivestocktonTwitter: @ThriveTeesside
THRIVE Teesside
Greg Brown, Lead Organiser of Thrive Teesside
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High-interest LendingBuy As You View have actually lowered their interest rates. Theyve alsostarted the ball rolling about sharing information on credit ratings. Its
had a knock-on effect, and the others have joined in. So it is working.
In 2010, the Thrive community group, angry atthe way high interest, hire purchase companieswere forcing many local people into debt to buybasic goods, decided to take action.
Since then, their award-winning campaign haspersuaded the sector to make significantimprovements to the way they do business,
improving the lives of 325,000 low-incomecustomers.
Bright House, Buy As You View and Perfect Home
made profits of around 45 million last year; but
charge almost double high street prices and interest
rates of up to fifty per cent for furniture and basic
goods like washing machines and TVs.
Despite these high costs, the companies target
low-income households who are dependent on
benefits, already in debt or struggling for cash.
The Office of Fair Trading states that more than athird of customers who use these rent-to-own
(RTO) outlets are dependent on the sector for credit.
Bad credit histories mean that many of their
customers are often unable to access bank loans,
credit cards, or even bank accounts, and have
nowhere else to go to buy essential goods.
Thrive, in partnership with Church Action on
Poverty, activated hundreds of people to send
emails to the chief executives of the three
companies, demanding that they lower their costsand improve their practices.
The group arranged a series of meetings in London,
and invited Bright House, Buy As You View and
Perfect Home, as well as politicians, the Office of
Fair Trading, and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
They teamed up with the Centre for Responsible
Credit to help them during the negotiations, and
secured funding for the campaign from the Friends
Provident Foundation.
Thrive created a hard-hitting YouTube video, Rip OffTV, which satirised the sectors practices, and
protested outside branches of those companies who
had refused to come to the negotiations.
BBC North East made a documentary about the
campaign, and The Sunday People newspaper
interviewed local people about their debt experiences.
The hard work paid off. Since the first meeting in
May 2011, Thrive have managed to get all three
companies to sign up to an improved customer
charter which commits them to limit their default
charges, refer debt-ridden customers to
independent advisers, ensure that their goods are
competitively priced, and better handle complaints.
Buy as You View have even lowered their interest
rates; instead of a 49.9 per cent flat rate, regular
payers now see their rates drop to 39.9 per cent,
while those who use direct debits pay 29.9 per cent.
Thrives success has been widely recognised. In 2011,
they won the Voluntary Organisations Network
North East award for best campaign. They are now
working to try to persuade the rest of the RTO
sector to sign up to the charter. They also want
companies to start sharing credit data, enabling
customers to access lower interest, mainstream,forms of credit.
The campaign continues.
How much does it cost?Many of the goods that the RTO sector sell are priced higheven before the interest kicks in. Add on hidden extras andinterest rates of up to 50 per cent, and RTO customers end uppaying almost three times the retail cost or more.
(Source: Brighthouse, PerfectHome, Buy As You View)
Acer Gold 15 laptopCurrys.co.uk = 409.90
Brighthouse = 1,142.96[579.64 + Interest + OptionalService Cover (104 paymentsof 10.99)]
Beko washing machineAppliancesOnline = 250BuyAsYouView = 661.44[379.99 + Interest (156payments of 4.24)]
Panasonic 32" LED TVAmazon.co.uk = 380
PerfectHome = 778.44[541.99 + interest (156payments of 4.99)]
Nevada leather sofafurnituredirectltd = 320PerfectHome = 1,393.60[870.99 + interest (208weekly payments of 6.70)]
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DONNA ALLISON, MONEY MENTOR
Mum-of-five Donna Allison, 27, of Thornaby,is a member of Thrive. Taking out doorstep loansand using buy-as-you-rent companies had lefther with large debts. But with Thrives help,Donna has now managed to pay off most ofher loans.
Donna is now a money mentor for the Thornabycommunity.
Everyone I know has doorstep lenders family,
friends. They also use Buy As You View and Perfect
Homes. You dont have the money to save when
youve got children or youre on benefits so you go
to these places. But then youre paying a thousand
pounds for a second-hand washer.
Our fridge freezer is reconditioned. But it will still
cost us just under a grand.
I had bailiffs coming to the door, and red letters all
the time. I was scared to answer the phone. I was
getting depressed. They threatened to come and take
my goods from me if I didnt pay. I was frightened.
Youd get loan sharks in my neighbourhood coming
to your door. You fall into it. They seem to target
Christmas time, when they know people struggle.
So youre going to take that money just to give your
kids a good Christmas. Id say on a hundred pounds
loan, you're paying about 190 back, if not more.
It was with Thrive that I built up the confidence and
managed to slowly get out of debt. I would take out
loans to get by for the kids for Christmas; last year
was my first debt-free Christmas. Ive nearly paid allmy loan sharks off.
They keep asking me if I would like another loan.
Now Im strong, and say no. I've started looking on
second-hand pages on Facebook, and on Freecycle.
If I need something, before Id be the type to just go
out and spend, and not think about where the
money is going.
I feel much better in myself. Ive got more money to
spend on the children. Im saving. And all the money
that Ive given to those loan sharks Im putting into atin. Im not adding onto my debt. The money I get is
my own money, its not a loan sharks. Its my own.
Ive wanted to give something back, and now Im
doing a money mentoring scheme. I go to peoples
houses to tell them my experience. How Ive
managed to get myself out of debt with the help of
Thrive. And hopefully help others.
I know that I can make a change because Ive got
the experience. I think people tend to listen more
when they know you've been through it. Its good to
give something positive back and help others. G
I know that I can make a
change because Ive gotthe experience. And Ithink people tend tolisten more when theyknow youve beenthrough it.
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One of the frustrations from both sides of the table
is how difficult that is. Theres no specific legislation
to allow it to happen the OFT have only made
recommendations and guidelines. But it has made
the OFT see there that there is a groundswell both
from consumers and businesses.
It is a piece of PR. Youd be a liar to say otherwise.
But thats not been the driver. Weve seen that this
has been good for us; its helped us improve.Its changed the way we do things.
I would say to community organisers; try a gentle
approach first. Its worth doing creative approaches
like Thrive. Be tenacious. And I would say to the
businesses; engage. There is nothing to lose.
We are absolutely prepared to make more changes
in the future. G
GRAHAM CLARKE, CHIEF EXECUTIVEOF BUY AS YOU VIEW
Graham Clarke discusses why he decided toengage with Thrive; and why other companieshave nothing to fear from community organising.
Whats worked has been people getting round the
table and talking. I think there needs to be
willingness on both sides of the table to do
something. Its amazing how perceptions change our
view of things.
In April 2010, I started getting some emails. As a
human being, no matter how resilient and tough you
are, it hurts when someone has a pot shot at you.
Ive always been a firm believer in communication.
Thrive were always going to get a receptive
response; it was a little bit prickly at first. They made
a spoof film, which looking back I have to say was
quite funny; but it was all designed to provoke.
They threw a lot of rocks at me. The danger is, do
you just sit back and not respond? Certainly in my
corporate life that was always seen as the best way
to approach. I don't buy that. I was able to show that
a lot of the things Thrive were frustrated with we
were in the process of changing.
The model currently works like insurance; good
payers subsidise bad payers. You pay the samewhether youre a bad customer, or youve been a
customer for 40 years.
I want to be able to reward good payers. That isnt
some soft hearted approach; this is business. I want
to keep good customers. As a consequence of that
we are one of the first companies in the sector to
offer differential pricing. My existing customers pay
a lower APR than new customers. We still have a
high APR; but its a high cost to collect. The company
never used to do direct debits.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had made some
recommendations about data sharing; but from that
recommendation there was very little that had been
done. Coming together with Thrive was a catalyst to
get round the table and start moving towards that.
We are now designing a consumer charter that we
are signing up to and we are all in the process of
working out how data can be shared.
We are absolutelyprepared to make more
changes in the future.
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People were listening tome. A nana, a mother, anormal everyday person.Not somebody whos gotairs and graces. It waselectrifying.
The second time we went, Brighthouse wasnt there.
So we decided that we would petition Brighthouse.
We stood outside the Stockton store with
cardboard cut-outs of microwaves, and I stood in acardboard cut-out of a washing machine. And next
time theyve come to the table.
When I walked out, the third time we went to
London, I was like a bouncy ball. Because people
were listening to me. A nana, a mother, a normal
everyday person. Not somebody whos got airs and
graces. I couldnt stop talking about it, it was so
electrifying to think that I was actually helping,
not just me, but other people in the same situation
Im in.
Im trying to help those coming up behind me. If its
just one person then Ive achieved a lifetimes
ambition. Then theyre not going to be in debt like
Ive been in debt.
Buy As You View have actually lowered their
interest rates. Theyve also started the ball rolling
about sharing information on credit ratings. Its all
been a knock-on effect where the others have joined
in. So it is working. It does work. The common man
does have a right and if they speak loud enough
theyve got to be heard.
If Id have realised that doing this sort of thing
would have empowered me and others, then I would
have done it a long time ago. G
MAUREEN HAGAN, THRIVE MEMBER
In 2008, grandmother-of-ten Maureen, 58, lefther partner and moved into unfurnished privateaccommodation. As a full-time guardian for two
teenage granddaughters, she had no savings andwas reliant on benefits.
Although she was able to find some second-handfurniture, Maureen had to turn to Perfect Homeand Buy as You View to purchase a new sofa, bed,washer and cooker.
At the beginning I joined Thrive to get me out of
four walls. I just carried on because it was something
to do. Then we started talking about the bad boys of
doorstep lending.
But where else do you go when youve got no
money to buy the goods with? Theres nowhere else
for a person with a bad credit rating or no credit
rating to go. Because they won't have you.
My main issue was to give us a credit rating. And
they've got to publicise that rating to other
companies to know that we are good payers.
First of all we contacted a multi-million pound
company to come and listen to us. We never
thought they would. But they did. And that was Buy
As You View. Graham Clarke (Chief Executive) camefrom Wales over to Teesside to meet with us. I just
couldn't believe that somebody would want to
come and meet normal people. But he did.
We were going down to London, to Dean House at
the back of Westminster Cathedral, which was a
place Id never thought Id see. There was Ministers,
there was the top man of the Citizens Advice
Bureau. PerfectHome was there. We just couldnt get
Brighthouse to the table. I thought, I'm just a spare
cog in this wheel. And then people started asking me
questions. I was absolutely shaking that people likethis were asking me questions.
The common man doeshave a right and if theyspeak loud enoughthey've got to be heard.
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As part of the Governments policy of dispersingasylum seekers across the UK, the North East hasseen a large increase in the number of asylumseekers. Over 3,300 had moved to the area bythe end of 2006. In summer last year, Stocktonwas home to almost a quarter of the regionsasylum seekers.
In 2010, Thrive started receiving allegations that
asylum seekers were being mistreated by their
landlord.
Tenants alleged that houses had inadequate cooking
and sleeping facilities; they they were being
intimidated and told they would be reported to the
UK Border Agency (UKBA) if they complained; and
that the landlord was visiting houses without the
agreed 24 hours notice. Different faith and cultural
needs were reportedly being ignored.
With Thrives help, Diaspora Action and SupportUnited Kingdom (DASUK) was formed by two
Zimbabwean asylum seekers to address the issues.
In November 2010, DASUK organised a meeting,
which was attended by over 100 asylum seekers and
members of Stocktons voluntary and community
sector, as well as the towns mayor. Asylum seekers
told their stories; one former local councillor was so
moved, she agreed to become a partner and mentor
for DASUK.
Together with their new supporters, DASUKcontacted UKBA, who had contracted G4S to
provide asylum seeker services for the area, and
Jomast, who had been subcontracted by G4S to
provide housing, to ask them to attend a meeting to
discuss DASUKs concerns.
The meeting was held in April 2011; UKBA attended,
as did Migrant Helpline, a G4S partner, and the
Regional Refugee Forum.
Since then, DASUK have held several private
meetings with UKBA and G4S. They have been in
communication with Jomast. DASUK representativesnow also attend the local multi-agency forum on
asylum issues.
Although DASUK has yet to see concrete
improvements to the housing situation, negotiations
have been initiated, and are ongoing.
KUDZAI RUSERE, CO-FOUNDER, DIASPORA ACTIONAND SUPPORT UNITED KINGDOM (DASUK)
Kudzai Rusere, 46, is a Zimbabwean national.
The former Harare Polytechnic administrator, aleading light of the then anti-Mugabe Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC), fled her Hararehome in 2002 after receiving death threats,leaving her two daughters behind. She has notseen them since.
She is chairperson of the Middlesbrough branchof the MDC.
The housing provider wasn't actually adhering to
the contract or to the obligations of the
contract; so he took advantage of the people to
manipulate them.
They tried to threaten them and dehumanisethem, telling them that they should be grateful
theyve got a roof over their head because theyre
coming from Africa.
Asylum Seeker HousingI thought I was voiceless. And I felt disempowered. So when I met Thriveit really made a difference. Now I can take anything. I can take that
mountain. I feel so strong; so, so strong.
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Seven women were given four pots to cook in.
These women have got children. How do you use
four pots amongst seven women? Its not feasible.
They started intimidating people when they
complained. It was terrible, to be honest with you.
The journey to having the meeting was a bit
challenging. With community organising, youve got
to get it from the community. And make sure that
the community can present their issues.
Eventually we built up the momentum with the
help of Thrive. And when the big man knows hes
going to be attacked, he tries to divide and rule. He
said, lets negotiate now, last minute, just a day or
two before the big meeting.
But there was nothing to negotiate about. They had
already refused three times to come to the meeting.
There were about forty to fifty asylum seekers
there. We had to represent our cases and our
experiences. We had testimonies from the people
who had been abused by the system and all the
problems that wed encountered.
Soon after the meeting, they went round doing
things that they used not to do; painting and buying
equipment for the houses. They sort of changed,
although not to the great extent that we wanted.
Now they know the problems that weve had and Ithink it will be taken on board.
Thrive doesnt actually do anything for you; they
empower you and they give you the direction and
the information.
Thrive really helped us. I thought I was voiceless.
And I felt disempowered. So when I met Thrive it
really made a difference. Now I can take anything.
Now I can take that mountain. I feel so strong, so,
so strong.
It has helped me to build my confidence, and to
really realise the potential that's in me. The currentsystem, it sort of takes the power from you. But
power is the ability to cause changes, wherever you
are; thats power. So I feel very powerful now, to
be honest. G
SUZANNE FLETCHER, MENTOR & PARTNER,DASUK
Suzanne Fletcher MBE, 67, is a respected formerlocal councillor in Stockton. After attending aDASUK-organised event in November 2010,and hearing co-founder Richard Mahlahla speak,she vowed to help the group.
Since then she has supported DASUK indeveloping documentation, negotiation andcommunication skills.
I was shocked. Ive heard lots of things in my life,
but to think this was actually happening in my own
community, I sat there with my mouth open.
My reaction was that somethings got to be doneand Im going to help to do it.
It has helped me buildmy confidence, and toreally realise thepotential thats in me.
Power is the ability tocause changes, whereveryou are; thats power.
They tried to threatenthem and dehumanisethem, telling them thatthey should be gratefultheyve got a roof over
their head because theyrecoming from Africa.
Richard Mahlahla:
Co-Founder, Diaspora
Action And Support
United Kingdom
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In ten or twenty yearstime, some of thesepeople weve beenworking with will beleading the whole
community, not just theirown. And I think it willbe different and betterbecause of that.
We had a meeting with people from DASUK. They
were wonderful people, and brave, to be talking
about it when their own position was so insecure in
this country.
I think theres two strands: one is helping them
tease out what the issues are you can do something
about, and what you cant. The other strand is how
we relate to the different organisations that we
approach.
When we were organising the meeting that we
had in April, we had a number of rehearsals. We
spent quite some time working out who was going
to say what.
Its made what Ive always wanted to do to workwith and for people much more possible. Because
it was a completely different, non-political setting.
Which made it much better.
Ive learnt what Ive always known that the asylum
seekers have got so much about them, such huge
dignity. All theyve ever asked for is to be treated
with dignity and respect. The more Ive got to know
them the more Ive come to respect who they are.
Everybody moving forward together is a really
important thing. I thought I would have had this
sorted out by the end of December last year.
Youre taking people with you and you walk slowerif everybody is going at the same pace.
We can use community organising for everything
when these good people are settled citizens and
theyve got jobs and are really part of the community.
They know how to organise, they know how to put
the case, they know the power of personal
testimony, they know how to use people power.
In ten or twenty years time, some of these
people weve been working with will be leading the
whole community, not just their own community.And I think it will be different and better because
of that. G
DASUK mentor Suzanne Fletcher with Richard Mahlahla
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The West Midlands is one of the homes of UKcommunity organising; Black Country Citizenswas the one of the countrys first ever organisinggroups. It evolved into the West Midlands YouthOrganising Project (WMYOP), which thenbecame Young Citizens.
In 2005 Birmingham Citizens was created, withYoung Citizens as its youth wing. Now it is anorganisation of 43 institutions, including schools,mosques, trade unions, universities, churches andother non-profit organisations.
Birmingham City Council have recognisedBirmingham Citizens as the largest, most diversecommunity organising alliance in the WestMidlands.
Since 2008, Birmingham Citizens has been based at
the Nishkam Centre, a community development hub
attached to the large Sikh Gurdwara on bustling
Soho Road, in Handsworth, near the city centre.
The first ever meeting held in the Nishkam Centre
was a Birmingham Citizens Annual General Meeting.
Birmingham Citizens aim is to enable community
institutions to work effectively on the pressures that
face families and neighbourhoods, and to bring
together the mixed communities of Birmingham.
By identifying key power players in the city,
researching issues and preparing and training leaders,
they build partnerships with key officials to create
stronger and more stable communities.
Since Birmingham Citizens was first established, they
have held annual community conventions, bringingtogether over a thousand people every year from
across the city, including local politicians, religious
and trade union leaders, and police.
Birmingham Citizens launched the European
Governance Campaign in the West Midlands,
involving over 10,000 people across the region in a
discussion around neighbourhood regeneration.
Training has included the development of a resource
on active citizenship for young people, used in
schools. Working with police, Birmingham Citizens
won a commitment to pilot an awareness trainingprogramme to bridge the relationship between the
Muslim community and police.
During the disturbances of 2005 and 2011,
Birmingham Citizens organised faith and community
leaders throughout the affected areas of Lozells and
Handsworth to call for reconciliation. Following the
violence, they continued to work to address the
underlying issues.
Their Young Citizens arm thrives; and regular iCirclemeetings work with dozens of young people to
support integration and tackle extremism.
Birmingham Citizens6 Soho RoadHandsworthBirmingham
B21 9BH
Telephone: 07525 254 223Email: [email protected]: www.birminghamcitizens.orgTwitter: @sajidamadni
Birmingham Citizens
The Soho Road Gurdwara, one of the largest Sikh
temples in Britain, includes the Nishkam Centre,
Birmingham Citizens office
BIRMINGHA CITIZENS
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The weekly iCircle meetings work like a youthclub. But as well enjoying sport and art, theyoung Muslims who attend are taught how tochallenge perceptions, tackle prejudice andencourage integration.
Across Birmingham, many of the citys estimated
150,000 Muslims live in very self-contained
communities; some schools have up to 95 per cent
Muslim students.
By breaking down the barriers between Muslim and
non-Muslim communities, the iCircle aims to
promote cohesion.
Young people participate in wide-ranging discussions
about every aspect of their faith, including
relationships, dress, work, and socialising.
By encouraging young people to be outward-looking
and embrace multiculturalism, iCircle hopes toencourage them to reject extremism and segregation.
There are about five iCircles held across Birmingham
every week, for around 200 boys and girls. In
addition, iCircle runs longer residential outdoor trips.
The iCircle is run by around 15 leaders. The group is
always looking for more volunteers.
NADIM TAHIR, PIONEER, THE iCIRCLE
Entrepreneur Nadim Tahir, 34, first becameinvolved with the work of Birmingham Citizensin 2010 when organising a charity fundraiser forthe victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster.
Yet when members of the citys Muslimcommunity questioned why he was helpingnon-Muslims, he was shocked. Determined toimprove integration amongst the citys young
Muslims, he decided to help create the iCircle.
Young Muslims were just not making the effort to
become integrated into society. Youll find, around
Birmingham especially, that these kind of kids dont
have any access to people who are not of the same
faith or background.
When I first started to work with the Birmingham
Citizens, I was asked to help organise a charity dinner
for the people of Haiti.
But when we came across certain people in the
community who said, Hold on, theyre not actuallyMuslim, for me, it was a wake-up call. I realised that
a lot of people in our community dont understand
that they have a duty towards human beings
iCircle Youth GroupI want my children to live in a multicultural, tolerant society, in whichpeople of various religions and faiths get on and look at what unites,
rather than divides them.
By getting integration
out there, we are able totalk to people who arenot Muslim, and say,we are not really thatalien. We are not into allof this so-called jihadyou see on the TV.
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whether theyre Muslim or not. So that was one of
the reasons we set up the iCircle.
We have a tradition in which we have to look after
our neighbours forty doors to the right, or forty
doors to the left. Regardless what their religion or
background is.
I want my children to live in a multicultural, tolerant
society, one in which people of various religions and
faiths get on and look at what unites, rather than
divides them.
You can break down any community into what
separates them; religion, eye colour, skin colour, itgoes on and on. But were all humans and we just
want to get on. That really is the motivation
behind it.
We have a tradition in which we haveto look after our neighbours fortydoors to the right, or forty doors tothe left. Regardless what their religionor background is.
Nadim with an iCircle group
Birmingham has had a few problems with people
like the EDL (English Defence League). Perhaps
theyve have had a bad experience with people from
Muslim communities. I feel thats one of the reasons
why people like the EDL are prevalent; because
people dont know what Muslims are actually about.
By getting integration out there, we are able to talk
to people who are not Muslim, and say, we are not
really that alien. We are not into all of this so-called
jihad you see on the TV.
There are very gradual developments; a lot of the
kids will attend the iCircle to socialise and see their
friends. But if we only hit one of two per cent of
them, then obviously there is a knock-on effect to
all the kids that they know, and the next generation.
I do see that difference, and its very, very positive.G
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differences. Because when weve passed that hurdle
and accepted each other for who we actually are,
thats when the real work can begin.
At Birmingham Citizens, people are very
comfortable with each other. The relationships have
deepened over the years. We held a summer school
about the difficult issues we usually brush under the
carpet. We were able to be honest and frank with
one another and it was all done respectfully.
City council leaders will come to our events
because they know that were not just representing
one particular community, were representing tens ofthousands of people from different communities.
We have the faith leaders of Birmingham on board,
and theyre a powerful group. People in Birmingham
are proud to belong to faith groups and are proud
citizens of a city that goes beyond tolerance. I think
it's something that gives Birmingham Citizens
immense strength.
We can have real raw conversations and real
relationships and do real work knowing that weve got
these differences; but we all want the same things.
There isnt anybody in Birmingham Citizens that cant
communicate or empathise with any one communityout there that needs our help. The work is easier
because of the relational power we have built. Theres
always much more to be done together. G
Community organisingis civic engagement.
Get involved, andinfluence the decisionsthat are taken about ourlives. Thats communityorganising.
SAJIDA MADNI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE,BIRMINGHAM CITIZENS
Sajida Madni, 32, has been an organiser withBirmingham Citizens since 2005. She describeswhat community organising means to her.
I always give the analogy of football when Im
describing community organising. If you have teams
A and B playing on the field, and team C is
spectating, rarely do the players on the field on
either team go up to team C and say, You guys have
been watching me for years and years is there
anything I can do to improve my game? Theyll just
sign an autograph and thats about it.
In real life, on the field the two teams making all
the decisions about the things that impact our
(Team Cs) life are the government and corporations.
Rarely do they consult us in anything. My job as a
community organiser is to get team C on the field
permanently; not just as spectators, but to get
involved in the decisions that impact our lives.
Community organising is civic engagement. Its
getting us to take power, because power is never
given, its taken. Get involved, and influence thedecisions that are made about our lives. Thats
community organising.
It was when I went to a Leadership training
provided by Birmingham Citizens that I decided I
wanted to be a community organiser. It was unlike
anything. It was very practical, it gave me real tools
to go out there in the real world and enable the
community around me to help make positive change
in our neighbourhood.
Diversity is our biggest strength. Birmingham
Citizens differs in a way; a lot of communityorganisers would say, lets just forget about our
differences, and lets work together. But I didnt think
that was very fair; so I said, lets talk about our
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Thrive Greater Manchester was first establishedin 2008 by charity Church Action on Poverty(CAP). Through their work with disadvantagedcommunities across the city, CAP had realisedthat people needed support to access power.
They decided community organising was thebest way to give people the knowledge andconfidence to improve their neighbourhoods.
The group now have around 40 members fromacross Salford and Manchester.
Thrive Greater Manchester supports people to
collectively solve problems in their communities.
They train groups to understand how to bring a
problem to the table, research the background,
and find out exactly what the possible issues and
barriers are.
They then help those groups form relationships with
power brokers, so they can negotiate solutions.
Community organising began in Manchester 2004.
Dozens of small refugee organisations came
together from across the city to establish a Refugee
and Migrant Charter, backed by civic leaders, which
for the first time established their rights and
responsibilities as citizens.
From there, Thrive in Greater Manchester worked
alongside asylum seekers to improve both their
housing and the way they receive benefits.
They have campaigned alongside tenants groups inCollyhurst for significant improvements to
dilapidated and rundown housing. They have helped
prevent a mosque in Moss Side from being closed by
the council, instead working with the authority to
ensure planning regulations were fulfilled and
residents concerns addressed.
Working with the National Endowment for Science,
Technology and the Arts (NESTA), Thrive in Greater
Manchester have pioneered the use of participatory
budgeting as a tool for community organising. They
engaged over 550 local people from three of the
most deprived areas of the city in the directallocation of 45,000 to 37 community groups.
Three action groups including one around school
exclusions have emerged.
Now, with support from the Young Foundations
Building Local Activism programme, they are
expanding the use of community organising into
new areas of the city. They are beginning to tackle
issues around rogue landlords, and the shoddy
treatment of unemployed young people.
Thrive Greater Manchester3rd Floor, Dale House35 Dale StreetManchesterM1 2HF
Telephone: 0161 236 9321Email: [email protected]: www.church-poverty.org.uk
THRIVE Greater Manchester
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Mum-of-four Jackie Burton, 48, was first inspiredto set up Three As (Action for AcademicAchievement) in 1993 after her own son wasunfairly threatened with exclusion. The grouphas since helped hundreds of children acrossGreater Manchester get back to school. They arenow working with Thrive Greater Manchester ona range of issues around school exclusions
African-caribbean boys are four times more likely to
be excluded but are much more vulnerable than
others to the impact of leaving education.
For expelled boys living in inner-city areas like
Manchesters Moss Side, where gang-related crime is
a huge problem, the risk of criminalisation is high.
When Jackie Burtons son was first threatened with
exclusion, she decided to stand up to the decision.
An active member of Moss Sides Jamaican Societyand a local youth worker, Jackie was able to call on
influential community representatives at short
notice to support her case. But, she realised, many
other parents may not have that help.
So she set up Three As to assist parents in the same
way that she was.
As well as negotiating with head teachers to get
children reinstated, Three As also work to tackle the
root causes of exclusion.
They are currently working alongside Thrive Greater
Manchester (GM) to encourage fathers to get more
involved in school life, breaking down the barriers
that may stop them being engaged.
Members of Three As and Thrive GM have met with
the Childrens Commissioner, who has published a
damning report about school exclusions across
the country.
The Commissioner has agreed to work with Three As
to challenge unfair and illegal exclusions, and build a
culture of good practice in which issues are resolvedbefore they reach crisis point.
JACKIE BURTON, SECRETARY, THREE As
It started when my own son was at school; Ireceived a phone call to say he had been accusedof extortion and bullying. They were words thatforever stick in my mind.
When I went into the room, there were chairs in a
semi-circle and one chair in the middle for me. But
when I came in with my entourage, people startedto rearrange the chairs and the power of joining with
others just changed the dynamics.
The whole thing got dropped. But what it made me
realise is that there are a lot of parents who may
have been in that situation who would have just
fallen to pieces.
So from that day I vowed I would get a group
together to support parents. Thats where Three As
came from.
We dont turn anyone away. And we still dont now.Its very difficult because were running with no
funding, as volunteers. It is like full-time job. But
someones got to do it. And each time I think Im
School ExclusionsIt is a massive problem. If youre excluded from school as a young blackchild youre eight times more likely to be locked up, dead, or in a gang.
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tired or I cant be bothered, I think of that day when I
got called into school and those people who gave
up time for me. So I always go.
It is a massive problem. And it doesnt seem to be
going away. The statistics say if youre excluded from
school as a young black child youre eight times
more likely to be locked up, dead, or in a gang.
Your whole social development is deferred because
of this exclusion.
Schools need to be more culturally aware. Ive seen
children get in trouble for things that are not
necessarily bad-mannered within their culture, but
the school has seen it as that.
When you come into teacher training college you
come in with your own attitudes and stereotypes.
And youre bringing those into your teaching. I think
that at teacher training college there should be
modules that are ongoing around race and equality.
There are several teachers who do really well.
They see those young people as individuals; not by
the colour of their skin. Until you get to that place,
where every teacher thinks like that, then were going
to have problems.
Weve had parents do courses, weve had parents
become school governors. Weve had children who
have been reinstated back into school who had been
thrown out and told theyre never going back. Weve
managed to negotiate with head teachers. Weveheld conferences with hundreds of parents.
Particularly with young black boys, if their fathers
arent involved, the risk of them being excluded is
far higher. Its about working with those men and
getting them involved.
Community knows what community needs.
And too often with policy makers, they have no
clues about how people live, think, eat and sleep.
So how can they make a decision or policy that
affects their lives?
Every child has a right to a decent education. Every
child has a right to be in school. And I will fight for
that until theres no breath left. G
Every child has a right toa decent education. And Iwill fight for that untiltheres no breath left.
Mental HealthI feel as though we are listened to more now whenwe go to meetings. You get the feeling that they
dont really want you there, because we speak uptoo much. But thats what we are about.
With a suicide rate twice thenational average, Manchester hasa huge mental health problem.Many of those suffering frompsychological conditions self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
Their carers are often left aloneto deal with the chaos that theirloved ones conditions can cause.But now carers have cometogether to offer each othersupport and demand better care.
In 2009, the Greater Manchester
Alcohol and Drugs Carers Group
was formed by those with mentally
ill and addicted relatives and friends.
After contacting Thrive GreaterManchester in May, they organised a
carers hearing in Manchester; more
than 200 carers and senior
representatives from Manchester
Mental Health and Social Care
Trust attended.
At the hearing, carers shared their
powerful and often shocking stories.
Many are forced to buy alcohol
and drugs from street dealers for
their relatives; many had beenattacked by those they love.
The hearing had the effect of
galvanising the group, empowering
them whilst having an impact on
those in positions of power.
The group now regularly attends
official Trust and NHS meetings,
scrutinising their decisions. They
fight for the rights of their relatives,
representing their interests at official
level. They have set up a help linefor other carers. And, crucially, they
provide support for one another.
PAT WHEELDON, FOUNDER,GREATER MANCHESTER ALCOHOLAND DRUGS CARERS FOCUS GROUP
Mother-of-three Pat Wheeldon,62, lives in Fallowfield,Manchester. She is the main carerfor her 33-year-old son, who isparanoid schizophrenic andalcohol dependent. He lives in24-hour supported accommodationin nearby Moss Side.
Pat herself suffers from mobilityproblems after having a strokein 2009.
The problem is not being able to get
the right treatment and care for our
loved ones. The service has not been
joined up and the drug and alcohol
services, they dont understand the
problems; they dont want to know.
So we are constantly being passed
around from one to the other, trying
to find the right service.
Its very, very stressful; it makes us
ill. One of the carers, on the day of
the hearing, was attacked by her son
whilst she had a broken foot and
was on crutches. Carers will also paythe drug dealers for drugs for their
loved ones.
My son took fiveoverdoses in 19months. Thats adisgrace really,isnt it?
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The carers hearing madeus feel empowered tochallenge the services.And we will not give upno matter what, becauseits our loved ones werefighting for.
Its so stressful what we have to go through, and we
dont get any help or support from the services.Our loved ones are just basically thrown into the
community and left to get on with it themselves.
My son took five overdoses in 19 months, and thats
a disgrace really isnt it? Theres a big shortage of
psychiatric beds in Manchester, and people are out
there suffering who need to be in hospital. Its just
a nightmare.
Weve founded this group, which is the Greater
Manchester Alcohol and Drugs Carers Focus Group.
Weve got 60-odd members, and we go to all the
meetings. Every one we can go to, we go to. Itshelped a lot and we all speak to each other, we all
help each other.
I feel as though we are listened to more now when
we go to meetings. You get the feeling that they
dont really want you there, because we speak up
too much. But thats what we are about.
Were fighting at the moment for locked doors in
psychiatric wards because they just let them come
and go as they please. They go out and they get
drugs and they take them onto the wards. We dont
want our kids to be going to hospital and taking
more drugs and alcohol.
So many people commit suicides on the wards as
well as off the wards. People are being left out in the
communities to just get ill, get really ill and get worse.
There were over 200 people at the carers hearing;
and all the important people that we needed to be
there, they did make us some promises. The hearing
made us feel empowered to challenge the services.
All the services know that were not going away.
And we will not give up no matter what, because its
our loved ones were fighting for. G
Pat Wheeldon, Founder, Greater Manchester Alcohol And Drugs Carers Focus Group