“By 2030, the

Bangladeshi

Community in

England and

Wales should no

longer be

regarded as a

‘socially and

economically

disadvantaged

ethnic group”.

National Network of Bangladeshi Community Entrepreneurs National Network of Bangladeshi Community Research & Audit National Network of Bangladeshi Community & Voluntary Sector National Network of Bangladeshi Community Advice & Resources National Network of Bangladeshi Community Services & Fundraising National Network of Bangladeshi Youth & Women’s Empowerment National Network of Bangladeshi Sports Development

Vision

“By 2030, the Bangladeshi Community in England and Wales should no longer be regarded as a ‘socially and economically

disadvantaged ethnic group”. Aim The overall aim of the Council will be to work towards improving the social and economic condition of the Bangladeshi community living in England and Wales. Primary Objectives - Enthuse, engage, and empower the

Bangladeshi community and the civil society organisations to be in the driving seat for socioeconomic development.

- Introduce and implement a series of ‘National Networks’ focusing on services that addresses deprivation related to Income, Employment, Health, Education, Skills, Training, Services and Civic Society.

Governance and Involvement As a Community Regeneration Organisation, BRC will be governed by an Assembly of 45 Regional Members and a Committee of 10 Directors. Detailed information on key appointments can be found on page 6. We look forward to your involvement. Anam Choudhury MSc

Chief Regeneration Officer

HIDDEN TALENTS PARTNERSHIP ENTERPRISE PRESENTS

THE BANGLADESHI REGENERATION COUNCIL ENGLAND & WALES

I extend a warm welcome to you as you read the first newsletter

of the Bangladeshi Regeneration Council in England and Wales and invite you to get

involved.

A disproportionate number of 442,971 Bangladeshi residents living in England and Wales are experiencing high rates of poverty and deprivation and continues to fare worse on a number of key indicators particularly in employment compared to all others. For far too long the Bangladeshi community has been regarded as one of the most socially and economically disadvantaged ethnic groups in the county. To tackle this generational deprivation in the community we are proposing to introduce a Bangladeshi Regeneration Council in England and Wales. It is founded on the fact that the Bangladeshi Community is a rich source of entrepreneurship and talent, and that the community coming together to work on the things that matter to them is a key way of unlocking that resource. We hope that you will have a valuable role to play in deciding and delivering all aspects of this vital process, and that your involvement will result in prosperous, more sustainable and successful outcome for the Bangladeshi community in England and Wales.

Consultation and Development January 2013

Issue 1

PAGE 1

Welcome

Page 1: Welcome Page 2: Population Study Page 3: Socioeconomic Study Page 4: Development Model Page 5: Services/Governance Page 6: Community Appointments Page 7: Approach and Case Study Page 8: Recommendation and profile

Building communities that last…

London (Inner London) 164,085 London (Outer London) 58,460

East of England 33,035 West Midlands (Met County) 48,809

East Midlands 13,279 North West (Manchester 34,231

````

Population Study The Bangladeshi

population in England and

Wales is a young one and

has grown rapidly from

2,000 in 1951 to 447,971 in 2011.

The Bangladeshi

population is the most

geographically

concentrated of all ethnic groups in London

numbering 222,545 which

is 6.3% of the London

population.

Within London,

Bangladeshis are

concentrated in Tower Hamlets numbering

81,488.

In 2011, there were

32,589 Bangladeshis

living in Birmingham,

6,592 in Sandwell and 16,324 in Oldham. There

are also 10,708

Bangladeshis living in

Wales.

Almost half of the

Bangladeshi population in England live in the 20

local authorities with the

highest proportion of their

Lower Super Output

Area’s in the most

deprived decile of Indices

of Multiple Deprivation 2010. Census 2011

PAGE 2

2011-442,971

2001-283,000

1991-163,000

1981-65,000

1971-22,000

1961-6,000

1951-2,000

Poverty

Bangladeshis have the highest rate of income poverty out of all ethnic minorities with 65% living

below the poverty line. Even amongst working families, around 65% of Bangladeshis are in income

poverty. More than half of the people from Bangladeshi community live in low income

households. poverty.org

Employment

Bangladeshi men and women are under-represented in the labour market and

unemployment and economic inactivity rates are significantly above national average. A quarter of the working-age Bangladeshis are workless and

Bangladeshi women have lowest percentage (34%) of any major ethnic group in formal labour market.

poverty.org

Education

Despite recent good GCSE performance, Bangladeshi students are less likely on average to stay on in school after the age of 16. Nearly half of

Bangladeshi women (49%) and 40% of Bangladeshi men have no qualifications and this lack of

educational attainment contributed to lower paid jobs and poverty. Department of Education 2011

Health

Bangladeshis, across all age groups, experience a

much poorer level of health than average. Bangladeshi men and women are three or four

times more likely than the general population to rate their health as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’. Health Survey for England

2004

Housing

Bangladeshis are most highly socially housed ethnic

group and are more likely to experience dissatisfaction with housing arrangements than

other ethnic groups. In 2002, Bangladeshi households were the largest in the UK with an

average of 4.7 members. ONS 2002

Civil Society

Language barriers, poor communication & management skills and a lack of understanding

about project development and funding mechanisms mean that many community

organisations are unable to fully express their needs or present their organisations well to funders or

partners.

Socioeconomic Study

PAGE 3

Development Model

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Formation of the leadership from within the community is critical towards

developing a community-led regeneration initiative

Consultation on the Formation of the Bangladeshi Regeneration Council in England and Wales

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2013

BASELINE AND FEASIBILITY STUDY

A clear and powerful case of the real need for the socioeconomic development of the Bangladeshi Community in England and Wales

Socioeconomic Study

Goals & Objectives

Resources & Constraints

BUSINESS PLANNING

Setting out all the information that stakeholders and potential partners will require in order for them to consider supporting and working with BRC.

SUSTAINABILITY

PARTNERS

SERVICES

MANAGEMENT

BUDGET

NETWORKS

NATIONAL DIALOGUE AND CONFERENCE

Involving the national community to discuss the findings, process and the structure of the Bangladeshi Regeneration Council in England and Wales

Partnerships Fundraising

IMPLEMENTATION

Delivering a clear set of community led regeneration services for the Bangladeshi Community in England and Wales

SERVICE COORDINATION / MONITORING / EVALUATION

NATIONWIDE PROMOTION JUNE 2013

VISION 2030

‘Community led

regeneration is defined

by actions that are based

on the needs and issues

understood by and

experienced by

communities themselves,

where communities are

supported to take the

lead in identifying and

implementing local

solutions’.

Scottish Community Development Centre 2011

www.scdc.org.uk

PAGE 4

Enterprising

Registrar of Bangladeshi Community in England & Wales

National Assembly Board of Directors Network Forums

National Networks

PAGE5

Assembly Chairperson

National Network of Bangladeshi Community Research & Audit

Building a comprehensive picture of the Bangladeshi Community, helping to understand the community and shape

its plans for the future

National Network of Bangladeshi Community & Voluntary Sector

Strengthening the capacity of the Bangladeshi Civil Society providing a meaningful platform for the socioeconomic

development that the Bangladeshi community needs

National Network of Bangladeshi Community Entrepreneurs

Mobilising national and local networks and leadership to drive the socioeconomic development that the Bangladeshi

community needs

National Network of Bangladeshi Community Advice & Resources

Communicating and informing the Bangladeshi Community about the statutory and non-statutory services available to

them

National Network of Bangladesh Sports Development

Developing sport as a ‘hook’ & a vehicle to attract & engage marginalised Bangladeshi young adults in positive activity

National Network of Bangladeshi Youth & Women’s Empowerment

Harnessing the hidden potentials of Bangladeshi youth and women towards building a better future for all

National Network of Bangladeshi Community Services & Fundraising

Producing innovative and exciting programmes of socioeconomic development and fundraising towards build a

prosperous Bangladeshi community

Bangladeshi Community in England and Wales Registrar of the Bangladeshi Community Members in England and Wales

Board of Directors 10 Elected Board of Directors

Services and Governance

Bangladeshi Regeneration Council 45 Elected Regional Members Assembly [1 Representative for every 10,000 Bangladeshis]

Regeneration Service Manager + Team

Board Chairperson

Executive Director

Performance Manager + Team

Fundraising Manager + Team

Financial Management Manager + Team

Quality Control Manager + Team

Deputy Director

PAGE 5

Regeneration Team REGENERATION SERVICES

Regional Members (RM) [45 Posts] Honorary

Aim:

Represent regional views of the Bangladeshi Community on issues of poverty and deprivation.

Role and Responsibilities

1. To attend meetings of the AGM 2. To attend Network-Committees of your choice 3. To act as the accountable mechanism for BRC 4. To contribute to the strategic direction of BRC.

Education, Qualities, skills and knowledge

have knowledge of the Bangladeshi community have an understanding of the Bangladeshi

voluntary and community sector; have knowledge of community regeneration;

be professional and tactful; speak clearly and succinctly;

show interest in BRC’s viewpoints; have an ability to respect confidences; & ensure BRC is heading in the right direction

Board of Directors [10 Posts] Non-Executive

Aim:

Provide strategic leadership to the development and coordination of the BRC National Networks.

Role and Responsibilities

1. To coordinate the development of a network. 2. To coordinate the network business planning. 3. To coordinate the network’s delivery. 4. To represent the network as its figurehead.

Education, Qualities, skills and knowledge

Educated to a minimum degree level;

have knowledge of regeneration & renewal; have an understanding of the Bangladeshi

voluntary and community sector; be professional and tactful;

show interest in member's viewpoints; have an ability to respect confidences; & ensure decisions are taken and recorded

CHAIRPERSON [2 Posts] Honorary

Aim:

Provide leadership for the socioeconomic development of the Bangladeshi Community.

Role and Responsibilities

1. To ensure the BRC Board functions properly. 2. To ensure the BRC is managed effectively. 3. To provide the BRC Chief Support/Guidance. 4. To represent the BRC as its figurehead.

Education, Qualities, skills and knowledge

Educated to a minimum masters level;

have knowledge of community regeneration; have an understanding of the Bangladeshi

voluntary and community sector; be professional and tactful; speak clearly and succinctly; be impartial and objective;

show interest in member's viewpoints; have an ability to respect confidences; & ensure decisions are taken and recorded

NOTE

Regional Members (RM) are invited to represent the following regions.

Regions Population RM - North East 10,992 2 - North West 45,955 5 - Yorkshire & Humber 22,461 2 - East of England 13,279 1 - West Midlands 52,565 5 - East Midlands 33,035 3 - London 222,545 22 - South East 27,997 3 - South West 8,434 1 - Wales 10,708 1

Total 447,971 45

Board meetings will be usually held at the BRC central office in Sandwell, Birmingham. Travel expenses will be met when representing BRC. To register your interest, please contact Anam Choudhury: Mobile: 07949600771 Email: info@htpenterprise.com

Community Appointments

PAGE6

Approach to Regeneration and Case Study

PAGE 7

BUILD

COMMUNITY

BUILD

CAPACITY

BUILD

INFLUENCE

Sense of coherence

A

Regenerated Community

Environment is structured, predictable and explicable

Investment in behaviour change seen as worthwhile

Opportunities for individual, family and community advancement taken up

More community involvement to address deprivation issues

Increased individual responsibility for behaviour change

More positive health and wellbeing outcomes

Greater engagement with initiatives such as work programmes

Decreased impact on public services and improved quality of life

- Develop shared spaces

- Encourage social support networks

- Identify local assets: knowledge-experience-time

- Support local people to come together to turn individual issues into community concerns

- Build skills and knowledge

- Untap, mobilise and

build on local assets - Build local groups - Support local

governance

- Engage communities in decision making processes

- Support the development of skills and knowledge on wider regeneration issues

- Use local knowledge and experience to influence decisions

- Develop initiatives which engender meaningful local involvement

- Support independent action

Source: SCDC Regeneration Discussion Paper June 2011.

Innovative, exciting, resourceful and meaningful community led regeneration programmes

Case Study: Bangladeshi Community Regeneration at a Local Level

In 2002 motivated by the presence of the Labour Government’s New Deal for Communities Regeneration Initiative, and concerns over the continued deprivation faced by the Bangladeshi Community in Sandwell, a group of young Bangladeshis led by Anam Choudhury approached the Confederation of Bangladeshi Organisations (CBO) to initiate a Bangladeshi Community Regeneration programme with the aim to improve the quality of life of the Bangladeshi community in Sandwell. Over the course of ten years, we have successfully promoted the organisational development of CBO; introduced ten large scale community regeneration projects involving building community’s skills, confidence and resources; procured £1,551,953 in grant aid; and created twenty one community development posts in the sustainable regeneration of the Bangladeshi Community in Sandwell. CBO today is a thriving community sector organisations with over 4,000 residents registered as beneficiaries, two dedicated resource centres, praised highly in the Sandwell Council’s Review and won Channel S Best Community Organisation Award 2012. To learn more about CBO’s activities visit www.cbo786.co.uk.

BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY REGENERATION AT A LOCAL LEVEL

PAGE 6

Recommendation

Anam Choudhury: Profile

PAGE 8

Dr Mike Beazley Centre for Urban and Regional Studies- University of Birmingham I have had a longstanding interest in community-led regeneration. I strongly believe that the setting up of the Bangladeshi Regeneration Council in England and Wales is a very positive initiative. It has the potential to contribute towards the much needed improvements to the quality of life for the Bangladeshi community. The Bangladeshi

Regeneration Council

in England and Wales

C/O

HTP ENTERPRISE

Central House

Unit 6

312-314 High Street

West Bromwich

West Midlands

Birmingham 70 8HS

Email:

info@htpenterprise.com

www.htpenterprise.com

www.hiddentalentspartnership.com

Anam Choudhury pictured left with his mentor the late Lord King of West Bromwich. Anam said of Lord King who suddenly passed away on 10th January 2013 aged 75 “for nearly two decades I have been privileged to receive his mentorship which gave me great inspiration, knowledge, motivation and encouragement. He has been the people’s Lord whom I deeply admired and respected. He will never be forgotten and will remain enshrined in our hearts and minds forever”. Born in Sylhet, Bangladesh on 1977, Anam is the youngest son of Sheikh Abdus Salam Choudhury and the grandson of Sheikh Abdul Hakim Choudhury, both of whom were Academic and Islamic Scholars. Anam’s career in community led regeneration began in 1996 as a Community Researcher for the former Sandwell Health Authority.

In 1999, Anam was appointed to the first Greets Green New Deal for Communities Regeneration Team leading its research and outreach team. In the development of the Greets Green Regeneration Plan 1999, Anam played an instrumental role in the engagement of the isolated community groups and organisations building trust, confidence and partnerships between the community groups and the mainstream agencies. Over the years, Anam introduced a series of community regeneration concepts such as ‘hidden talents’, ‘the mirror’, ‘building bridges’ and the ‘tree of concern’ to encourage and empower local residents and the community organisations to take up ownership of their own regeneration process. In 2002, Anam started working as a Regeneration Activist and Entrepreneur. He was appointed as a Community Representative to the Greets Green Partnership (Regeneration) Board, Sandwell and Birmingham HMRA (Regeneration) Pathfinder Board, School Governing Boards, and the Sandwell Leisure Trust. Over the course of the last decade Anam successfully provided organisational development and leadership to over 10 community organisations in Sandwell & Birmingham including the Confederation of Bangladeshi Organisations and Soul City Arts; developed proposals to secure resources and contracts worth £3.1M from various trusts, foundations, and statutory agencies; Inspired and empowered 30 residents as community workers and organisers; and introduced and managed over 40 innovative community regeneration and development projects focusing on addressing generational poverty and deprivation within the deprived communities. In 2007 Anam was conferred with a Master of Science degree in Urban Regeneration Research and Public Policy from the University of Birmingham and currently pursuing a PhD degree on ‘sustainable neighbourhood renewal in developing countries’. He is the founder of Hidden Talents Partnership, HTP Enterprise, Sports2Work and many other community based organisations across deprived neighborhoods and communities. Anam’s ambition is to become a proficient Social Scientist and aims to support the professional development of 2000 Social Scientists by 2030.

The gathering of data and the establishment of a series of national networks can help to deepen the understanding and increase the awareness of the problems facing the Bangladeshi community. It can also help to identify new and innovative ways in which these problems can be tackled more effectively. The strength of this initiative is that it comes from within the Bangladeshi community itself and it will have a national remit which can bring together the Bangladeshi community across the country. As a community regeneration organisation it will be able to speak on behalf of the wider community at a national level. This is an exciting proposal that can provide a critical role in the future regeneration of Bangladeshi communities and I look forward to watching the initiative grow and develop over the next few years.