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Kevin Gulliver and Dawn Prentice

DORCASTHE JOURNEY:

21 Years of Dorcas Housing and Community Support Association Ltd

DORCASTHE JOURNEY:

21 Years of Dorcas Housing and Community Support Association Ltd

Kevin Gulliver and Dawn Prentice

First published bySomething Worth Saying (SWS) Communications in 2015

www.somethingworthsaying.com

© Kevin Gulliver and Dawn Prentice July 2015The moral right of the authors has been asserted

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-906149-30-7

A Cataloguing in Publication Record for this title is available from the British Library

ContentsAcknowledgements 01

Foreword by Byron Steele 02Treasurer of Dorcas Housing and Community Support Association.

Introduction by Eseata Steele 04Chair of the Friends of Dorcas and Former President of the West Midlands Community Services Federation of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Former Vice Chair of Dorcas.

Dorcas Founding Board Members 06

Chapter 1 – About the History of Dorcas 07

Chapter 2 – From Faith: The Origins of Dorcas 10

Chapter 3 – A Partnership Approach 17

Chapter 4 – More than Bricks and Mortar 21

Chapter 5 – Dorcas Today and Tomorrow 25

Dorcas Timeline 28

Current Dorcas Board Members 30

Chair’s Tribute 30

About the Authors 31

Select Bibliography 31

D O R C A S – T H E J O U R N E Y

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all of the board members, staff and customers ofDorcas Housing and Community Support Association Ltd who gave their timeto provide information to enlighten this history.

Special thanks go to all board members including Pastor Dalbir Masih, EseataSteele, Byron Steele, Margaret Mitchell, Veronica ‘Judith’ Asare, WytcliffHudson and former Director Gary Clarke.

July 2015

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A C K N OW L E D G E M E N T S

Eseata and Byron Steele

Foreword

It is with great pleasure that I append this Foreword to the history of Dorcas Housingand Community Support Association to mark our 21st anniversary as a successfulMidlands-based housing and community support association. I think that thefollowing history, researched and written by Kevin Gulliver and Dawn Prentice, tellsthe story of a bold venture, originating from the Seventh Day Adventist Church,which now has a significant legacy and a vibrant future.

Along with many others, I was a founding member of Dorcas. We wanted to createa stronger voice for our community and decided to bring together the Seventh DayAdventist churches in the West Midlands and coordinate our efforts. Over the years,we have worked with many others; not least the Black Country Housing Group,Trident Housing Association and Trident Reach; all of which have made tellingcontributions to our success. As Treasurer, I have overseen the financial viability andgrowth in financial strength over many years.

I should like to pay tribute to our founding members, who all gave of their time freely and generously to create the first voluntary Board of Management of Dorcas.In particular, my thanks go to Pastor Dalbir Masih, Eseata Steele, Wytcliff Hudson,Veronica ‘Judith’ Asare, Margaret Mitchell, Masren Ricardo Kerr as well as DoreenJohnson, Carlene Riley Kerr, Hilary Mitchell and Gary Clarke, who joined us after fiveyears of Dorcas coming into being. Other supporters in the early days includedHenry Blake and Jennifer Nelson. Others who supported are too numerous tomention but I’d like to pay tribute to Sandra Spence, Chief Executive of the BlackCountry Housing Group and John Morris, Chief Executive of Trident.

Dorcas has not only been a successful housing association providing much neededhomes to the African Caribbean community, but also a provider of communityservices to improve health and wellbeing, support young black men at risk, createemployment and training and help those in difficulty with their mortgages. It is all ofthis that underscores the Dorcas mission.

Byron Steele Treasurer of the Dorcas Housing and Community Support Association.

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F O R E W O R D

Introduction

I am proud to introduce this history of Dorcas to celebrate our 21st anniversary. The book depicts the origins of Dorcas and its links to the Seventh Day AdventistsChurch. It shows how Dorcas grew from an idea of community-based housing andcare provision, inspired by faith, to a distinctive black and minority ethnic housingassociation, built in partnership with others.

My connection with Dorcas goes back to before its foundation when, as a HealthVisitor, with my work in the NHS, care providers and local communities, I recognisedthat the needs of African Caribbean elders were not being well catered for and thatsomething needed to be done. Yet it was also apparent that we needed to meetmore than the physical needs of Seventh Day Adventist elders. Their cultural, spiritualand social needs were not being met. Since the spiritual needs of Seventh DayAdventists are crucial to their health and wellbeing, I realised that a special vehiclewas needed that blended meeting needs with spiritual concerns.

So during the early 1990s, I and others from the Seventh Day Adventist Church inthe West Midlands sought to create Dorcas. As many will know, we took the namefrom a female biblical figure. Dorcas is the Greek translation of the Aramaic Tabitha,who was a widow who tried to spread kindness in her community of Joppa. Whenshe died she was mourned by many people out of respect for her good works andlife of charity. This is the philosophy we have tried to instil in the mission of Dorcasand its activities and achievements since 1994.

This Dorcas journey, then, shows how the housing association grew over 21 yearswith ‘creating a community of kindness’ at its heart. It further illustrates how manypeople contributed to the success of Dorcas and how we plan to build on thissuccess long into the future.

Eseata SteeleChair of the Friends of Dorcas and Former President of the West Midlands

Community Services Federation of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and

Former Vice Chair of Dorcas.

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5

I N T R O D U C T I O N

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Dorcas Founding Board Members

• Pastor Dalbir MasihChair, West Midlands Advisory Council

• Eseata SteelePresident of the West Midlands Community Services Federation

• Byron SteeleTreasurer, Great Brick Kiln Church, Wolverhampton

• Wytcliff HudsonGreat Brick Kiln Church, Wolverhampton

• Veronica ‘Judith’ AsareChair of the Culture Committee

• Margaret MitchellWest Bromwich Church

• Masren Ricardo KerrWest Bromwich Church

• Doreen JohnsonWolverhampton Central Church

Later joined by:

• Carlene Riley KerrWest Bromwich Church

• Hilary MitchellCamp Hill Church, Birmingham

• Gary ClarkeYardley Church, Birmingham

Additional Supporters:

• Henry Blake (Deceased)Dudley Church

• Mike Swain (Deceased)Faith in Sandwell

Secretary:

• Jennifer NelsonCamp Hill Church, Birmingham

CHAPTER 1

About the History of DorcasIntroductionThis history of Dorcas Housing and Community Support Association Limited,hereafter referred to as Dorcas, celebrates 21 years of a unique housingorganisation. Founded in 1994 primarily by members of the Seventh Day AdventistChurch in the West Midlands, Dorcas is one of only a handful of housing associationsin the region still controlled by the community that created them. Dorcas, a Greektranslation of the Aramaic Tabitha, was a biblical figure and widow who supportedthe poor and believed that kindness in the community was a key part of worshipingGod and a golden rule in what later became known as Christianity. That’s why thishistory refers to ‘creating a community of kindness’, since this has been the drivingforce behind the development of Dorcas over the last 21 years and will remain itslodestar into the future.

A Note on the History of Housing AssociationsThe history of Dorcas needs to be placed within the context of the developinghistoriography of social housing organisations. There have been many histories ofhousing associations published in the last twenty years. Some of these historiestrace back the origins and development of housing associations to the 19th Century.Others portray more recent developments. In the case of black and minority ethnic(BME) housing associations, of which Dorcas is one, the majority were created from1985 onwards and form as sub-set of today’s 1,700 housing associations. Whatmost of these histories have in common though, is that faith groups, andpredominantly Christian groups were instrumental in their conception, creation andevolution; certainly in their early decades and many continue to have members oftheir founding organisations on their Board of Management while faith-basedprinciples continue to inform their social purpose.

In many cases, what motivated individuals and groups of individuals to establishhousing associations, which have gone by many names in the last century and ahalf (including public utility societies, housing societies and trusts, housingassociations, registered social landlords and registered providers). In actuality,today’s housing associations were formed in ‘discontinuous waves’. Firstly, therewas a pre-1914 diversity of philanthropic and limited profit, ‘5 percent philanthropy’

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C H A P T E R 1 – A B O U T T H E H I S T O R Y O F D O R C A S

voluntary housing organisations and embraces the model dwellings companies, co-partnership societies and Octavia Hill-style management philosophies. Often,these were Quaker inspired (for example the Joseph Rowntree Trust and Bournville Village Trust).

Then there were a range of ‘front-line’ housing societies and trusts in the 1920s and 1930s. During the 1960s and 1970s cost rent and co-ownership societies, thennew ‘social action’ housing associations involved in urban regeneration, sponsoredby Shelter and church-based groupings were formed. BME housing organisationslike Dorcas were created from the mid-1980s onwards: initially as organisationsmeeting the ‘special needs’ of BME communities and later as general needs housingproviders mainly in the inner areas of the UK’s major conurbations. Today there areabout 70 BME housing associations, represented by BMENational, of which Dorcasis a member. Following in the1990s were new housing associations as part of stocktransfer from local councils.

Researching the History of DorcasA wide range of approaches were deployed to discover the major elements of thehistory of Dorcas. These included:

• Analysis of documentary evidence including annual reports and accounts, Boardof Management minutes, statistical and regulatory returns, newsletters and presscuttings.

• In-depth interviews with Dorcas former and current Board Members and staff.

• Focus groups with Board members.

• Short interviews with a handful of stakeholders.

• A review of key literature relating to the history of housing, public policy and theUK economy.

These various sources have been brought together to present as comprehensive ahistory of Dorcas as possible. Inevitably, some will give greater weight to someaspects of the history than others. In the end, the interpretation and presentation ofthe history of Dorcas are based on the decisions of the authors and we take fullresponsibility for any errors or omissions.

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Structure of the HistoryThe introductory chapter describes the academic context in which the history of housing associations like Dorcas is placed. Chapter (2) seeks to explore the faith-based origins of Dorcas in the Seventh Day Adventist tradition, internationally,nationally and in the West Midlands. Chapter (3) reveals how Dorcas has alwayspursued a partnership approach. Chapter (4) shows how Dorcas, althoughconcerned with providing housing, has always been about more than bricks and mortar, providing a range of community-based services to mainly people ofAfrican-Caribbean origin. Then the final chapter describes the Dorcas of today and tomorrow. The book is completed by providing a Dorcas historical timeline,which summarises key developments. And finally, current Dorcas Board Membersare listed, followed by a tribute from the Chair.

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C H A P T E R 1 – A B O U T T H E H I S T O R Y O F D O R C A S

Masren Ricardo Kerr, Wytcliff Hudson and Hilary Mitchell

CHAPTER 2

From Faith: The Origins of DorcasThe Role of Seventh Day AdventismAs we have seen, faith-based organisations have played an important role in creatinghousing associations in the UK for 150 years. So it is equally important inunderstanding the origins and development of Dorcas to identify the faith-basedroots of Dorcas and the Christian tradition from which Dorcas sprang. This faithtradition was the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which is a Protestant denominationdistinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath. The Seventh Day Adventists Church also placesemphasis on the imminent second coming (the ‘Advent’) of Jesus Christ.

Much of the theology of the Seventh Day Adventist Church corresponds to common Protestant Christian teachings such as the Trinity and the infallibility ofScripture. However, distinctive teachings include the unconscious state of the deadand the doctrine of an investigative judgement. The Church is also known for itsemphasis on diet and health, its holistic understanding of the person, its strikingpromotion of religious liberty, as well as its conservative principles and advocacy of a conservative lifestyle.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church grew out of the ‘Millerite’ movement of upstateNew York in the United States during the mid-19th Century and was formally established in 1863. It is the largest of several Adventist groups which arose from the ‘Millerite’ movement of the 1840s. William Millerpredicted, on the basis of calculations arising from Daniel 8:14–16, that Jesus Christwould return to Earth between the Spring of 1843 and the Spring of 1844. In the summer of 1844, ‘Millerites’ came to believe that Jesus would return on October 22nd 1844, understood to be the Biblical Day of Atonement for that year. When this did not happen – an event which becameknown as the ‘Great Disappointment’ – most of William Miller’s followers disbanded and returned to their original churches and beliefs. Some ‘Millerites’,however, believed that William Miller’s calculations were correct but that hisinterpretation of Daniel 8:14-16 was flawed. This group of Adventists continued tobelieve that Christ’s second coming would be imminent.

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Among the founders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church was Ellen G. White,whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the Church today. The worldchurch is governed by a General Conference, with smaller regions administered bydivisions, union conferences and local conferences. There is a membership of more18 million people, and is the twelfth-largest religious body in the world. It has amissionary presence in over 200 countries and territories and is ethnically andculturally diverse. The Church operates numerous schools, hospitals and publishinghouses worldwide, as well as a humanitarian aid organisation known as theAdventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a democratic organisation with feedbackmechanisms at all points within the structure which enables the flow of informationup and down and across the organisation, while communication is enhanced. The Conferences oversee the services within their region and the local churches.The North England Conference oversees all churches within its designatedgeographical area.

Diagram One – Seventh Day Adventist Church Structure

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C H A P T E R 2 – F R O M F A I T H : T H E O R I G I N S O F D O R C A S

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH WORLD HQ (in America) – GENERAL CONFERENCE

BRITISH UNION CONFERENCE (office in Watford)

The BRITISH UNION CONFERENCE is made up by local churches within the North and South England Conferences and the Missions.

WORLDWIDE GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH including TRANSEUROPEAN DIVISION

(UK and Europe – HQ in St Albans)

NORTH ENGLANDCONFERENCE

(office in Nottingham)

SOUTH ENGLANDCONFERENCE (office in Watford)

IRISH MISSION,WELSH MISSION AND SCOTTISHMISSIONS

Seventh Day Adventism in the West MidlandsSeventh Day Adventism is thriving in the West Midlands conurbation, the regionfrom which Dorcas sprang, where there are 33 Seventh Day Adventist churcheswith almost 4,000 members. The West Midlands is the largest area of the Church’sNorthern Conference, with 44 per cent of the Conference’s total membership.Membership is particularly prolific at the following churches:

• Birmingham Camp Hill, Handsworth, Yardley

• Sandwell Smethwick, Wednesbury, West Bromwich

• Wolverhampton Great Britain Street (Wolverhampton Central)

• Dudley Dudley

These figures are for members of the Church only – that is people who have madea commitment to be a Seventh Day Adventist and are baptised. They do not includemany more people who may attend these churches of which they are not officiallymembers by baptism. By the Church’s own estimate non-baptised attendees would represent a further 800 children and a further 200 adults. This would give atotal number of Church closer to 5,000 in the West Midlands. While the SeventhDay Adventist Church is multi-ethnic, in the West Midlands the majority of Churchmembers are of African-Caribbean or Black British origin. Membership is shown inthe following maps.

From FaithAlongside worship, a noticeable feature of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is the‘value added’ through the emphasis it places on community service. This takes anumber of forms including:

• Provision for young people combining activities, sport, education, communityworks and training opportunities.

• Provision for older people including training and social programmes, travelopportunities, luncheon clubs and day centres.

• Provision of a Saturday night ‘soup kitchen’ providing food and clothing in theseaustere times.

• Prison ministry.

• Healthy living and wellbeing.

• Counselling and support.

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The Birth of DorcasDorcas was born out of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the West Midlands.The North England Conference made up by local churches, which is within theBritish Union Conference, aided the formation of Dorcas. More specifically, it wascreated by the West Midlands Community Services Federation (WMCSF) within theChurch. Churches in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton were thekey originators. Dorcas Treasurer Byron Steele said:

“We�wanted�to�create�a�stronger�voice�for�the�African�Caribbean�community�anddecided�to�bring�together�the�Seventh�Day�Adventist�churches�in�the�West�Midlandsand�coordinate�our�efforts�to�provide�housing�and�support�services�for�AfricanCaribbean�elders.�Later�we�became�involved�in�Faith�in�Sandwell�and�SADAAHA(Sandwell�and�Dudley�African�Caribbean�and�Asian�Housing�Associations),�whichsought�to�develop�networks�between�housing�organisations�and�faith�groups.”

Founding member Eseata Steele, President of the WMCSF was a Health Visitor. Herrole within the NHS and her associated work with care providers and localcommunities highlighted the needs of African Caribbean elders within the communityand the lack of culturally sensitive support for them. Eseata Steele said:

“It�was�apparent�to�me�that�the�housing�and�support�needs�of�African�Caribbeanelders�were�not�being�met.�Nor�were�their�cultural,�spiritual�and�social�needs�ofSeventh�Day�Adventist�elders�in�particular.�Meeting�the�spiritual�needs�of�SeventhDay�Adventists�is�especially�important�to�their�wellbeing.”

In 1991, Eseata presented her concerns to the Executive Committee of the WMCSFand put forward the idea of creating a housing organisation which would meet theneeds of African Caribbean, and especially Seventh Day Adventist, elders. TheWMCSF was in agreement that action must be taken. This organisation wouldprovide housing and community services for African-Caribbean elders in the WestMidlands. There was also a recognition that a shortage of homes for AfricanCaribbean elders existed. The purpose of the new Dorcas organisation was to assistAfrican Caribbean elders, who were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Churchand others living in the local community.

So a dedicated committee of founding members worked to create a fully-fledgedcommunity housing and support association. This prompted the partnership withBlack Country Housing Group (BCHG) to secure funding from the Housing

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Corporation, and to enable Dorcas to build some homes for African Caribbeanelders. At this stage, Dorcas held its meetings at BCHG’s offices. It took two yearsto develop Dorcas into the organisation that would be recognised as a much needed service for African Caribbean elders. Their aspiration was to provide support to people who wanted, and were able to live independently. This led to the development of Advent Gardens, West Bromwich, comprising nine bungalows.

Despite incorporating Housing Association in the Dorcas name, the operatingenvironment changed dramatically, smaller housing organisations were no longerrecognised. Therefore, no registration of Dorcas was sought because the HousingCorporation would not accept Dorcas due to its limited size. However, Dorcas did become a member of the National Housing Federation, the representative body for housing associations, and later BMENational, the organisation for BMEhousing organisations.

The origins of Dorcas are firmly in the voluntary sector. There was extensive workby the founding volunteers from 1991 onwards, including fund-raising by Veronica‘Judith’ Asare, and promotion of the housing and community support issues of African Caribbean elders to local housing authorities and housing associations.As Eseata Steele described this period:

“We�started�with�literally�no�money�in�the�bank.�A�donation�of�£100�was�made�by�a�member�of�the�church.�The�Culture�Committee�led�by�Judith,�began�the�fund-raising.�We�also�had�pro�bono�accountancy�from�Roger�Homer�and�PhilStevens�from�F.E.�Sidaway,�Son�&�Co�Chartered�Accounts.�Alongside,�most�ofthe�Dorcas�volunteers�helped�assess�the�needs�of�elderly�people�in�the�local�AfricanCaribbean�community.�We�also�worked�closely�with�local�agencies,�such�as�theAfrican�Caribbean�Centre�and�the�Cumba�Centre,�which�enabled�us�to�developDorcas�in�ways�that�met�the�needs�of�our�community.”

Over the next few years, the Dorcas’ volunteers built a thriving new community-based housing and support organisation, with deep roots in the African Caribbeancommunity and links to a variety of statutory and voluntary agencies.

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CHAPTER 3

A Partnership ApproachIntroductionDorcas was officially incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society on 17thNovember 1993 but the duration of the inception period lasted to 1994, whenDorcas became fully operational. It became a community housing association. The first set of Dorcas accounts showed that it received grants and donations of£1,400 and finished with an end of year surplus £395.00. Dorcas banked withBarcalys before moving to Unity Trust, and ethical bank. The late 1990s sawprogress for Dorcas with its first housing schemes in the pipeline and communityprojects beginning to flourish. Yet the partnerships which Dorcas developed fromits early years to provide housing were a defining characteristic, to which this chapternow turns.

BME Housing PartnershipsDorcas was one of the first BME housing organisations in the West Midlands. BME housing organisations, generally defined as letting to more than 80% BMEapplicants with a similar proportion of board members, have deep roots going back to the mid-1980s in the most disadvantaged communities of Britain’s majorcities and towns.

BME housing organisations grew out of the need for greater access to socialhousing by BME communities, in the wake of 1980s disturbances and the growingspecial needs of BME communities (especially the elderly and young homelesspeople). BME housing organisations like Dorcas are viable community-based socialenterprises providing culturally sensitive services.

They were the forerunners of agencies envisaged by today’s ‘Big Society’, Localismand self-help. As with Dorcas, they came from the community and remain for thecommunity. Their roots were often faith-based and they saw their role as socialaction organisations – as advocates for BME communities, as well as housingmanagers and developers. The majority retain their faith and community links andstill have active shareholders and Board Members drawn from these constituencies.This is particularly the case for Dorcas.

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C H A P T E R 3 – A PA R T N E R S H I P A P P R O A C H

The BME housing sector was created with the aid of social housing’s regulator, theHousing Corporation, and supported by the National Federation of HousingAssociations (today’s NHF). Alongside regulator support, many mainstream housingassociations, especially those working in the West Midlands have supported BME housing organisations. Some have provided group structure arrangements –such as the Accord Group and Ashram Housing Association. Dorcas later joinedthe Trident Group, but more of this later.

Dorcas has also collaborated with other housing associations on its repairs andmaintenance service, including Friendship Care and Support, Harden HousingAssociation, Castle Vale Community Housing Association, Accord Housing Group,Ashram Moseley Housing Association, as well as repairs contractors and managers3C Asset Management and G. Purchase Construction Ltd.

Early DevelopmentsDorcas has always placed emphasis on helping African Caribbean people of all agesto obtain housing and community support. To achieve this, Dorcas has alwaysworked alongside other housing associations, local authorities, voluntary agenciesand faith groups and organisations to help vulnerable people.

Advent Gardens in West Bromwich was the first housing scheme in which Dorcascollaborated with other organisations. These nine bungalows were completed in2000, five years after the inception of Dorcas. They were built by Black CountryHousing Group (BCHG) to a specification by Dorcas.

From 2000 onwards, Dorcas worked with the BCHG to build The Courtyard,comprising 33 luxury apartments and 6 bungalows for those aged over 55. This scheme is another example of how Dorcas has successfully worked withpartners to better their community and the lives of others.

Dorcas tenant Mrs. Brown said:

“Everything�is�good�since�I�have�been�with�Dorcas.�I�have�been�with�them�for�6�years;�I�don’t�ever�want�to�lose�them�and�their�support.”�

This period saw rapid financial growth too. And there was a need to recruit a Directorof Dorcas to manage the day-to-day affairs of a thriving organisation. Gary Clarke,who was also linked to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Birmingham, becameDirector in 2000 and remained so for the next thirteen years.

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C H A P T E R 3 – A PA R T N E R S H I P A P P R O A C H

Advent Gardens, West Bromwich

The Courtyard, West Bromwich

Providing Repairs, Maintenance and Refurbishment Services to OthersSince the beginning of this decade, Dorcas has run a high quality repairs,maintenance and refurbishment service aimed specifically at members ofdisadvantaged groups, particularly BME communities. The service has also soughtto engage women, who are under-represented in the repairs, maintenance andconstruction industries, to forge careers in these sectors.

The purpose was to provide high standard of maintenance and refurbishment work,with the same quality, timing and cost perimeters that are expected of any traditional‘for profit’ or commercial organisation.

Dorcas repairs, maintenance and refurbishment services to others includesbathroom and kitchen replacement, central heating and electrical upgrade andreplacement, painting and decorating, roofing, flooring, carpentry, tiling, UPVCwindows and doors installation, soffits and fascias, guttering and downpipes, and landscaping and fencing.

ExpansionWith two major housing schemes under its belt, Dorcas now looked to expand itsservices to provide a greater level of community support to the African Caribbeancommunity in the West Midlands. This was a period when, backed by longstandingand new partnerships, Dorcas sought to create a wide-ranging set of services tocover a series of cultural needs in the areas where it worked.

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The Courtyard, West Bromwich

CHAPTER 4

More than Bricks and MortarIntroductionDorcas has always been about more than housing. While one of the key drivers ofits foundation and development has been the provision of housing for AfricanCaribbean communities in the West Midlands, Dorcas has stressed its role inmeeting the health, care and support needs of the community. It has equallyprovided housing and service for old and young alike, seeking to maximise its impacton these two groups. Chapter 4, then seeks to provide an overview of the range ofactivities of Dorcas over the last 21 years.

The Dorcas MissionThe Dorcas mission is to:To work alongside partners to provide real and sustainable opportunities, including housing, for the region’s black, ethnic minority and other hard to reach and disadvantaged groups. Our aim is to help communities develop through the provision of mentoring, advice and guidance, training and employment opportunities and a range of other support services and initiatives.

Dorcas has been working towards this ‘more than bricks and mortar’ mission sinceits inception in1994 by members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, under thefocus of the Community Services department of the church. These individuals wereconcerned about the housing and social needs of the members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Since its origin Dorcas has expanded its range of activities and area of services toaddress a wide range of community based activities and priorities.

Activities over the last two decades have included:

• Supporting African Caribbean elders across the West Midlands.

• Providing culturally sensitive mentor support aimed at providing jobs and trainingopportunities for ethnic minorities.

• Offering repairs, maintenance and refurbishment services to housing partners withbespoke training and development alongside.

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C H A P T E R 4 – M O R E T H A N B R I C K S A N D M O R TA R

• Collaborating with housing associations to provide new homes for BME people in need in the region.

• Influencing a wide number of strategic and regional bodies and networks andadvocated renewal of disadvantaged communities in the West Midlands.

• Providing health and development support to African Caribbean and other ethnicminority groups and individuals within the region.

Improving Health and WellbeingDorcas set itself the aim from its early days of developing community health initiativeswhich aim to empower and support the African Caribbean communities of the WestMidlands. Improving health and enhancing wellbeing of African Caribbeans living inthe region is crucial since these communities experience health inequalities withlower life expectancy and higher illness rates prevalent; largely because of the socialdeterminants of health, such as poor and overcrowded housing, fuel poverty, urbandeprivation and lower rates of employment.

A key example of the approach was the African Caribbean Health ImprovementService (ACHIS), managed by Dorcas while working in partnership with SandwellCommunity Health Network (SCHN) and funded by Sandwell Primary Care Trustfrom 2006. This Project was delivered by Dorcas’ Health Development Officer,Nerissa Harvey, supported by the association’s Information Development Officer,Juanita Williams.

The project offers a wide range of health support to organisations, groups andindividuals on health issues with a particular focus on aiding African Caribbeans onTuberculosis, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Angina, Incontinence, Stroke,Cancer, healthy eating, lifestyle changes, smoking cessation, substance misuse,sexual health, winter warm, getting active, advocacy, oral health, diet, influenza,Sickle Cell Anaemia and welfare rights. Activities include health awareness talks,health specific workshops, health walks, screening, information dissemination,exercise, first aid, and advice and support.

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Advising and MentoringDorcas has always aimed to empower individuals and help them ‘develop asustainable and vibrant future’ through advice and mentoring. The aim is to assistindividuals to maximise their potential and opportunities. The support offered by Dorcas over the years has been tailored to meet individuals’ needs, particularlyaround the provision of culturally sensitive support. These culturally sensitive services include coaching and mentoring, establishing life targets, budgeting andmoney management skills, communications, help with job search, the developmentof ICT skills, work placements and volunteering opportunities, and businessdevelopment skills.

Client Mrs Edwards said:

“Dorcas�has�done�a�lot�for�me;�they�have�helped�me�find�a�day�centre�which�I�lookforward�to�going�to�everyday.�I�am�picked�up�from�home�and�they�drop�me�backat�the�end�of�the�day.�At�the�day�centre�I�get�companionship�and�have�made�newfriends.�I�no�longer�feel�lonely�and�depressed.”�

Supporting PeopleSupporting People was a New Labour government programme, which wasproduced in 2003 for vulnerable people who needed help living in the community.The aim of Supporting People was to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people,enabling them to live as independently in their own homes, in hostels, shelteredhousing or other specialised care and support housing. This programme broughttogether seven funding streams from across government. The aim was forSupporting People funding by voluntary agencies, and mostly, by housingassociations working in the community.

Dorcas has been involved with the Supporting People programme since its inception,and has targeted its service to African Caribbean elderly over 55 years of age. Thisservice was managed by Debbie Weaver and later taken over by Charmaine Morgan.Dorcas support workers have made regular home visits to older African Caribbeanhouseholds since 2003, providing confidential advice and culturally sensitive careand support. The emphasis of the Dorcas Supporting People programme has beenon helping older African Caribbean people to understand official documents andagreements, completing forms, general advocacy, developing life skills, better moneymanagement, reducing debt, how to clean and look after their home, welfare benefits,making friends and keeping links with family so reducing isolation.

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C H A P T E R 4 – M O R E T H A N B R I C K S A N D M O R TA R

As Dorcas Supporting People client Mrs Harris observed:

“Dorcas�has�done�so�much�for�me�which�I�can’t�even�begin�to�explain;�they�havehelped�with�aid�and�adaptations�to�my�home,�assisted�in�providing�me�with�adisabled�badge,�attend�medical�visits�with�me�and�helped�me�with�reading�andorganising�my�weekly�documents.�I�would�truly�be�lost�without�them�and�I�valuetheir�support.”�

Training, Conferring and InfluencingDorcas has provided excellent and fully-equipped conference rooms and trainingfacilities for hire by local community groups for some time. Operating from a HighStreet office in West Bromwich, Dorcas was able to support both private andstatutory bodies, who have also made use of these facilities, which has made Dorcasa focus for training, conferring and influencing. Dorcas’ conference facilities andmeeting suites have provided a professional but comfortable environment forpartners and others to meet. Alongside, the state of the art Dorcas ICT suitecontained six computers, and is also available to hire and use. This suite alsosupport ICT training for the African Caribbean community, which is a vital skill in 21stcentury Britain.

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Carlene Riley Kerr, Masren Ricardo Kerr and Doreen Johnson

CHAPTER 5

Dorcas Today and TomorrowIntroductionThe preceding Dorcas – the Journey – has depicted the history of the founders,people and activities of 21 years of Dorcas Community Housing Association. The history has shown change to be sure. But the history has equally shown thedurability of Dorcas’ values, arising from both a deep Seventh Day Adventist faithand concern for the housing and community needs of African Caribbean people inthe West Midlands.

On its 21 year journey, Dorcas was accompanied by many partners in thecommunity, West Midlands’ local authorities, other housing associations,commercial and social enterprises and prominent individuals. All have played a key part, but especially Black Country Housing Group, Trident Housing Associationand Trident Reach. The depth of experience of Dorcas, linked to staying true to itsvalues, will stand Dorcas in good stead as Board and staff look to the coming years.

Together with Dorcas’ assets, commitment to serve the African Caribbeancommunity, and becoming part of the Trident Group, the future looks bright forDorcas as part of a re-galvanised BME housing sector.

Partnership with TridentDiscussion between Dorcas and Trident began in 2010. Trident initially proposed a partnership that would enable Dorcas to aid Trident’s work with mortgage rescue– an acute and growing need at this time because of the Credit Crunch and thefinancial crisis that preceded it. Trident also offered Dorcas a loan, administrativesupport and staff development. As a letter from Trident to Dorcas said at the time:

“Trident�has�the�combination�of�strong�financial�control�and�shared�values�withDorcas�that�makes�us�ideal�partners.�There�would�be�clear�financial�savings�byDorcas�joining�the�Trident�Group.”�

So, after a period of joint working, Dorcas became a preferred partner with Trident and eventually joined the Trident Group in 2012. Becoming a full member ofthe Trident Group enabled Dorcas access to a wider range of work, Trident’simpressive ‘social investment’ work ethos, Trident’s financial strength and clear valuefor money orientation.

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C H A P T E R 5 – D O R C A S T O D AY A N D T O M O R R OW

Developing ServicesDorcas is in the process of developing new services to build on the successes ofthe past 21 years to further cement its role as a provider of culturally sensitiveservices to the African Caribbean community in the West Midland. These include:

• YMAR (Young Men at Risk)Supporting predominantly African Caribbean males to leave or reduce the chancesof adopting lifestyles involving gun violence and gang activities.

• Housing Support for Older PeopleSupporting local elderly African Caribbeans to access local council services thatmay have positive health benefits.

• ACHIS – (African Caribbean Health Improvement Service)Developed to improve the health and fitness of elderly African Caribbean citizens.Sessions consist of aerobic exercise, healthy eating talks and cookery classes.As well as general health talks and nature walks. This service is tailored to meetthe requirements and ability of the participants.

• Apprentice Administrative SupportPayroll, administration and Human Resources service provided to localapprenticeship placement providers.

• Empty Homes ProjectThe project identifies homes that have been unoccupied for 6 -12 months,properties are refurbished to the ‘decent homes’ standard and let.

• Mortgage RescueRefurbishment of homes bought by Trident from struggling home owners.

26


Local residents

Looking to the FutureIn 2013, the ‘Friend of Dorcas’ was created as a strategic group of founder membersthat advise and support the Dorcas Board and staff to develop the organisation wellinto the future. Advising on strategic direction, and aiding fund-raising and accessto funds, are two other areas where this innovative group is providing guidance.

While community-based services will remain an essential part of the Dorcasapproach, the ‘Friends of Dorcas’ believe that more needs to be achieved inproviding housing for African Caribbean elders; especially sheltered housing ofvarious forms. As Dorcas recognises, sheltered housing remains popular amongstolder African Caribbean people when design and services meet their requirementsin terms of cultural, religious and dietary needs.

That is why, the Board and ‘Friends of Dorcas, while aware of the continuingdifficulties and dilemmas facing the African Caribbean community in the West Midlands, there needs to exist such an organisation as Dorcas whichpossesses the necessary skills and expertise to deal effectively with whatever thefuture may hold.

27

C H A P T E R 5 – D O R C A S T O D AY A N D T O M O R R OW

Advent Gardens, West Bromwich

The Dorcas Timeline1990 to 1995

• Origins of Dorcas go back to 1991 when members of the African Caribbeancommunity, many connected to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, created avoluntary body to campaign on behalf of the community.

• Creation of Dorcas as an Industrial and Provident Society in 1995 to providehousing and community support to African Caribbean elders.

1996 to 2000

• Creation of partnership with Black Country Housing Group and development ofthe first housing scheme of bungalows for the African Caribbean elderly.

• Pastor Dalbir Masih becomes chair of Dorcas and Gary Clarke the first Director in 2000.

• Development of a healthy balance sheet through fund-raising and grants.

2001 to 2005

• Advent Gardens, bungalows for African Caribbean elders, opened in 2000, andwas the first housing scheme in which Dorcas collaborated with BCHG.

• From 2000 onwards, Dorcas worked with BCHG to build 33 luxury apartmentstogether for those aged over 55.

• Other partnerships thrived too, especially in delivering community-based servicesto African Caribbean people across the West Midlands.

2006 to 2010

• Supporting African Caribbean elders across the West Midlands.

• Providing culturally sensitive mentor support aimed at providing jobs and trainingopportunities for ethnic minorities.

• Offering repairs, maintenance and refurbishment services to housing partners withbespoke training and development alongside.

• Influencing a wide number of strategic and regional bodies and networks andadvocated renewal of disadvantaged communities in the West Midlands.

28


• Providing health and development support to African Caribbean and other ethnicminority groups and individuals within the region.

• Supporting People and health projects came on line.

2011 to 2015

• Working closely with the Trident Group, including financial, administrative and staffsupport, then joining Trident as a full member of the Group.

• Taking advantage of developing a wider range of services including Young Men at Risk, Housing Support for Older People, African Caribbean HealthImprovement Service, Apprentice Administrative Support, Empty Homes Projectsand Mortgage Rescue.

2016 Onwards

• The ‘Friends of Dorcas’ created in 2015 is aiding the strategic development of Dorcas.

• Dorcas recognises that sheltered housing remains popular amongst older AfricanCaribbean people to meet the cultural, religious and dietary needs. Dorcas aimsto provide more of this housing in future.

• Dorcas, with the aid of the financial strength and VFM of the Trident Group, plansto provide more services within the Group and to new partners and customersacross the West Midlands.

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T H E D O R C A S T I M E L I N E

Members of The West Midlands Community Service

Current Dorcas Board Members

• Pastor Dalbir Masih, Chair

• Wytcliff Hudson, Vice Chair

• Matt Knopp

• Hilary Mitchell

• John Morris

• Eric Saunders

Chair’s Tribute:Dorcas Chair Pastor Dalbir Masih paid tribute to all who have made the Dorcasjourney a success over more than two decades:

“Founding members of Dorcas, who were a group of volunteers drawn from theAfrican Caribbean community in the West Midlands, and all Board members,staff and partners since, have all played a major role in creating, consolidating and developing a unique BME housing and community support association. I was involved with Dorcas from the early days as Chair of the West Midlands Advisory Council of the Seventh Day Adventists Church.”

“We are all very proud of what Dorcas, taking its inspiration from Christian endeavour down the years to help the disadvantaged and create communities built on kindness, has achieved. Housing, community support services and new initiatives have all aimed to improve the lives and life chances of African Caribbean people in our region. Without Dorcas, innumerable individuals in our community would not have received the culturally sensitive services they needed, nor had the opportunities to make a telling contribution to community life. I pay tribute to all of them.”

30


About the Authors

Kevin Gulliver is Director of the Human City Institute, Chair of the Centre forCommunity Research, and partner in SWS Communications.

Dawn Prentice is Public Affairs Manager of the Human City Institute, Director ofDawn Prentice Communications and a partner in SWS Communications.

Select Bibliography

Garside P. (2000) The Conduct of Philanthropy: The William Sutton Trust 1900-2000. Cambridge University Press

Gulliver K. (2000) Social Concern and Social Enterprise: The Origins and History ofSocial Housing. Brewin. Studley

Gulliver K. (2005) Three Pillars: The History of the Trident Family of HousingAssociations 1962-2005.StudleyBrewin

Gulliver K. (2006) Passionate About Communities: Keynote, Prime Focus andMidland Heart Housing Associations 1925 to 2006. Brewin. Studley

Gulliver K. & Patel P. (2010) Unequal Lives? Mapping Health Inequalities inBirmingham. HCI. Birmingham

Gulliver K. & Prentice D. (2014) Walls of Courage: The History of Nehemiah UnitedChurches Housing Association 1989 to 2014. SWS Communications. Birmingham

Gulliver K. & Prentice D. (2015) Deep Roots, Diverse Communities, DedicatedService: The Legacy, Value and Potential Futures of Black and Minority HousingOrganisations in England. HCI. Birmingham

Jones C. & Malpass P. (1995) Home Housing Association: A History. Home HA.Newcastle

Jones A. & Gulliver K. (2014) We Don’t Do Bingo: Seventh Day Adventists in theWest Midlands – A study of the Needs of Older Church Members. HCI. Birmingham

Malpass P. (1998) Housing Philanthropy and the State: A History of the GuinnessTrust. UWE. Bristol

Malpass P. (1999) The Work of the Century: The Origins and Growth of the OctaviaHill Housing Trust. London

31

A B O U T T H E A U T H O R S & S E L E C T B I B L I O G R A P H Y

3rd Floor Bradfield House, Popes Lane, Oldbury B69 4PATelephone: 0121 226 5828 | Fax: 0121 226 5831www.dorcashousing.co.uk | [email protected]

The Dorcas MissionTo work alongside partners to provide real andsustainable opportunities, including housing,

for the region’s black, ethnic minority and otherhard to reach and disadvantaged groups.

Our aim is to help communities develop throughthe provision of mentoring, advice and guidance,

training and employment opportunities and a range of other support services and initiatives.

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