Soft Touch sends young person to Africa

Source: Soft Touch

Kane is now 20 and with a promising career in the music business. He is about to go off a volunteer in Africa for three months. But at age 14 this Aylestone boy was a right pain to the entire community. Expelled from school he was regularly being arrested for theft, criminal damage and assault.

“I had serious problems dealing with my anger – there was only one way I was going.”

Kane started to get off the road to a life of crime and imprisonment when his Youth Offending Service worker Kieran Walsh got him to attend music sessions at Soft Touch Arts(www.soft-touch.org.uk

“I’d always wanted to make beats and write lyrics,  but never really had the opportunity. I got along with the staff at Soft Touch right away – and suddenly I had something to focus on.I realised I had the chance to make something of myself  – that I could have a dream of going on stage in front of thousands, rather than just get in trouble all the time.”

Kane started attending Soft Touch as much he could and the staff encouraged him to become a volunteer, working with other young people from the YOS to develop their skills and find alternatives to the trouble they were getting in.

“It all helped me realise that what I had been doing was stupid – it gave me confidence to know that other people had confidence in me and made me feel I had something to lose.

Eventually Kane became a sessional worker with Soft Touch’s Mash-Up project, a music outreach project run in New Parks that has won plaudits from the local police for its affect on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. He also represented the UK at an international community arts festival in Rotterdam working with local youth on music production. He has also started working with a local music venue doing marketing and promotion as well as DJ sets.

When international volunteering charity ICS contacted Soft Touch about support for a music project being run in Tanzania, they suggested Kane as ideal candidate. A tough selection process took Kane well outside his comfort zone – competing to take part alongside self-confident, high-achieving law students looking for a gap year project.  He amazed himself and got through – so now after a three day induction course in York he’s getting ready to leave in January for Dar Es Salaam where he will work at the House of Talent, a project that engages vulnerable youth through music and along the way is able to hit them with life-saving health messages about issues such as HIV.

“We’re all going to have to get used to living without the stuff we’re used too,” says Kane. “I think we only get three hours of electricity a day and there’s no TV or anything. But I’m just looking forward to the whole experience. I’ve heard the kids out there are into hip-hop and gangster rap but I plan to play some of my stuff – grime and dubstep – and see how they respond.

“This is going to change my view of everything – right now I’d like to run my own record label, but when I come back – who knows?”.

Call to remove regulations preventing asylum seekers from volunteering

By Kaye Wiggins

Volunteering England chief Justin Davis Smith says the existing regulations ‘highlight the stupidity around some of these issues’

Justin Davis Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England, will ask government officials to remove regulations that prevent asylum seekers from volunteering in the public sector.

Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat party conference earlier this week, Davis Smith said asylum seekers were permitted to volunteer for charities but could not volunteer in the public sector.

In a discussion about barriers to volunteering, he said: “This anomaly highlights the stupidity around some of these issues.

“Asylum seekers can volunteer to help run a tea service in a hospital, but only if that service is being provided by a charity rather than by staff at the hospital itself. We need to simplify the system a bit.”

Davis Smith said the issue was on a list of barriers to volunteering that he would urge the government to address. Others included “overenthusiastic” Criminal Records Bureau checks and jobseekers being told they would lose their benefits if they volunteered, he said.

Source: Third Sector

Outstanding volunteers win Uni awards

University of Manchester – The remarkable volunteering achievements of University of Manchester staff and students have been recognised and celebrated at a special awards ceremony.

Over 100 students, staff and invited guests attended the event, which saw the presentation of two new volunteering awards.

The Community Service and Volunteer of the Year Awards for students and staff were launched earlier this year.

First place and recipient of the University Medal for Social Responsibility  was lecturer Dr Alison Jeffers from the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures.

Her activities, including theatre, dance, song, poetry and games have been helping a group of asylum seekers and refugees from Africa.

After the ceremony Alison said: “I feel very proud to have won this award and honoured to be the first member of staff to win the Medal for Social Responsibility.

“I enjoy volunteering because I get to do things and meet people that would not be possible as part of my job or social life.

“I believe we have an obligation to share the huge privilege we enjoy in the university with those outside the institution.”

And the top student and recipient of the University Medal for Social Responsibility was Benjamin Scheerbarth, BSc (Hons) International Management.

Benjamin has led 100 volunteers and ten innovative projects which sustainably empower individuals and organisations within local and international communities.

As a student on the Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP), Ben earned the MLP Gold Award for his volunteering work and also qualified for the Bronze Volunteer Award working with Manchester World Sport.

Benjamin said: “Volunteering is a really worthwhile thing to do.

“Very few other opportunities offer this level of freedom to choose what to do and how to do it.

“Helping others whilst being amongst friends is one of the most fulfilling things I can imagine doing.”

The nominations for the awards reflected a diverse range of volunteering activity, including supporting vulnerable adults and children, fundraising, environmental projects and working with local communities in wards close to the campus.

While most of the volunteering took place in Manchester and the UK, nominations were also received for students and staff who volunteer overseas, including in South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua,  and Tanzania.

Many of the students nominated were current or previous participants on the Manchester Leadership Programme.

A new University Medal for Social Responsibility was also launched at the event. The medal, part of the suite of established President’s Distinguished Achievement Awards, was given to the overall winners of the Community Service and Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The winners were selected by independent judging panels comprising university staff and representatives of charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Deputy Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, gave the Keynote Address and presented the awards.  She said:  “Social responsibility lies at the heart of the university’s mission.

“These awards are an important part of demonstrating our commitment to help improve the lives of communities in Manchester and around the globe, and we applaud the inspiring achievements of our students and staff.”

The awards and event were organised, on behalf of the university, by the MLP, Careers and Employability Division.

Welcome event celebrates 50th resolution of support

Leicester City of Sanctuary is celebrating its 50th resolution of support, from the Red Leicester Choir, who have agreed to support the local movement, and to encourage asylum seekers and refugees to join the group bringing new voices, new songs and new depth to their harmony.

In celebration, Leicester City of Sanctuary and Red Leicester Choir are joining forces at a Make a Difference Day event at the Secular Hall, 75 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WB, on Saturday 31st October 2009 from 2pm to 5pm. CSV Make a Difference Day is the UK’s biggest annual day of volunteering. This year’s campaign will highlight the importance of kindness and helping others.

The event at the Secular Hall on the afternoon of Saturday 31st October 2009 will also welcome back sponsored walkers making the journey from Leicester to Loughborough and back, a journey all asylum seekers have to make each week or month to register with the immigration authority.  Without funds to pay for their bus fare some walk both ways because failure to register, for any reason at all, can result in being sent to a detention centre.

The walk is to raise funds to support destitute asylum seekers who are not allowed to work or entitled to benefits.  An afternoon of entertainment and celebration, with free refreshments and information for those interested in volunteering or campaigning, will include an opportunity for asylum seekers, refugees and others to join and perform with the choir.

Photographs will be available following the event. More information is available from Gill Buttery – Development Worker at Leicester City of Sanctuary on: [email protected] or ring 07716 073403.

Students making a difference by baking a difference

Students from the University of Leicester are set to create a wave of kindness as part of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s single biggest day of volunteering.

The students, from ‘Contact Student Volunteers’, the University’s volunteering association, will be baking cakes and donating them to local community groups on Saturday 31st October.

Teams of volunteers will be visiting  care homes, charities, church groups and community centres in Leicester to give out the free cakes to support  the ‘Make a Difference Day’ campaign for random acts of kindness.

The volunteers want to give something back to the local community, and are calling on staff and students to sign-up and get involved either by baking or buying a cake to donate or helping to distribute the cakes. They aim to kick-start the wave of kindness on Friday 30th October, when they’ll be collecting cakes in the Queen’s Hall Foyer from 10am – 4pm.

By baking a difference, Contact Student Volunteers are aiming to spread some cheer to local people and make a positive contribution to their local community.
The CSV (Community Service Volunteers) campaign encourages and celebrates people who take action to make their community a better place.

Caroline Dudman, President of the Contact Student Volunteers Committee said:
“Contact Student Volunteers are extremely excited about Make a Difference Day this year with the new idea of ‘Bake a Difference Day.’   Through our project, we want to make a difference to more people, make the volunteering accessible to all our volunteers and get to know members of the community. In these troubled economic times, we believe that we should spread some joy to everyone… it’s a piece of cake!”

Every year, Contact Student Volunteers organise a volunteering activity for Make a Difference Day.  Last year, 25 students helped to renovate a children’s adventure playground in Leicester.

For further information please contact: Vanessa Harris, Volunteer Development Manager, University of Leicester, [email protected] or call 0116 252 3890.

CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year more than 167,064 people gave their time as volunteers through CSV and CSV trained over 12,196 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk.

Make a Difference Day for asylum seekers and refugees

By Gill Buttery

According to the Make a Difference Day (MADD) website, www.csv.org.uk/difference, CSV Make a Difference Day is the UK’s biggest annual day of volunteering!

This year we want to use MADD to inspire you to get more personally involved in building a culture of hospitality for asylum seekers and refugees in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, whether that’s by: volunteering some time; making a donation of e.g.food, toiletries, a sleeping bag, or money; joining in the latest campaign; or by finding some other way of personally reaching out to those struggling to be allowed to rebuild their lives here.

On Saturday 31st October, Aidan from Refugee Action and a growing group of fellow walkers will follow in the footsteps of ALL our asylum seekers who have to ‘report’ to Loughborough Reporting Centre, either on a weekly or monthly basis, never knowing if they will be detained and transfered to a ‘detention’ or ‘removal’ centre, and too many making the journey on foot because they don’t have the money for the bus.
to join Aidan on the walk,
to find out how to sponsor someone taking part,
or to volunteer to be a ‘marshall’ (approx. 6 needed) along the route:
contact Aidan on: [email protected] / 0116 2616200.

The walkers are expected back into Leicester mid afternoon and to welcome them back we are holding an event from 2-5pm, at the Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate (opposite Sainsbury’s in the city centre).  Whether you are part of the walk, wanting information about volunteering, or just in town for some retail therapy, we would like to invite you to Call in for a cuppa, stay for a while, and leave inspired!

Entry, refreshments and biscuits will be free to all to share while enjoying an afternoon of entertainment by the Red Leicester Choir and others, with an opportunity to talk to people from various organisations including Refugee Action, the British Red Cross, Leicestershire Aids Support Service (LASS), Leicester City of Sanctuary and others about their current activities and volunteer needs, and watch as certificates are presented to some of those already making a difference, plus much more!!!
to offer foot massages or other pampering for the walkers,
to request space for your organisation to offer an activity or to promote your volunteer needs,
to offer to contribute to our programme of entertainment etc,
or to offer something tasty (homemede cakes, biscuits, samosas etc) for our fundraising ’snack stall’!:
contact Gill on: [email protected] / 07716 073403.

The British Red Cross (BRC) do an amazing amount of work locally, especially for destitute asylum seekers, with a small staff team and a dedicated group of volunteers.  They are currently seeking additional volunteers with some understanding of the asylum system, and who have been resident in the UK for a number of years due to the nature of the work requiring a CRB check, to be trained as Case Workers to offer case work support including providing appropriate advice to asylum seekers and refugees and signposting when necessary, for a minimum of half a day per week for at least 6 months.
to find out more or to request a role description and application form:
contact Cathy on: [email protected] or Gemma on: [email protected] / 0116 2746930.

Taken from the MADD website:

In uncertain times, the need for community spirit is more important than ever.  That’s why this year the campaign will highlight the importance of kindness and helping others …  By taking action in your community and volunteering on CSV Make a Difference Day, you can help create a wave of kindness across the UK.  Together, we can … break down barriers and help to build stronger, happier and safer communities.

Taken from Drop a Pebble in the Water by James William Foley:

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there’s half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the centre, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling, where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing, to a great big wave have grown;
You’ve disturbed a mighty river, just by dropping in a stone.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on.
Bearing hope and joy and comfort, on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume, of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a swelling, and there’s joy circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort, whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water, just by dropping one kind word.

Asylum anomaly

We often hear about people living off the state. But what about people who want to work, but who are, by law, prevented from doing so?

Teesside University allowed him to undertake his final year of an Electrical and Electronics Engineering Degree part time over two years, and it waived the fees.However, he feels his skills as an electrical engineer are going to waste, and may become redundant in the fast moving industry.

He has learnt English, acquired IT skills and worked as a volunteer – but he cannot even get a work placement in his chosen profession because of the laws preventing asylum seekers from taking on paid work.

Gabriel says he wants to work, and by doing so not just support his family, but also contribute as a taxpayer to the country from which he is seeking refuge.At the moment, he cannot see any future.

Life ‘in limbo’

The government says it is aiming to speed up decision making in asylum cases, which will mean the backlog should be dealt with by 2011.But that is another three years away, and for people like Gabriel, that could mean another three years in limbo.

He may now be safe, but he and his partner are unable to make long-term plans, and in the meantime, Gabriel is unable to pay his way. – BBC

*Gabriel was on the Politics Show on BBC One on Sunday 19 October 2008.