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Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)

Key points for a framework of partnership between the statutory agencies in Wirral and the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) voluntary and community sector.

  • Vital that the statutory agencies in Wirral and BME sector engage in a positive relationship for mutual benefit.
  • Recognition of the important role of the BME voluntary and community sector and the diverse communities it seeks to represent including faith groups and refugee and asylum seeker organisations.
  • Commitment by both the statutory agencies in Wirral and the sector to taking forward Race Equality together.
  • Ensure BME organisations are an inherent part of consultation and policy processes through involvement from a large pool of individuals and organisations.
  • Invest in the BME voluntary and community sector.
  • Support the development of capacity and infrastructure within the BME sector at local level.
  • Recognise importance of local relations and partnership involvement.
  • Value and celebrate volunteering by BME people.

1. Aims

  1. This Code of Good Practice aims to make a positive impact on the relationship between the local statutory agencies in Wirral and the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) voluntary and community sector. The Code embodies key considerations that emerged from a consultation1 exercise carried out by the voluntary and community sector’s national Compact Working Group, as well as best practice from within the statutory agencies in Wirral. In this way, the Code underpins the Compact on Relations between Government and consultation carried out by Wirral’s local Compact group.
  2. Statutory agencies in Wirral recognise that the BME voluntary and community sector, including faith groups and refugee and asylum seeker organisations, has an important and continuing role in helping it to achieve their objectives and that statutory agencies in Wirral can play a positive role in supporting the work of the sector. As independent, not-for-profit organisations run by, for and located within BME communities, the sector brings distinctive value to society. In particular it enables BME individuals to contribute to public life and supports the development of active thriving communities by providing opportunities for voluntary and community action. The sector: empowers users through involvement in the design and delivery of services; advocates for community needs; helps alleviate poverty; improves quality of life; and actively involves some of the most socially excluded people and communities. An effective partnership with statutory agencies in Wirral is an essential part of ensuring that the BME voluntary and community sector is able to develop its full potential as an important contributor to society and a strategic agent of those it seeks to represent.
  3. The Code applies to statutory agencies in Wirral. The Code also applies to the full range of organisations in the BME and mainstream voluntary and community sectors. Section 7 of this Code deals with local relations and partnership. This recognises that BME groups relations with local statutory agencies in Wirral are key. Further information about the status and application of the Compact and Code is given in Section 10.
Last Updated: Draft Edition October 2007