Agenda and minutes

Contact: Alice Morgan  0300 330 7000 e-mail:  alicemorgan@northampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcomes, introductions and apologies pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Minutes:

Present: Cllr James Hill (Co – Chair JH), Rutendo Nyatsine (Co Chair RN), Matthew Torreson (VIN/FAN, MT), Anjona Roy (NREC/FGMCA/Dostiyo AR), Olga Karlasova (Phoenix school, OK), Anna Grezneva (Phoenix School, AG), Monica Chen (Northampton Chinese School, MC), Alaa Abouzanad (ANSS, AA), Nick Stephens (Northants Police, NS), Nayla Mahmood (IAPT, First for Wellbeing, NM1), Ilze Brilta (Latvian Supplementary School, IB), Alice Morgan (NBC, AM), Nisha Mejer (NBC, NM*), Katya Watkins (Russian Supplementary School. KW)

 

*Took minutes

 

Apologies: Jenny Campbell, Neelan Agarwal Singh, Charlotte Goodwin

 

JH welcomed everyone to the meeting.Charlotte Goodwin can no longer attend and therefore Hate Crime update from Police to be discussed.

2.

Minutes and matters arising pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

Minutes were recorded as true to record.  

3.

Hate Crime update

Minutes:

AM read out update from Sargeant Steve Bedford from Northants Police to be sent out with the minutes.

 

AR: NREC have issued a statement. There is a 42% increase nationally. This does not mean that there is no Hate Crime in Northampton. There is a lack of confidence to report. There are issues of failure of organisations to promote good relations.

 

There are incidents happening such as people are asking for a white doctor, people wanting a white taxi driver. It is not just about the crime – it’s about the incident. There is a vast increase in people exhibiting certain types of behaviour and calling it British.

 

NS: My colleague Rachel and I have an interest in Hate Crime and work closely with communities who may be affected by this.

 

The Chief Constable and a sergeant involved in creating a policy for this. 

 

To my understanding there is no spike in Northampton about Hate Crime but there is a gradual increase. There will be a new press release about this.

 

 

There has been communication with communities. Have visited Sikh gurdwara, attended Eid in the Park event and published information on Polish website to reassure people. In addition have support from third party reporting agencies including NIFF, NREC and Pearls of Peace.

 

Accept that Hate Crime and Hate Incident are confusing for people.

 

A role is being advertised to assist with Hate Crime.

 

AR: The Hate Crime Unit was reduced to 1 person when initially there were 6. The post has been vacant since autumn as the final officer left.

 

Cllr Hill: it is important to have this in place.

 

NS: Will report concerns to Gary Ashton and encourage people to report. People can also to report anonymously. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Nayla Mahmood - IAPT First for Wellbeing

Minutes:

IAPT stands for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.

 

IAPT works within GP surgeries to deal with low level mental health problems. Patients are invited to have an assessment and it is the choice of the patient whether they want to  do this. This is a short term service (4-5 sessions) and there is also support online.

 

BME groups are underrepresented and this is being addressed.

 

People can also self-refer and go directly to the therapist.

ACTION: AR would like to link together about this.

ACTION: Contact details to be given to AA and AR.

 

 

 

5.

Action Plan pdf icon PDF 269 KB

Minutes:

The following topics have been raised to put on the Action Plan:

 

Health (First for Wellbeing have been invited).

Housing

Zero working hours

Hate Crime

Education

 

Education

 

Figures were sent form NCC with a breakdown of achievements from black and minority groups. The forum will be used as a consultation group when a strategy is put together. 

ACTION: Figures to be sent via email to forum.

 

AR: Not acceptable to send information and not be available to answer questions.

 

AA; No support has been given to Supplementary Schools yet. Would like to see qualified English teachers to teach English to parents from Eastern European communities.

 

KW: There is a huge problem in the Russian community as adults cannot speak English. They are qualified professions who resort to working in factories due to the language barrier. ESOL is expensive and day classes are inaccessible as people are working.

 

MC: Would like to have support to organise a class for parents to learn English to run the same time as the Chinese School for children.

 

RN: This will encourage cohesion and help build confidence.

 

ACTION: AM and NM to work together to write a bid. VIN to support.

 

Hate Crime

 

To be discussed in September meeting on how to support on this.

 

Black History Month

 

October events to be sent through.

 

Diwali

 

A dance class to be held called Strictly Come Diwali. Monday 24th October 11am -3pm. The Guildhall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Community Information Exchange

Minutes:

RN: Zimwomen launched a cleaning project. 8th October – Strictly Africa dance event. 24th October – Young Achievers Award ceremony.

 

OK: Free trips to seaside for community members to help engagement.

 

AA: Eid celebration went well and 1800+ people attended. Further celebration will occur 10-12th September. ANSS awards ceremony 26th Nov.

 

NS: Beckets Park would like to hold community events. Please get in touch for further information.

 

MT: Pauline Woodhouse is no longer development officer for BMESRP. Thanks to Pauline for the hard work she has done for the forum.

ACTION: Note of thanks to written.

7.

Items for Discussion at the Next Meeting

Minutes:

See Action Plan

8.

AOB

Minutes:

Election of Co-Chair to be held next meeting.

9.

Date Of Next Meeting

September 15th  6.30 – 8.30pm,  The Guildhall

Minutes:

September 15th, Holding Room, 6:30-8:30pm.