Black Environment Network

Working for full ethnic participation in the built and natural environment

A n n u a l R e p o r t

2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 3

BEN uses the word ‘black’ symbolically

recognising that the black communities are the

most visible of all ethnic communities.We work

with black white and other ethnic communities

Contents

a n d p l a n s f o r t h e f u t u re

The Director’s Report

About BEN

BEN now and in the future

• BEN Network UK

• Publications and Resources

• Strategic Development

• Highlighting Ethnic Environmental Participation

• Consultations and Associations

• The BEN Network Conference

• New Initiatives, Campaigns, Advisory Panels and Partnership Development

• Consultancy and Training

• Projects - England

• Projects - Wales

• The Scope of the Developmental Projects

• New Developmental Project - Scotland

• The Ethnic Minorities Award Scheme

• Summary of BEN Projects 02/03 and 03/04

Appendix

• The BEN Network Conference Programme

• Accounts and Balance Sheet

Director’s Report 2002 - 2003

Heightened significance of the work of BEN

The events around September 11 has roused our consciousness yet again to the fragility of the position of ethnic minorities within their own country. Against this scenario, the positive work of the Black Environment Network, focused on integrating ethnic participation into the mainstream, is inevitably thrown into high relief. It is of utmost importance for ethnic communities to resist turning inwards under threat. Our energies must go into reinforcing and building our working relationships within the mainstream population, where our security is ultimately situated. Our active presence is our most powerful instrument for countering misinformation and distorted perceptions.

Input into policy at the highest level

BEN is on the DCMS Historic Environment Review Executive Committee. This year we produced the first “State of the Historic Environment Report” . BEN is on the Urban Green Spaces Task Force. Government has responded to “Green Spaces, Better Places” with a groundbreaking programme of summarised in “Living Places”. BEN has completed its work with the DCMS Social Inclusion Policy Committee, which produced “People and Places: Social Inclusion Policy for the Built and Historic

Environment”

National and international presence

The BEN Networking Conference fuels the network with ideas, good practice and skills. With over 600 members, many of which are themselves regional or local networks, we are a major force for change. BEN’s unique national and international reputation continues to grow. We have links with the United States, South Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe, and are seen as the pioneers in the field of ethnic environmental participation, which BEN has created. We are looking forward to making our contribution to the World Parks Congress 2003 in Durban, South Africa.

A major player in social inclusion

Social inclusion and social cohesion continues to feature highly on the agenda of Government. There is increasing recognition of the social basis of action for sustainability. However there is still a real gap between rising awareness and action for inclusion. BEN remains poised to be a major player working in partnership with others to close the gap between goodwill and essential action.

Judy Ling Wong FRSA. OBE Director BEN

Black Environment Network (BEN) is the leader

in the pioneering field of ethnic community

environmental participation which it has created

Why BEN ?

  • Most agencies working in the natural and built environment pledge to be open to everyone, but until BEN highlighted the issue, ethnic participation has not been on their agenda.
  • Many ethnic communities live in some of the worst environments. Participation in the built and natural environment can enable them to access the vast resources available in these sectors. In the process
  • they may be empowered through gaining essential skills in self-help, self-representation and self improvement - the effects of which spread into areas of life far beyond environmental involvement.
  • Involving ethnic communities in environmental participation also means bringing forward a vast
  • missing contribution from a significant section of the community to engage in the conservation,
  • protection, and development of the built and natural environment.

BEN consciously maintains a dialogue with

those it serves. It has forged a working

philosophy for involving ethnic communities

that is relevant to their needs.

Vital Needs and Concerns

  • Putting ethnic community participation on the agenda
  • The need for access to information, advice, resources and expertise, developmental support
  • The need for developing a range of projects which integrate social, cultural and environmental concerns relevant to the specific needs of ethnic groups
  • Highlighting the contribution of ethnic groups
  • A training and consultancy service enables organisations to gain skills, and obtain advice and developmental support on how to open up their services and programmes of activities to ethnic groups

For more information about BEN

BEN is a force for change, working to create a

climate within which full ethnic participation in

the built and natural environment can take place

Key Achievements

  • BEN has put ethnic participation on the agenda
  • We continue to make a major input to policy at the highest levels
  • The BEN Network has an extensive network of over 600 members. The Network enables the vast and diverse pool of experience to be shared
  • We handle an information and advice service, networking enquiries to expertise and resources.
  • We publish resource materials and papers in order to promote models of good practice, highlight ethnic contribution, and fuel a cutting edge dialogue on ethnic participation.
  • Conceptually we continue to be pioneers in forging relevant approaches to work effectively with ethnic groups. The BEN integrated approach of bringing together social, environmental and cultural concerns has been replicated throughout the country
  • Innovative opportunities for ethnic participation are created nationally and internationally through partnership initiatives.
  • Partnership and developmental projects are strategically forged to address issues and needs
  • Our Training and Consultancy Service enables the environmental sector to tap into the unique expertise drawn from the groundbreaking work of BEN

Major Current Themes for BEN

The Natural Environment The Built Environment

The Historic Environment Sustainable Development

BEN’s Organisational Structure 02/03

Management Committee + BEN Advisors + BEN Network

BEN UK

Director

Policy and Partnership Development Officer

Training and Consultancy Development Officer

UK Networks Officer

Administrative Co-ordinator. Administrators

Project Management Strategic Policy and Partnership

and Direction Development Training and consultancy

Network Services Administrative Ethnic Minorities

Publication Services Award Scheme (EMAS)

England Scotland Wales

Development Workers Development Worker Development Workers

Ethnic Environmental EQUAL Project Ethnic Environmental

Participation Projects Participation Projects

Manchester & Liverpool South Wales 1 & 2

Birmingham Who We Are Project

Partnership Projects

Sustainable Development Qualification (With Environment Agency/Groundwork NCFE) - UK

Mosaic (With Council for National Parks) - England and Wales

Ethnic Participation in Environmental Campaigning - Research UK (With FOE, ELF, Greenpeace)

Sustainable Core Funding Development Project (With Platform and Sensory Trust)

BEN Management Committee 02/03

Area of Associated Location

Contribution Organisation

Maria Adebowale Environmental Law Environmental Law London

Environmental Justice Foundation

Sally Bailey Wildlife WWF Cardiff

Community involvement

Developments in Wales

Richard Cuthbertson Historic Environment National Trust Llangefni

Sukbinder Johal Ethnic Arts Apna Arts

Regeneration Leicester City

Council Leicester

Deepak Naik Equalities Birmingham Birmingham

Communities of faith City Council

Hindu communities

Steve Parry Social Exclusion Individual London

Environment

Dawn Sanders Environmental Education National Foundation London

for Education Research

Jane Trowell Community arts Platform London

Ethical funding

BEN Advisers

Beyond the expertise embodied by the BEN MC, BEN has a list of individuals who we can call on in order to have expert advice on other areas of development.

BEN Network UK

The BEN Network brings together diverse interest groups around the theme of ethnic community environmental participation, including environmental organisations, ethnic community groups, individuals and groups from outdoor and higher education, students, local authorities, academics and so on. It is a network for development and support, sharing information and experience with a view to consolidating ethnic participation and creating new opportunities for ethnic community environmental participation.

For community based groups and individuals:

• Signposting to expertise and resources.

• Referral to funding bodies.

• Grant application advice.

• Project outline advice.

• Briefing of environmental involvement to newcomers.

• Contacts for information and experience sharing.

• Project examples.

For environmental personnel:

• Issues affecting ethnic groups.

• Contacts for information and experience sharing within the BEN Network.

• Project examples.

• Advice and signposting is based on the principal of initial and occasional advice, with an emphasis on the need for awareness and raising and training for skills to work effectively and relevantly with ethnic groups. They are therefore also introduced to the benefits of BEN Network membership and the range of services offered by the BEN Training and Consultancy Service.

Publications and Resources

BEN publishes resources, papers and reports share information and skills, promote good practice and highlight issues and concerns.

• Our website continues to develop services and new sections to service the BEN Network. Many downloadable items are in the Resources and Publications sections to share information, resources and good practice with others.

• A significant addition to the BEN website is “Green Space of the Month” funded by the ODPM

• The BEN Information Pack continues to be sent out to all enquirers.

BEN produces reports and resources drawing on the experience of BEN projects.

• BEN produces discussion papers promoting debate on current issues and concerns. Periodically significant articles and papers are brought together and published. This year we have published Ethnic Environmental Participation - Volume 4: Access to the Historic Built & Natural Environment

• The central BEN Network database is constantly developed and updated.

• OHP notes to conference keynote speeches and workshops continue to be made available to others who wish to develop and make use of BEN concepts.

• Details of our work continue to be listed in community groups’ newsletters, the information departments of local authority libraries and major national guides.

• Articles appear regularly in publications reaching diverse types of audiences.

  • Media coverage this year included full page coverage in the Guardian on the Mosaic Project, radio interviews etc.

• Particular aspects of the work of BEN appears on many websites belonging to other organisations. Type Black Environment Network to search.

Strategic Development

The Strategic Development Project concentrates on specific aspects of our Development Plan - including highlighting ethnic environmental participation, development of partnerships and new projects, the publication and promotion of resource materials based on models of good practice, consultancy and training development and strengthening BEN’s fundraising base.

Highlighting Ethnic Environmental

Participation

The theme of ethnic community environmental participation is constantly highlighted through the public presence of BEN in order to reinforce its significance on the agenda of organisations working for sustainable development

Highlighting ethnic participation at Conferences,

seminars and events:

  • NOF Greening Communities event. Panel. London 19.4.02
  • Planning and the Environment. Whose historic environment? Oxford 17.5.02
  • V&A seminar – Connections and Disconnections. London. 22.5.02Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. AGM/Conference. Bristol 8.7.02
  • Lottery Monitor event. London 37.02.
  • Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. AGM/Conference. Bristol 8.7.02
  • IHBC Annual School - Community and Heritage. Lecture. Warwick 5.7.02
  • Forum 2002. National Conference on Sustainable Development. Birmingham 17.7.02
  • “Her Presence in Colours - Arts , Culture and Environment” .Sheffield 23.8.02
  • NCFE Launch of the Sustainable Development Qualification. London 5.9.02
  • Urban design Alliance UK Conference. Cardiff 19.9.02
  • Race and Housing. People for Action. London 27.9.02
  • Reading University. School of Plant Sciences 18.11.02
  • Multicultural Interpretation - colloquium. Attingham Trust. Birmingham 23.1.03
  • Countryside Agency Diversity Research Programme seminar. 26.2.03
  • Landscape Institute Parliamentary Lunch House of Lords.5.3.03
  • BEN Networking Conference. Birmingham

Consultations and Associations

BEN is recognised as an important player in the field within the environmental and voluntary sectors. Requests for consultation for projects, consultation papers, policy documents demonstrate the range of our input and influence.

  • CEE
  • Thrive - Research Advisory Group
  • Dr. Kye Askins . North York Moors
  • DCMS
  • WEN - Steering Group
  • UKCC event. London.
  • ODPM Urban Green Spaces Taskforce
  • DCMS Social Inclusion Policy Committee
  • DCMS Historic Environment Steering Group
  • Historic Houses Association
  • Green Pennant / Green Flag Award
  • Voluntary Sector Skills Council
  • Visiting students from Missouri University
  • DFEE Towards Equality and Diversity
  • AHI
  • National Trust
  • IFA
  • Britain in Europe
  • NCVO re Voluntary Sector Compact
  • Ken Worpole
  • GHS
  • FCFCG
  • IHBC
  • Sheffield University
  • Urban Alliance
  • Mohammed Dhalech
  • Lottery Monitor
  • Barnardos - Better Play
  • Baring Foundation
  • V&A
  • Entrust
  • Poltimore House - Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World
  • Malcolm Rigler
  • Woodland Trust
  • SDRN
  • Chol Theatre International
  • English heritage
  • Sensory Trust re Inclusive Action Group
  • CDF
  • The Environment Trust
  • Sport England
  • Media Trust
  • Sustainable Development Commission
  • Countryside Agency
  • Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
  • Hackney Museum
  • Hackney Exploratory
  • ODPM
  • Sypol
  • National Maritime Museum
  • Eden Project
  • Common Ground
  • Countryside Agency
  • Attingham Trust
  • UDAL

The BEN Network Conference

The BEN Network Conference has won a significant place in the environmental calendar. It is run to enable Network members from across the UK to make links face to face. It works towards increasing the skills through sharing experience and running workshops with themes nominated by Network members. It highlights current issues and developmental themes.

See the programme highlights in Appendix

New Initiatives, Campaigns Advisory Panels and Partnership Development

BEN works to make links with organisations working for sustainable development with the view of working in partnership and generating new initiatives.

In consultation for future partnership:

  • Multicultural Plant Stories - in partnership with National Foundation for Educational Research and Chumleigh Gardens.
  • Federation of City Farms. Involvement in consortium proposal to NOF re grant scheme around Food Growing
  • Sypol - co-operation in developing health and saftey training course for ethnic minority community group leaders to enable them to gain the capacity to design safe trips into the countryside
  • National Foundation for Educational Research –partnerships to promote quality and diversity of plantings in housing developments.
  • Sheffield University - studentship with the theme of ethnic environment participation.
  • • Common Ground - involving ethnic groups in ABC’s
  • English Heritage / Artist Adam Strickson-possible projects around environmental heritage and ethnic participation.
  • RHS - ethnic participation in horticulture
  • Countryside Agency -BEN’s role in the Diversity Research Programme.
  • Heritage Link - to highlight and promote action for social inclusion in the built and natural historic environment

Partnerships in progress:

  • Council for National Parks - “Mosaic” partnership project re access by ethnic groups to National Parks.
  • Gateway Project - partnership project re access by ethnic groups to historic gardens with the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust
  • Equal Scotland - partnership with 5 other organisations working to create new opportunities for employment.
  • Heritage Education and Access Project HEAP, Scotland - partnership project with environmental organisations and museums in Scotland. Funds being sought.
  • “Who We Are” Project - linking indigenous knowledge, heritage and the local built and natural environment - partnership with community groups in Swansea.

Advisory Panels:

UK

  • Association for Outdoor Learning AFOL
  • 5 Year Freeze
  • Campaign to end food poverty
  • Association with the NSPCC Campaign for Children’s Rights Commissioners
  • Association with Barnardos - Barnados’ Children’s Manifesto
  • Real World
  • Thrive - Research Advisory Group
  • HLF - New audience development research advisory group
  • Sensory Trust - Inclusive Action Group
  • Attingham Trust - Built Environment Learning Survey Advisory Group
  • Women’s Environmental Network Steering Group

England and Wales

  • Sustainable Development Qualification group England
  • DCMS Historic Environment Executive Committee
  • DCMS Historic Environment Review Steering Groups
  • ODPM Urban Green Spaces Task Force
  • DCMS Social Inclusion Committee
  • Council for Environmental Education -Committee
  • Groundwork Millennium Grants Panel
  • Doorstep Greens/ NOF Advisory Panel England
  • Learning and Skills Development Agency
  • DFES Sustainable Development Education Sounding board
  • Heritage Link
  • LNR Grants Panel

Wales

  • Wales Sustainable Development Voluntary Sector Forum
  • Partnership Council. Wales
  • WCVA Participation Advisory Group
  • Woodland Forum
  • Statutory/Voluntary Sector Compact Working Group
  • Balchder Bro Grants Panel

Scotland

  • Skillnet Edinburgh

Consultancy and Training

BEN provides training, and consultancy providing advice and a support service to enable organisational personnel to work effectively with ethnic communities.

Training:

Built around the body of knowledge relating to ethnic environmental participation, it is constantly being developed.

  • We offer training tailored to the needs of the client organisation re working effectively with ethnic groups.
  • We offer themed modules of training relating to working with ethnic groups.
  • We also offer training related to build the capacity of ethnic groups to access the information, expertise and resources they need with regard to environmental participation.

Consultancy services offered include: