PRESS RELEASE

Migrant Community Groups say ‘Can do’ to social enterprise

Migrant Community groups from Northamptonshire are getting together to help themselves be more enterprising. Members of refugee, migrant and ethnic minority communities have grouped themselves together under the umbrella name “New Communities in Social Enterprise (NCISE) Northamptonshire” a branch of NCISE East Midlands providing social enterprise services designed according to the needs of their members. Participating groups include, Albanian Association, Malawi Association, New Ark Foundation, Nyankunton, Somali Health Awareness Foundation, Tanzania Entrepreneurship for Community Initiatives and the Union of Liberian Organisations in the UK.

With support from the Novas Scarman Group, a national charity providing free training and support related to social enterprise causes, some of their members have undergone an accredited training in social enterprise defined as “a way of earning income whilst continuing to meet the needs of their communities”. The group is now inviting more migrant community organisations and individuals who would like to be involved and participate in similar initiatives.

John Nimly Brownell from the Liberian Association, who chairs the group, said, “We have made a good start and we would like more people to take part. We will only succeed by working together.
Social Enterprise is a growing avenue for community and voluntary groups to become less dependent on receiving grants to deliver their services and reiterated that there are many successful case studies”. However, John Brownell mentioned that there are fewer examples from refugee and migrant community groups and this initiative aims to make a difference. These groups already contribute a great deal to the wider community and many have the potential to offer multicultural services or products to a wider audience. Work is already ongoing to build a network of support across the East Midlands to share ideas and good practice.

NCISE Northamptonshire offers among other things:

• Social Enterprise awareness and skills development training
• Personal advice and guidance in setting up a social enterprise
• Advice and support in accessing funds and,
• Keeping members informed about opportunities arising across the county
• Assist members to form effective partnerships
• Represent the social enterprise needs of members within a number of local and regional strategic networks etc
   

Through social enterprise, migrant community organisations will facilitate the integration of their members into the UK society; help their community members create employment and volunteering opportunities, ensure the long term sustainability of existing community projects, activities and services, provide tailored and accessible services which may not currently be provided by both central and local government, promote community cohesion and improve relationships between newly arrived migrants and host communities and benefit from and build on the skills and talents of individuals coming from abroad.

This initiative is funded by Capacity Builders and was established by the Novas Scarman Group, a national community development charity that works with a wide range of community organisations and other partners at a local level to empower people and communities by creating opportunities for positive change through personalized support and development, pathways into work and learning, inclusive local decision making, change programmes, and releasing grassroots community entrepreneurship and expression.

CONTACT:
John Nimly Brownell
NCISE Northamptonshire
St Giles House
76 St Giles Street, Northampton NN1 1JW
01604 624692 / 07793884509