| |
BEN
Strategy and Priority Objectives for
the next 3 years
Black Environment Network is a
unique organisation, recognised
nationally and internationally as the
pioneer working for ethnic environmental
participation.
 
The honour of an OBE for our Director
Judy Ling Wong is a recognition of the
innovative work of BEN in linking ethnic
environmental participation to major
sectors of concern (including health,
heritage, housing, and the arts) to
benefit the quality of life of ethnic
communities and to release their vital
contribution.
The current high priority of social
inclusion in conjunction with the high
status of BEN as an expert organisation
is resulting in an increasing demand for
our contribution at policy level and
towards developmental work with ethnic
communities. Our strategy aims to
strengthen our capacity to meet this
demand.
Note : The brackets after each appoint
relate it to BEN's overall Organisational
Aims and Objectives
1. To strengthen and resource BEN's core
work (4)
expand the core functions of input into
consultations and policy to represent
ethnic issues and concerns (1.4), and
partnership and project development (5.1)
develop new action to consolidate core
funding (4.2)
2. To strengthen BEN's capacity to
stimulate and support activity within the
BEN Network (3)
stimulate consistent dialogue, and fuel
debate around ethnic needs and concerns
(1.1)
resource BEN website as a vehicle to
disseminate information and good practice
(3.6)
run regular participatory appraisal
events and undertake research to map
issues and concerns (1.3)
3. To build the capacity of ethnic
communities to take action to address
their issues and concerns on their own
terms (2)
put into place developmental teams in
England, Scotland and Wales, undertaking
a range of initiatives to address issues
and concerns (5.1)
4. To build the capacity of environmental
and other relevant organisations to open
up their services and work effectively
with ethnic communities (2)
develop BEN's training and consultancy
services and associated resources (2.2)
............................................................................
Organisational Strategy Document
For the purpose of our website, The Summary
and Organisational
Aims and Objectives are
provided here, however if you wish to
read the document as a whole, please
click on the following link to download
the PDF file 
Vision
To have representation and participation,
at all levels, of ethnic communities in
the built and natural environment, which
reflects the profile of the ethnic
population in Britain
Organisational Aims
- To represent issues and concerns
relating to ethnic participation
in the built and natural
environment
- To develop training and
consultancy services in order to
underpin ethnic participation
- To develop, strengthen and
maintain the Network
- To secure resources in order to
maintain and increase operations
in England, Wales and Scotland
- To address current issues and
concerns relating to ethnic
participation in the natural and
built environment
Beneficiaries
BEN’s main beneficiaries are
ethnic communities and organisations
working in sustainable development. We
have developed a large network of active
local ethnic community groups and
individuals across the UK. Ethnic groups
need support services in information and
advice to enable them to participate
fully. Voluntary and statutory
organisations need our services to make
contact with ethnic communities. They
also need information, advice, training
and support to enable them to develop
greater ethnic participation in their
organisations.
Partners
BEN has formed strategic partnerships
with statutory agencies, voluntary
groups, academic institutions and
funders. Partnership development has
opened up the partners’ resources
and networks in support of BEN’s
aims.
Issues
BEN takes a broad view of the term
environment, which includes the natural,
built, social and cultural, in order to
address the cross cutting issues
necessary to underpin ethnic
participation. As such BEN deals with a
range of issues which include:
- Race Relations and Social
Inclusion
- Environmental and Social Justice
- Poverty and Disadvantage
- Natural and Built Environment
- Heritage and Historic environment
- Arts
- Health
- Housing
Funding
Core funding is essential to support
BEN’s central services in meeting
the needs of our beneficiaries. Current
income from membership, statutory
agencies, lotteries, charitable trusts,
training and consultancy is not
sufficient to give central support to
ethnic groups, organisations and
partners.
Vision
To have representation and
participation, at all levels, of ethnic
communities in the built and natural
environment, which reflects the profile
of the ethnic population in Britain
Aims and Objectives
1. To represent issues and concerns
relating to ethnic participation in the
built and natural environment
1.1 Raise awareness of the significance
of ethnic participation, promote the
values of ethnic minorities and fuel
debate around issues relating to ethnic
communities at key conferences and
events, through BEN and other networks,
and appropriate media outlets
1.2 Undertake research, and provide
information and advice to ethnic
communities, environmental and other
relevant organisations on the values and
benefits of ethnic participation
1.3 Undertake consultations and research
to identify issues and concerns relating
to ethnic participation
1.4 Input into policies which affect
ethnic participation in the built and
natural environment
1.5 Work with wider issues which affect
ethnic participation, e.g. equality
issues such as the representation of
disadvantaged groups or the re-definition
of British identity
1.6 Develop and support the role Network
members in representing issues relating
to ethnic participation in the built and
natural environment
2. To develop training and consultancy
services in order to underpin ethnic
participation
2.1 Develop structured training
programmes for organisations to enable
them to work effectively with ethnic
communities
2.2 Provide consultancy advice on policy
development and organisational change to
enable greater ethnic participation
2.3 Build the capacity of ethnic groups
to enable them to participate fully in
the built and natural environment
3. To develop, strengthen and maintain
the Network
3.1 Widen the Network to include other
sectors which address key issues linking
into ethnic participation in the built
and natural environment e.g. the
heritage, housing, health, outdoor
activity and education
3.2 Organise conferences, seminars or
events which encourage exchange of
information and sharing experience
3.3 Develop and promote good practice in
working with ethnic communities
3.4 Initiate events which engage ethnic
communities with relevant mainstream
organisations
3.5 Link environmental and other relevant
organisations with ethnic communities and
where necessary act as a facilitator to
develop engagement
3.6 Provide an information, advice and
networking service,enabling access by
ethnic groups to information, advice,
expertise, experience sharing and mutual
support.
4. To secure resources in order to
maintain and increase operations in
England, Wales and Scotland
4.1 Obtain funding for projects which
have a regional and local focus to
provide better quality of services to
ethnic communities
4.2 Identify funding which provides
regular income for the core functions of
BEN
4.3 Establish a central permanent base
for co-ordination and core strategic work
4.4 Build BEN’s reserves to secure
the continuity of the organisation in
line with the Charity Commissioner’s
recommendation to hold reserves
equivalent to 2 years of the costs of
core functions.
5. To address current issues and concerns
relating to ethnic participation in the
natural and built environment
5.1 Develop projects and partnerships to
address current issues and concerns
5.2 Initiate new and innovative projects,
events and models which push the
boundaries of BEN’s and its
partners’ work
5.3 Promote relevant new activities
within ethnic communities e.g. food
growing, cycling, green transport,
employment development, walking for
health, and countryside recreation.
TOP
Introduction | Why BEN? | BEN
strategy | MC & Structure | Offices & Staff | Membership | Funders
|
 |
