Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations

Background:

The ‘Bangladeshi Parents and Carers Association’ (BPCA), which as its name suggests is a specialist in working with people with multiple disabilities. It was formed in July1998. The organisation as it stands today employs 20 people and has 5 committed volunteers, it is moving into the forefront of delivering quality culturally specialist services that meet unmet needs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is the only project working in the borough which provides care for high dependency users.

Vision

BPCA’s vision is to improve the quality of life of Bangladeshi adults and children with disabilities, and their families and those of other Asian origin living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and surrounding areas.

 

Aims and Objectives

• To ensure that the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Disability Discriminations Act 1995, applies equally to all people with learning disability.
• To work towards improving four main principles of: ‘Rights, Independence, Choice and Inclusion of all disabled users.
• To provide appropriate person - centered support and guidance to help them be more self sufficient and independent.
• To provide day care facilities for young disabled adults with education, culture, religion, leisure and skills activities.
• To provide information and advocacy support to people with disabilities and their parents and careers.
• To relieve pressure off parents and carers in terms of looking after the disabled users’ welfare needs.
• To increase the amount of freedom that disabled users have, thereby improving their independence and developing their day to day decision without the need for support.

Activities of BPCA:

The Association runs two main programmes within its weekly schedule. 50% of the services are provided at the centre and the other 50% in the community delivered in partnership with key relevant stakeholders.

The Association takes referrals from Social Services and provide lunch and transport for all the service users.

 

Centre – Based Services

• Safety Workshops: Health and Safety, Role Play, Awareness Training.
• Basic skills Workshops: Bengali & English Classes, Numeracy Classes.
• Makaton: Sign Language Sessions.
• Social Skills Classes: Use of Modern Technologies, Telephone, Email, Internet.
• Discussion Group: Health Issues, Women’s issues, Personal Hygiene.
• Design & Handicrafts: Jewellery Making, Clay, Dress Making.
• Physiotherapy: Exercise, Relaxation Techniques, Sensory Therapy.
• Music Workshop: Music, Dance and Drama.
• Cooking: Bangladeshi, English & Chinese Cusine.
• Computer Training: ICT Classes, Internet Education, E-Technology.
• Work Experience: The centre provides work experience opportunities for students who are studying social work and how to support people with learning disabilities.

Community – Based Activities

• Outdoor Sports and these include: Football, Swimming, Bowling, Canoeing & Rebound Therapy.
• Fitness Gym at: Whitechapel Sports Centre, Tower Hamlets College.
• Further Education & Training Adult Education & Personal Skills Training at: Tower Hamlets College, The Shaw Trust, Working Support & Poetry in Wood.
• Run a Health & Hygiene Workshop which focuses on personal hygiene at Tower Hamlets College.
• Offer Life Skills Training Sessions: Shopping, Road Safety, First AID & Cleaning at the Tower Project.
• Offer Gardening Sessions in partnership with Tower Project, Victoria Park Project & St Mary’s Centre.
• Social Activities: Prayers at East London Mosque and Youth & Peer Education Work.
• Offer Music & Dance Classes at St Matthews Centre.
• Organise Recreational & Educational Visits to Museums, Art Galleries, Theatres & Cinemas.
• Residential breaks (inside and outside the country) to promote independence and interaction with other communities.

The services provided by BPCA are tailor made to meet the changing needs of the clients and delivered in the most professional manner. The organisation is committed to provide a learning, working and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members are respected. All forms of harassment including bullying are not tolerated.

BCPA is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment, education and support for all its users and staff. This commitment is consistent with the essential characteristics of a Day Centre with its underlying principles of equality for all.

BPCA is dedicated to providing equal opportunity in all service delivery and prohibiting discrimination based upon protected group status. Equal opportunity in service delivery means: equal access to all our services, whether community or centre based; equal benefits from services and equal treatment within the system.

Furthermore BPCA is committed to equality of opportunity in its user admission as well as employment practices regardless of colour, creed, ethnic or national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, political affiliation, those with HIV status, sexual orientation etc.

Capacity building needs identified:

• Review constitution and align to organisations activities.
• Urgently look for new premises.
• Review polices and update where necessary.
• Carryout skills audit of MC members.
• Develop monitoring system to track clients’ progress.
• Appraise staff and review JD’s in line with activities.
• Create marketing materials to raise profile.
• Develop a Business Development Plan.
• Review funding with a view to securing long term sustainable funding
• IT advice on backing up data

Outcome of the work done by the organisation and benefits of the CEMVO programme:

• BPCA has secured SLA with London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the next year of £420 000 and also negotiated a spot contract, which on average is bringing to the organisation and additional £15 000 per month. This has helped the organisation build a reserve and also secured the long term funding of the organisation.
• The organisation had just received notice that would need to vacate the present offices, which was being rented. I put together an application for a loan to Future Builder’s which was successful; the total amount secured was £1.2 million.
• Business plan for the next 3 years including how the capital build project was going to managed.
• Audit of Management Skills and suggested training for the them to attend.
• A complete review of policies, constitution, and JD’s was undertaken to ensure compatibility to the organisations activities

Quote from the forum:

The Manager, Moni Awwal said, “The organisation was a critical stage in its development, the provision that the CEMVO’s CBO provided helped the organisation not only find it’s strategic direction, but also helped secure the financial help to enable the organisation to move in to mainstream tendering in a serious way. The intervention has left the organisation to what looks like a very promising future”.

 

Address:
45-55 Whitehorse Road
London E1 0ND Tel: 0207 265 9627
Email: enquires@bpca.info
Website: www.BPCA.info