Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations

On 19th October 2005, CEMVO launched its Helpline for the minority ethnic voluntary and community sector. The event, chaired by Krishna Sarda, CEMVO’s Chief Executive, took place in the East London Centre – at our Headquarters in Stratford - and was attended by over 60 stakeholders, including representatives of voluntary and community organisations, funding bodies and several Mayors of London Boroughs.

Since its inception, the Helpline has been providing information and signposting to minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations across the board, in areas such as funding, organisational development and business planning. The first of its kind, CEMVO’s Helpline plays a key role in widening access to information and services for community-based organisations. It is also yielding a wealth of data that will allow us to better identify and respond to their needs and those of their constituent groups.

Helpline Number: 020 8432 0405
Lines open: Monday – Friday (09:00 – 16:00)
Email enquiries: helpline@CEMVO.org.uk

The Helpline (020 8432 0405) will provide minority ethnic voluntary and community organisations with information and support on a wide range of relevant issues including:

• Funding Opportunities
• Meeting Training and Development Needs
• Working in Partnership
• How to join CEMVO’s Capacity Building Programme
• How to join CEMVO’s Network
• Other areas of interest to the minority ethnic voluntary and community sector

Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Enquiries can also be emailed to: helpline@CEMVO.org.uk

The National Helpline is part of CEMVO’s drive to strengthen Britain’s minority ethnic communities, building the capacity of voluntary sector organisations and responding to the needs of the country’s most disadvantaged groups.

The Helpline launch took place at CEMVO’s Headquarters in Stratford and was attended by Barbara Hughes, Mayor of Camden and John Shepheard, Mayor of Bexley, amid a wide range of stakeholders and beneficiaries. On announcing the Helpline Krishna Sarda, Chief Executive of CEMVO said:

‘As the only national minority ethnic-led charity of its kind, CEMVO is well aware of the needs of Britain’s diverse communities and the voluntary sector. In particular, we recognize a widespread lack of information and support pervading the sector, as well as inadequate access to information and services adversely affecting disadvantaged and hard-to-reach groups. CEMVO’s National Helpline has been specifically created to address these needs. I am therefore delighted to announce the launch of this invaluable source of information and support to the country’s minority ethnic voluntary and community sector’.