Black, Minority & Ethnic
Volunteering and BME communities
The Commission on the Future of Volunteering: Manifesto for Change, 2008, acknowledges the usefulness of volunteering in breaking down barriers and bringing people together:
Volunteering, in whatever context, can bring together people who have different politics, are of different ages, and come from different family or other backgrounds. Voluntary activity can build bridges between people of different ethnic and faith groups, strengthen social cohesion, and make us proud to be British, in a way which is marked out by a culture of giving of time, energy and commitment.
(The Commission on the Future of Volunteering: Manifesto for Change, 2008, P.3)
Hate Crime Reporting
Ryedale Volunteer centre is a reporting centre for hate crime, providing a community based, accessible and approachable service, and widening the opportunity for victims of crime to come forward.
York Unifying Multicultural Initiative
York CVS worked with YUMI to provide 1-
BME Volunteering
York CVS works with refugees and asylum seekers to engage them in volunteering, enabling them to integrate into the local community, build social networks and relationships, and make contact with services.
Volunteering, culture and ethnicity
Different people from different backgrounds may or may not volunteer for different reasons.
A report by Age Concern (Later Matters, Tackling Race Inequalities for Older People, 2009) suggests that “gender related cultural issues” may be a barrier to volunteering, since women in some communities may be unlikely to mix outside of their homes.
It is suggested by local organisations working in York and North Yorkshire that Traveller communities may not see volunteering as culturally relevant.
Some Volunteer Centres report high numbers of volunteers from migrant communities who see volunteering as a way to integrate with the local communities, and to improve their English language skills.
What can Volunteer Centres do for YOU?
If you would like to volunteer, but you face any barriers to volunteering, contact your local Volunteer Centre to discuss your interests and needs. Volunteer Centres:
- Work with all sections of the community and help different people to find opportunities
that are right for them.
- Help organisations to adapt volunteering opportunities to suit different people.
- Provide comprehensive Volunteer Management Training to organisations that involve
volunteers in their work. This includes guidance on diversity and equal opportunities.
- Assist all community groups to recruit volunteers to support their work.
Tell us what you think!
As a volunteer you should be treated with respect and dignity. Usually volunteers have a great experience, but that isn’t always the case. Whether you have a positive experience to share, or would like to raise a concern, your Volunteer Centre would be delighted to hear from you.
Alternatively, you might have ideas about how barriers to volunteering could be overcome, how organisations can involve volunteers from all sections of the community in their work, or how Volunteer Centres ca\n deliver their services more effectively.
If you’d like to give Volunteer Centres some feedback, please fill in one of these forms, giving as much detail as you feel comfortable with.
Please note that this is not a complaints procedure. To complain about an organisation you should ask for a copy of their complaints procedure. Volunteer Centres are not generally able to raise issues your behalf.
Volunteer Centres will use the information you provide to develop better advice, guidance, and training resources.
Volunteer Centres may wish to speak to you, or organisations you refer to, in order to gain more information, so please indicate whether you are happy for them to share and discuss your information with others.
Links and Resources
Age Concern Report (Later Matters, Tackling Race Inequalities for Older People, 2009)
BME Voice
The BME Voice is a voice of the Black Minority Ethnic Voluntary & Community Sector in Yorkshire and the Humber. The BME Voice aims to inform by providing high quality information and share good practice of BME VCS work from across the region. It also is a platform for the service providers to communicate with the BME VCS.