MENTER has always believed in the value of partnership work. The Frontline Engagement through Regional Infrastructure (FERI) project is another example of MENTER’s commitment to join forces with other voluntary sector networks and make the “civil society” sector stronger. FERI exists to support the regional consortium of VCS thematic networks, Eastern Region Infrastructure Network (ERIN ). It is funded for a period of 3 years (2009-2012) by Big Lottery Fund. For more information about the FERI project contact Béatrice Humarau or Jenni Jordan.

Below is an extract from the ERIN website which aims to make access to specialist information, best practice and resources easier for VCS organisations in the East of England. Themes covered reflect ERIN members’ knowledge and expertise and complement the wealth of information already provided by COVER.

To access useful documents and links, click on one of the topics below or visit the ERIN website directly at http://www.erin-net.org.uk/ . 

Resources dating back to 2010.

  1. Communities and Local Government update on Community Cohesion (March 2010), click here
  2. Joining the dots: Social Impact Measurement, Commissioning from the Third Sector and Supporting Social Enterprise Development. EEDA/The Guild/SEEE, May 2010
  3. The Impact of The Recession on Migrant Labour, published by the Local Government Association, January 2009
  4. The Equality Implications of Being a Migrant in Britain. A research report by Middlesex University supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2009
  5. Social Networks and Polish Immigration to the UK. An ippr working paper, 2009
  6. Migrant Worker Availability in the East of England: An Economic Risk Assessment. Published by ippr and EEDA, 2009
  7. Partnership Development Project  (2009)- Final report on the 2006-2009 phase of the project.
  8. Good practice in setting up multi-agency forums and partnerships click on: “Start up pack”
  9. Building Better Partnerships booklet: Guidelines for Multi-Agency groups working with asylum-seekers and refugees in the East of England. January 2005.
  10. Collaborative working – the art of working together effectively 
     http://www.greengageconsulting.co.uk/
  11. Needs Analysis made simple. A practical guide to planning and carrying out needs analysis exercises. March 2006. Link to Needs analysis made simple: Plus accompanying workbook: Link to Workbook to “ Needs analysis made simple: A practical guide to planning and carrying out needs analysis exercise”
  12. Community Participation Guide: A guide to improve community participation for multi-agency forums working with asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers in the East of England. July 2008
  13. Racism Awareness report: This is a short report aimed at informing network members about the level of awareness amongst MAF members around racism, hate crime and extremism towards new and emerging communities in the Eastern Region. It comes with a set of recommendations which MAFs can adopt. The report is based on the analysis of an informal needs & problem analysis questionnaire collected from multi-agency forum members conducted by MENTER’s Partnership Development Project. . June 2008
  14. Information pack available on the CLG website written by MENTER and Loretta Hurley Development Consultant- an information template and how-to guide for developing welcome packs for migrant communities. Link to “Welcome pack: Sharing good practice”
  15. English Language Strategy for Migrant Workers in the East of England: The purpose of the strategy is to reduce duplication; to align funding and to identify and address gaps in English language training provision. While the catch-all phrase often used is English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), we recognise that other English language training may be appropriate.  ESOL is used in this document to cover any English language training for people who need to learn English, at whatever level.
  16. BME access to skills, employment and enterprise services in the East of England. a research report published by MENTER with support by EEDA, June 2007
  17. ESOL and Regional Economic Strategies: A scoping paper: : the final report of the National institute of Adult  Continuing Education Committee of Inquiry on English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) arising from the recommendations of More than a Language.
  18. Good Practice Guidance for Media Work by East of England Regional Assembly Strategic Migration Partnership (EERA-SMP): This guidance was developed to provide a good practice framework which local authority press officers, and multi-agency representatives addressing asylum and refugee issues in the media, can use to develop their own sub-regional media strategies. Although primarily aimed at asylum and refugee issues, many of the guidelines can be applied to other new arrivals and some reference is made to these groups within this guide.
  19. LAA toolkit:The aim of this document is to provide the organisations, multi-agency fora and other regional partnerships that support migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees with a toolkit to assist in the process of developing Local Area Agreements that meet the needs of these new communities and the host communities that support them.
  20. Refugee Integration Guide: It aims to support the integration of asylum seekers and refugees, and to support their host communities in the East of England. Informed by some of the region's key practitioners, it is intended to provide guidance and a framework from which agencies working with asylum seekers and refugees can develop their own sub-regional integration strategies
  21. Our Shared Future June 2007: This is the Commission on Integration & Cohesion’s final report. It sets out practical proposals for building integration and cohesion at a local level. The proposals are based both on a combination of new evidence, and on their analysis of the excellent response to their consultation process.
  22. Community Cohesion impact assessment and community conflict prevention tool by CLG, Jan 2008: This tool is provided by Communities and Local Government to test if activities you are planning will have a positive impact on community cohesion and community conflict in your area. It is offered ‘as is’ and without any guarantee on the part of Communities and Local Government that it will have a positive impact on community cohesion in your area.
  23. The Government’s response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion by CLG, February 2008: This response sets out how the Government is following up all of the Commission’s 57 recommendations – what we have already done, what we will do in the future and how we will further develop the Commission’s ideas. It sets out a new clarity on, and commitment to, delivering cohesive and integrated communities, increased investment in cohesion and a new public service agreement for cohesive, empowered and active communities.(extract from forward by Hon Hazel Blears Secretary of State for Communities and Local government)
  24. Predictors of community cohesion: multi-level modelling of the 2005 Citizenship Survey by CLgG, Februsry 2008: This study uses nationally representative data – specifically, the 2005 Citizenship Survey – to systematically examine the socio-demographic and attitudinal predictors of community cohesion in England, both at the individual and the community level. This report presents findings from our multi-level statistical modelling and has three main objectives: to identify the individual socio-demographic and attitudinal predictors of community cohesion; to explore how far differences between communities can be explained by the individual characteristics of their members; and to establish the extent to which community level factors can predict cohesion above and beyond those characteristics which operate at the individual level.
  25. Managing the Impacts of Migration: A Cross-Government Approach, June 2008: This document sets out what we are already doing to manage the local impacts of migration; what we will do in addition, responding to the needs of local communities; and the role that local government and local partners can play in taking this forward. The document therefore sets the foundation for an environment where a healthier and more rational debate on the challenges of migration can take place, stressing the Government's commitment to working closely with stakeholders towards an update of the plan in early 2009.
  26. The Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK July 2008 (full report): This is a research, commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The research findings suggest that the majority of the British public have far more realistic understandings of the negotiations involved in working towards 'community cohesion' than current policy debates focused on a set 'British identity' imply. Successful social cohesion emerges as a result of mutual compromises, acceptance of difference and local cultural exchanges between settled and migrant residents.
  27. Cohesion Delivery Framework by CLG, July 2008: This document is the starting point for anyone interested in what cohesion is and why it matters. It draws on the work of the independent Commission on Integration and Cohesion, who spent nine months examining how people around the country are getting involved to help make their communities better places to live. It explains the practical things that local authorities and their partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors can do to build places where everyone shares a sense of belonging. And it signposts the support and advice available from central government.(extract from forward by Hon Hazel Blears Secretary of State for Communities and Local government)
  28. Why the East of England needs migrants – Read more in Philippe Legrain’s essay commissioned by EEDA.
  29. Draft Literature Review for the Longitudinal Study of migrant workers. This document is the initial literature conducted by Anglia Ruskin University as part of their work for EEDA. It will be updated and included as part of each interim report (due in December of 2008 and 2009) and finalised for the final report in early 2011. Click here to download the document.
  30. Longitudinal Study of Migrant Workers in the East of England - First Interim report, January 2009. The first year of the longitudinal study highlights the ambiguity and complexity of decision-making on length of stay and the fact that possible assumptions about long term arrivals and settlement need to be treated with caution. The research also shows that whilst public, political and often academic discourses label people who have arrived from the A8 and A2 countries as ‘migrant workers’, interviewees did not identify with this concept (or the concept of East European). Instead, a large number perceive themselves as European citizens (in combination with their national identity). The relevance of political and social factors in countries of origin and in the UK are also discussed. The research shows that language, recognition of skills, access to suitable housing and healthcare remain the chief barriers.
  31. Specialist Cohesion Team Report, Cohesion and Migration in Breckland, March 2009 This is a practical report based on the result of activities of a pilot Specialist Cohesion Team working collaboratively with Breckland District Council. The report sends the message that locally co-ordinated work on cohesion will not cause community tensions or disturbances if designed well and delivered sensitively. This report contains helpful and positive message that supports the devolved approach to cohesion as highlighted in the Local Government White Paper. This report additionally supports peer to peer mentoring with other neighbouring districts sharing similar profiles to Breckland.
  32. Employing Refugees. A guide for employers: documents providing evidence of entitlement to work. Refugee Council and EHRC, March 2009. This guide aims to explain and provide clarity on the documents that refugees, and some asylum-seekers, have which demonstrate their entitlement to work in the UK. Refugees do not usually have a national passport but instead are issued with separate Home Office documents. This guide outlines the documents that employers will need to check prior to employing a refugee or asylum-seeker.
  33. Pitchford M., Archer T. with Ramsden S., The Duty to Involve: Making it Work. Community Development Foundation: 2009. From April 2009 best value authorities have a ‘duty to inform, consult and involve’ (henceforth referred to as the duty to involve). This means providing greater opportunities for local people to get involved and influence the decisions that affect them. This guide is the Community Development Foundation’s perspective on how authorities can prepare and act in order to meet their statutory responsibilities regarding the duty to involve.
  34. Welcome Pack-Suffolk information resources
  35. Links to EEDA’s Migrant worker steering group- list of resources
  36. Link to Communities and Local Government Publications

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Partnership Development Project of MENTER

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