Summer Activities

PDREC seek funding each year to run a programme of holiday activities during the summer holidays, July and August, which include Outdoor activities for Young people, Family days and Workshops, and local community events.  In 2007, we additionally applied for funding to carry out some creative workshops in the October half term.  These activities target multicultural, marginalised, low income and hard to reach groups that do not traditionally engage with mainstream organisations.    We aim to offer these families the opportunity to feel safe, build relationships, networks of other support agencies, as well as offering an affordable activity which enables them to enjoy, achieve and spend quality time together as a family.  We often work in partnership with organisations such as Barbican Theatre and Plymouth Youth Afloat.

World Cuisine - Plymouth Flavour Fest (August 2007)

This exciting new addition was thanks to sponsorship from Plymouth City Council, and a partnership between Business Link and Plymouth and District Racial Equality Council, who scoured the South West to promote the inclusion of more exotic dishes and food providers – focusing on World Dishes and Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.The aim of the event was to promote the wonderful diversity of people we have in the region, and the positive benefits they bring both culturally and economically to the local community. Click here for more information, and photo gallery, for this event.

Toby’s Story

Across much of Europe, Gypsies, Roma and travelers still experience such persecution and discrimination that they are afforded official protection under Race legislation. Toby’s Story tells the real life tale of a young Polish Gypsy who, in 2001, moved with his family to Plymouth to escape prejudice encountered in Poland. This stunning biography shows how, despite difficulties here, Toby has been able to overcome barriers to develop his love of dance. It is an affirmative tale that will encourage other young people to pursue their dreams.

Somebody’s Brother...

This dramatic and powerful image marked the launch of a city-wide poster campaign aimed at raising awareness and acceptance around ethnic diversity and – more subtly – similarities. Displayed in numerous public points of contact across Plymouth, this poster was a collaboration between Plymouth City Council and PDREC. Everyone who sees this poster has a view about its impact – the comments are overwhelmingly positive. The style that this image launched is now being adopted by other local race equality organisations.

Kids Cook Book/Cultural Cafe

This course attracted young people from many diverse back-grounds in the preparation of meals – drawing on a wide range of culinary roots. Specialist chefs facilitated meal preparation, but just as important as the meals were confidence building and the breaking down of barriers. Production of a book of favourite recipes is another very positive outcome to emerge from the project.

Open to All?

This Guide, for all who work in Plymouth’s statutory and not-for-profit sector, is designed as a training tool around engagement with the City’s Black and Minority Ethnic communities. It deals with a serious subject in an affirmative style – encouraging without hectoring – and includes examples of good practice drawn from across Plymouth and elsewhere in Devon. The Home Office Pathfinder Programme and Plymouth City Council funded the Guide.

Infocus

This periodic newsletter,with a circulation of over 3,000 for Plymouth’s BME people, covered local issues as well as those of national interest too. With a multi-agency editorial panel it set out to fulfil the qualities of its chosen strap line as: Positive + Supportive + Realistic + Challenging + Respectful + Entertaining. Pump-priming funding for the first editions came from the Pathfinder Programme and we are hoping to revive this popular communication by attracting local sponsorship.

Fan Dance

Fans have a long history in China and are still valued today as artistic props. The Fan Dance offers a gentle, effective exercise for people of all ages and is a graceful link to Chinese traditions. The Chinese community is the City’s largest and oldest ethnic minority and the Fan Dance group has proved very popular. It has also, incidentally, provided both opportunities for support and widening friendship circles.

Sweet and Sour : Recollections from the Chinese Elder Communities in the South West of England

The idea for this book, to be published August 2007, emerged from the work of the Racial Equality Council with the Chinese Community in Plymouth.  The REC has forged strong links with this community through a variety of events that we have helped organise over the years.  During this time it became apparent that the elders were worried that the younger generation were losing touch with their traditions and history.  Some of the elders we spoke with were concerned that as many of the younger generation are no longer fluent in Cantonese, they were unable to communicate with the elders, who are not always fluent in English.  We hope this book both begins to give the younger generation an understanding of the hardship their parents and grandparents had to overcome; and that the wider community begins to gain an understanding of the reality of immigrant lives and the price they often pay to come to Britain.  Perhaps it will go someway to dispel some of the myths that exist around these communities and encourage discussion, based on facts, as apposed to rumour and media hype.

'Proud Parents' of Plymouths Annual Respect Festival - 2007 10th Anniversary

www.plymouthrespectfestival.co.uk