WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND FAITH GROUPS

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WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND FAITH GROUPS
C S C

B CAMDEN SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD

• Asha-Kin Duale
• Community Partnership Advisor
• Voluntary Action Camden
• Dec. 07

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My approach to community engagement

• My background
• Work experience
• Gender
• BME factor
• Religion
• Understanding refugee issues

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Where are you based

• Voluntary sector versus statutory
• Access to community links
• Access to information
• Winning resources
• The issue of trust

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Direction

• Steering Group
• Composition
• Support
• Facilitating access
• Learning
• Community and faith Forums

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A QUESTION OF TRUST

• Full commitment versus lip service
• Capacity building
• Outreach hard to reach?
• Community involvement in forums

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True partnership

• Equal footing ownership and priorities
• Inclusiveness
• Access to information

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Thinking differently

1. Your priority is not always shared. Listen!
2. Develop a true partnership by negotiating
3. Gain trust on conflicting issues
4. Allow ownership
5. Be inclusive
6. Lasting support
7. Follow up changes
8. Be appropriately dressed and respectful!

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What would you like to be mindful when engaging
with BME communities and faith groups on child
safeguarding

• We too have a lot to contribute (Ibrahim,
  Somali Youth Resource Centre)
• To my knowledge culture which harm children is
  not a good culture but policies should value
  certain aspects of a good culture (Pastor,
  Congolese Church)
• Some aspects of the safeguarding and social care
  are difficult to grasp and still there is lack of
  understanding how the system works (Asian
  voluntary organisation)