ANNUAL REPORT 2007

CORE SERVICES

The core services now extends to providing Information, Advice and practical support on the variety of issues and that matters most to the clients such as social welfare, advocacy and forms filling. The service on employment and training still continues.

PRESTON EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP (PEP):

One of the most successful partnership and meaningful relationship established to provide immense benefits to the clients in the areas of training and employment. The clients are now able to access job vacancies with support mechanism and expertise provided by PEP staff based at Preston Muslim Forum (PMF). From April 2007 to March 2008, 182 clients were registered with success rate of 72% securing employment and 28% were also enrolled for various skills based training courses.

PR1ME FOCUS

The project ‘Access to Opportunities’ was launched in January 2008 and involved securing funding for a 17 seater mini bus in partnership with Red Rose Sports Club and Canaries Football Club.

+VE MINDS

PMF has secured first round of funding to meet government’s outcome on the prevention strand of violent extremism agenda. The project is designed in partnership with Shabash and local imaam.

PRESTON EAST CHILDRENCENTRE

The partnership established since June 2005 through SLA and involved secondment of PMF chief officer finished in March 2008. The strong foundation laid by PMF and PECC puts both organisations in a good stead to continue delivering children and families’ agenda in partnership. PMF will continue to be a referral point for the families from Deepdale and assist them to facilitate their access to the services they are entitled to. PMF on behalf of PECC will run the Dads Group at Hamaara Centre every fortnight and manage play group assistant. We hope this relationship will continue for the benefit of families in the Deepdale area.

LUNCHEON CLUB

This much awaited services for the elderly people started in Feb 2008. This is initially a one year project funded by Preston Older People Partnership Board. Age Concern has also kindly contributed the resources. This is held at Preston Muslim Girls High School once a week and we hope that this becomes a long term feature in the area.

PQASSO

PMF successfully went through the quality standard process conducted by the city council. PMF is also participating in the capacity building workshops organised by City Council as part of their ‘Building the Future’ project.

AWARDS FOR ALL

Funding secured in February 2008 to deliver services for elderly people.

CONSULTATIONS

PMF was commissioned to carry out community consultations from the Probation Services and the University of Central Lancashire.

PMF YOUTH CLUB

The youth club made significant progress in terms of young people’s participation, activities and volunteer contribution. The improved and spacious layout of the youth club now includes computers with broadband internet, and sports and other equipments including mini gym. Over the summer period the young people were taken on several planned trips such as ice skating, cinemas, ten pin bowling, football stadium, etc. The arts and craft workshops were held for young girls and separate girl’s only sporting sessions. The project funded by Young People Fund finishes in March 2009.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

A one year multi-faith project was successfully delivered involving various outdoor and indoor activities involving young people from more than two faiths.

UK NATIONALITY SESSIONS

A bespoke software was produced to provide practice sessions to those applying for the British Citizenship at a nominal charge.

LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

One year funding secured from June 07 to cover PMF’s core costs and services related to families and children.

WAY FORWARD 2008-2009

Build on the good practice from Preston Employment Partnership, and deliver enhanced employment initiatives.

Work closely with the County Council’s commissioning process to deliver Children/Family and older people services.

Increase youth activities to include awareness of current issues related to Muslim youths.

Build capacity of local groups in the areas of family learning, youth activities and community development.

SURGERIES:

The surgeries for council tax, housing, immigration and Police are still continuing.

Preston Muslim Forum

185 Deepdale Road

Preston PR1 6LJ

Youth Club at:

Hamaara Centre, Rear of 158 Castleton Road, Preston

Tel: 01772 889000 / E-mail: pmforum@hotmail.com

Website: www.pmforum.org.uk

Regstd. Charity Number: 1064609

SERVICES FOR ALL

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

PECC image Awards for all logo Community development Foundation preston e,ployment partnership logo

Chief Officer’s Comments

2007-2008 has been a steady but on the whole a successful year. The achievements highlighted in this report were also accompanied by some disappointments, mainly the unsuccessful outcome of the Reaching Communities fund and ending of SLA with Preston East Children Centre. This SLA has supported my position at PMF since June 2005. The relationship will still continue on a different level.

The future for various funding streams looks uncertain as ever and we are looking at new ways for organisation’s sustainability, such as commissioning of services, delivery of training and so on.

The ever changing priorities of the government and the funders have enabled PMF to adapt to the changes and explore other areas. 2007-2008 saw PMF securing funding for varied and challenging projects such as older people, preventing violent extremism, multi-faith, families and children services. I hope that PMF’s maintains it’s flexibility and is willing to push the boundaries to deliver much needed services to the community

The worklessness agenda, commissioning of lower level needs for older people and preventing violent extremism will be next priorities and PMF is in a good stead to contribute the outcome of the above strands more effectively.

Anis Faruki

OVERVIEW USER INFORMATION / 2007-2008

2007-2008

Apr07

May07

Jun07

Jul07

Aug07

Sep07

Oct07

Nov07

Dec07

Jan08

Feb08

Mar08

Total

No. of people

479

470

488

450

349

465

398

979

887

853

468

581

6867

Gender	Apr07	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Total
Male	229	252	244	260	217	249	237	285	270	236	259	302	3040
Female	350	318	344	290	232	316	261	394	317	309	379	3827	3827
Total	579	570	588	550	449	565	498	679	587	553	568	681	6867
Nature of Services
Employment	22	19	27	12	26	17	15	18	10	13	10	09	198
Social welfare/advocacy	114	98	97	94	100	150	114	106	127	136	130	107	1373
Forms Filling	73	88	79	68	77	93	44	80	73	65	75	76	891
Immigration	28	32	40	27	19	18	36	31	26	29	14	39	339
In-House Surgeries	51	68	61	33	39	33	21	44	16	50	22	27	465
Other	250	348	288	276	301	289	271	313	312	349	335	269	3601
Total	538	653	592	510	562	600	501	592	564	642	586	527	6867
Type of Enquiry
Telephone	150	100	102	123	108	111	101	104	109	110	105	108	1331
Drop-In	512	389	487	432	455	487	461	491	389	457	488	488	5536
Total	662	489	589	555	563	598	562	595	498	567	593	596	6867

120 young people age group 8-25 years attend youth club every week