Preston Muslim Forum

ANNUAL REPORT

2004 / 2005

A striving, healthy and prosperous community actively contributing to the benefit of society as a whole.

Contents                                                                      Page

Chair’s forward                                               3

Vision/Aims/PMF Team                                4

Introduction                                                   5

Overview – Last 12 months                           6                     

New Projects-Way Forward                            10 

User Information                                            11 

Vote of Thanks                                               13

Chair’s Forward

I would like to start with a positive note by saying that 2004-2005 was a successful year for Preston Muslim Forum (PMF). Success is a flexible term, and to me increase in staffing, planned move to new premises, securing of ERDF funding, deliverance of varied projects and forging of new partnerships are some of the criteria I would measure PMF’s success against.

On behalf of management committee, I would like to thank all the staff, volunteers, users, stakeholders and the agencies for their positive contribution in making PMF what it is today. A pro-active and friendly organisation meeting diverse needs of the community. PMF through considerable hard work has evolved into an effective ‘partner’ organisation, providing a much needed link with the community and a platform to reflect the ever changing needs of the community.

Due to personal reasons, I have decided to step down from my position as a Chair of PMF. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my personal thanks to my fellow board members and all those who have been associated with PMF over the years, for all their support and co-operation. It has been an excellent learning experience.

Iqbal Patel

Chairman

Vision

‘PMF seeks to improve the lives and well being of Muslims and the community at large by developing community led solutions fostering understanding and co-operation between communities, advocating culturally sensitive and effective public services’.

Aims

• Empower women who are at margin of society, by promoting life long learning initiatives.
• Develop employability skills of the people seeking employment, through education and training.
• Encourage young people’s participation with a view to address issues related to social disorder, drugs, alcohol abuse and juvenile crime.
• Work with individuals and groups to develop their potential and capacity in self-empowerment.
• Enhance understanding and links with the mosques and encourage their participation in community development and regeneration initiatives.
• Promote awareness of environmental issues.
• Improve health of the community and strive for health equality with special emphasis on women, children and old people.

 PMF Team ( 2004 – 2005)

 Sabiha Vohrajee            Office Manager

Anis Faruki                    Community Development Officer

Sabiha Rashid               Community Development Officer

          (Resigned Dec 2004)

Shahzana Hussein         Community Development Officer

                                       (Started Jan 2005)

Nafeesa Kazi                  Administrator

Ilyas Lulat                      Drugs co-ordinator

Mubin Bapu                   Youth co-ordinator

Nafisa Ahmed                 Admin.assistant

Ismail Seedat                 Volunteer Officer

This report summarises PMF’s work between April 2004 and March 2005. It describes our main achievements during these 12 months and also talks about the challenges we have faced.

 
One of the major challenge which whole of the voluntary sector is facing and PMF is no exception, is volatility of funding opportunities. The increasing rigorous criteria from the funders under the pretext of better value and cost effectiveness, puts additional pressure on the limited resources of an organisation.

 
We are more than half way into meeting our strategic aims as agreed in the Business Plan 2004-2006. We are also proud to achieve what we aimed for in our 2003-2004 Annual Report.  Following is what we aimed for in last year’s annual report, and how we achieved it.

An Overview – Last 12 Months

Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG):

• job search
• CV building
• job application forms
• interview techniques
• educational and other life long learning courses

We closely liase with Employment Services, Connexions, Learning Skills Council, next steps (previously known as NOW network) Preston College, Lancashire County Council etc in order to provide these vital services to the community.

In recognition of exceeding our targets and the quality of services, we were awarded Best Practice in IAG-2004 and Best Partnership of the year-2004. We are also the only BME organisation in Central Lancashire to be awarded Matrix Quality Standard, which is nationally recognised accreditation for Guidance Council Standards for learning and work.

Advice and Guidance Pays:

In extension to the above-mentioned success, we managed to secure a new and more challenging project from next steps. Through this project we aim to target people who are not in receipt of core benefits, have educational background below NVQ level 2 and are unemployed by providing extra help to get them back on track with job hunting or re-training. This involves one to one intensive guidance, help choosing a career, individual assessment and an action plan. Connexions were the only other organisation from Central Lancashire to be awarded this project.

PMF through this project is proud to be contributing to the government agenda of raising learning and employment standards.

Community Action Fund (CAF) – Steeping Stone Project

We successfully managed to conclude a 2-year project, which started in March 2003. The male and female community development officers who worked on this project exceeded the targets set in the original bid. We at PMF are proud that this project enabled us to deliver valuable and diverse services to the community. We also acknowledge all the hard work put in by the administrative staff, who recorded, monitored and did client’s follow-up.

The successful meeting of challenging targets was only part of our success story. The CAF project not only enabled PMF to become hallmark of IAG services by securing Matrix Quality Standard and winning awards such as Best IAG Practice-2004 and Best Partnership of the Year-2004, but also provided valuable opportunities to expand their services to other areas such as health, community safety, community development and social cohesion.

CAF Performance March 2003 – March 2005

Teaching Skills for Community Tutors

The pilot project was launched in September 2004 with a view to train community tutors who teach religious education to children and young people in various mosques across Preston. 15 tutors attended level 2 course in ‘Teaching Skills for Community Tutors’. The course was accredited by Greater Manchester Open College Network and supported by Lancashire County Council. More courses will be delivered in near future for the benefit of all community tutors, who are not only willing to develop their skills and learn new teaching techniques, but also committed to raise learning standards of their students. 

Mentoring
 The project DOSTI (Friendship) has been set up in partnership with Lancashire Access Mentoring Point. The project is proving to be a popular initiative and fills the gap of these much-needed services. PMF staff members have been trained by Lancashire Mentor Point. The project intends to serve people of all ages and background for confidential and one to one Information, Advice and Guidance services including referrals to relevant agencies.

 
Health Initiatives 

PMF was fortunate to team up with agencies such as Age Concern, Northwest Development Agency and PCT in delivering 15 health sessions to old people. The sessions covered topics such as Cholesterol Control, Exercise, Massage, Prescription and Chemist, Heart problems, Diabetes, Healthy Eating, Full Body Check –Up, Hearing, Mobility and Visual Aids and so on. The sessions were successfully delivered and due to increasing popularity we are planning similar events next year.

Youth Club
 The youth club at the Hamaara Centre has now been running regularly and successfully. The young volunteers who help run the club have undergone CRB checks completed level 2-youth work and volunteer development courses. Lancashire County Council ran these courses. The part-time youth workers employed by PMF oversee the day to day running of the club. The activities include various sports, sessions on drugs and alcohol, trips to football matches, indoor games, using computers

Other activities/projects and participation:

• Basic Computer classes
• Introduction to youth work for volunteers
• Youth work – level 2
• Volunteer Development course
• Apna Virsa (Our Heritage)
• Set up active sports initiatives for women’s forum
• setting up of Muslim women’s counselling service
• Men and Women health activities
• Lead in organising Arts and Poetry festival
• Displaying of Awaaz (Voice) project at Mayor’s parlour
• Managing Young Asian Women heritage project ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’
• Delivering A & G Pays project
• Delivered disability research project
• Delivered drugs awareness and research project
• Assisting Lancashire Criminal Justice Board’s road show
• Teaching Skills for Community Tutors
• Teaching Skills for BME
• Islamic Cultural Awareness course to professionals from public sector
• Open days/Represntation for PCT, Social Services, Kirkham Prison, PLTP, ABF, Library Services, Sure Start, CVS, Preston Mela, Diversity NorthWest, BME Pact, BME Change Event, NW Skills for Life, Health Task Group, Preston Community Network
• Provided tactical support to Lancashire Constabulary on football matches and Fireworks Awareness
• Establishing in-house surgeries for Job Centre plus, Citizen Advice Bureau, Immigration
• Adults Learning events to celebrate Preston as a Learning City
• Organised Job Workshops in partnership with Library Services and LCC
• Trip to lakes on Family Learning Day
• Residential trips

New Projects – Way Forward 

• Capacity Building

The project secured ERDF funding to build capacity of 10 community groups. These groups already work closely with PMF. The targeted funding would enable PMF to deliver dedicated services to enhance capabilities and sustainability of these groups. 

• Mental Health

Identification of stress factors and promoting mental well being of PMF staff. The project funded and supported by CVS and PCT. 

• Environment

A project supported by BCTV to promote environmental and green issues.

• Teaching Skills for BME Community

Project supported by Continuing Adult Education Services encouraging people from BME community to pursue career in teaching.

• Management Review

Review of management board/members and their roles

• Relocation

PMF will explore avenues to relocate from the current premises.

 
In-House Surgeries

 
Immigration

Citizen Advice Bureau

Housing

Council Tax

Lancashire Constabulary

Counselling

Job Centre Plus