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ON-GOING PROJECTS

Gender Equality

Participants - Birmingham

THIARAI Malkiat (Local Coordinator)

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Local Coordinator

32 Barnfordhill Close, Oldbury,
West Midlands, B68 8ES, Birmingham

Tel +44 121 303 3422
Fax +44 121 464 4466
E-mail malkiat.thiarai@birmingham.gov.uk

Work

I currently work supporting the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health in Birmingham and have worked within local government for over 14 years. In a voluntary capacity I have worked with support groups across different equality issues. I have written a book on self-organisation that is aimed at supporting groups to set up and flourish.

Interests

This project enables me to build on previous experience and understanding of social inclusion at a European level by learning about and assessing different approaches within different organisations across Europe . It fits into the aims and objectives of SIREN and promotes networking as a means of tackling exclusion of specific groups from mainstream activity.

Participates: Turin PREW, SGM meetings

MASSOP Patricia

Contact Details

Organisation       Owen Williams Railways
Position              Design Engineer

31 Wheatmoor Road Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands B75 7HH

Tel +44 121-329-2414
Fax
E-mail patriciamassop@owenwilliams.co.uk

Work

I currently work for Owen Williams Railways as a Design engineer. This involves technical engineering work, relevant to the railways. This sometimes consists of going out on the track to solve certain problems as well as office based work. I got interested in this type of work because I wanted a challenge and something different. Due to the lack of women within this field I had seen it as a challenge. When the opportunity arose I put myself forward for the position. Surprisingly, as the only woman candidate I got the job. I have had a lot of strange looks from men while walking on the track. At times they make you feel like you don't belong there. That only made me more determined to succeed. Since 1996 when I started, the industry has seen an increase of women in the field, although these are still mainly at junior level. I hope one day to see a lot more as Senior Designer Engineers

Interests

I know how hard it is to get heard in a mainly male dominated industry. I'm interested to see how the Gender Equality Project works and also to learn more about the issues other women face. Any work that is done to promote women is a good thing and I'd like to be a part of it.

Participates: Belfast PREW

McCABE Keith

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position

178 Lighthorne Avenue , Ladywood,
Birmingham B16 8EP

Tel +44 121 483 6123
Fax
E-mail Keith.mccabe@atkinsglobal.com

Work

Currently chair of angle gallery and principal consultant engineer with Atkins consultants. At the gallery initiated exhibitions and events on subject of equality, race culture and mental health. These initiatives have principally looked at the issues from a cultural and artistic perspective. I have managed and technically led major projects in the fields of transport and environment.

Interests

I am interested in Latent Potential because I want to promote cultural interaction between different cultural groups around issues of race, gender and artistic development. I also would like to share the experience gained from developing artist led initiatives in Birmingham with other groups and individuals in Europe .

Participates: Northampton PREW

BROWN Marcia

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Steering Group Member

44 Barston Road , Oldbury,
West Midlands , B68 0PS

Tel +44 121 422 5826
Fax
E-mail marcynotice@notmail.com

Work

• Currently working as a social worker for older persons team in Worcester, which involves putting together packages of care for individuals such as hospital discharge on a part time basis.
• Also work for MBC as a sessional NVQ assessor
• Currently doing my 7407 Teaching training
• Original background is mental health care working as a care manager liaising with various voluntary, statutory and family services including mentoring.
• Support schools in a governing capacity looking at quality of service
• Support various equal opportunities seminars and workshop projects

Interests

• To develop a clearer understanding and how to support individuals and groups from various diversities to develop their potential.
• It also links in with what SIREN does and gives a new and fresher approach towards moving forward which is around social inclusion.

Participates: Toledo PREW

REEVES Alison

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Steering Group Member

178 Lighthorne Avenue , Ladywood,
Birmingham B16 8EP

Tel +44 121 233 4760
Fax +44 121 233 4760
E-mail baobabloom@hotmail.com

Work

I am developing a carnival exchange between Birmingham , Johannesburg and Trinidad working with young people in inner City Birmingham . I have also done a lot of work in providing alternative and holistic psychiatric services to women with mental health problems and developing recovery strategies. I used to run a crisis house for women in Birmingham .

Interests

I believe that many people in society especially women and black people don't live up to their potential because of oppression. They come to believe the negative stereotypes of themselves and become victims. As a woman who has recovered from manic depression fully, and helped others, I feel I have a lot to give to the project and it is one I am very committed to.

Participates: Northampton PREW

HURD Pauline

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Chair

374 Flaxley Road , Stechford,
Birmingham , B33 9EF

Tel +44 121 240 2136
Fax
E-mail trishafalxen@hotmail.com

Work

Work as a Development officer within a community setting. Working to support community groups to support them with funding applications and opportunities to develop their projects; Looking at sustainability issues; Training issues / needs analysis for groups;

Exploit any opportunities to ensure people are aware of services that are available to them and that they link into the many regeneration initiatives, which are there to support inclusion with active groups and networks.

I have facilitated a range of discussion forums with a view to get other interested parties involved.

Interests

At SIREN we are interested in linking with European projects that are working in a similar way to ourselves. Gender equality is very rarely discussed at organisational level and I welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues. I enjoy engaging with other individuals and where possible try to get them involved in community related activities.

Participates: Turin PREW

CLARKE Peter

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position             Co Chair

Tel +44 121 303 4247
Fax
E-mail Peter.clarke@birmingham.gov.uk

Work

I work on social inclusion and diversity. I have worked in community and social work with unemployed and homeless people. I have worked in a European project and I have trained people in community work.

Interests

This project fits in with SIREN's objectives and is a networking project at a European level. SIREN is a local networking project for Black and Minority Ethnic communities. 'Latent Potential' offers opportunities to share learning between NGO's and communities.

Participates: Turin PREW

FASINA Omisana

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Steering Group Member

15 Woodville Road , Kings Heath
Birmingham , B14 7 AH

Tel +44 121 356 2292
Fax
E-mail pactuk@btinternet.com

Work

• Currently I'm working as a co-ordinator for a local charity working with families and their children.
• I design and deliver programmes as well as manage the office.
• My previous experience was to work as a midwife both in hospital and within the community.

Interests

My work and interest has always been around gender issues. To be able to participate in a project where I can experience what other countries are doing/experiencing would only help to impact the work that I do, also to have an input on an international level would only enhance my knowledge and skill base.

Participates: Toledo PREW

HEPBURN Pamela

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position             

Tel +44 121 303 3422
Fax +44 121 464 4466
E-mail Pamela_hepburn@birmingham.gov.uk

Work

As part of my current role I sit on the Gender Equality Strategy working group. This group plays a major role in purchasing, providing and maintaining services for the community, fostering, enhancing and maintaining representatives democracy for people at a local level, is a major employer of women and men is a key partner with a range of other agencies.

This challenge in developing practical strategies for bringing about real change in pursuing gender equality is:

Education is pivotal in the process of achieving equality of opportunity between men and women, the choices made, the standards achieved in Education and training remain influential for life. Traditional and stereotyped views still shape young people's aspirations in Education, training and employment and post school activity. The life cycle of inequality, which for many women leads to a life of low paid work and poverty in old age, begins with Education.

Strategies, initiatives and projects that will address gender bias and gender segregation in education, careers and life long learning and improve the performance of under achieving groups.

Interests

My interest of gender work stems from the work that I currently doing, in better governance and women into decision making. Mainstreaming is essentially a social justice led approach to equalities that is capable of diversifying to address inequalities and in the case of the gender debate.

I am currently a school governor and I am in the process of applying to become a magistrate or Justice of the Peace.

Participates: Belfast

FOLARIN Kemi

Contact Details

Organisation       SIREN
Position              Member

315 Monument Road, Ladywood
Birmingham , B16 8TR

Tel +44 121 3035690
Fax +44 121 303 4518
E-mail kemi_folarin@birmingham.gov.uk

Work

Presently I work for Birmingham City Council for the Community and Play Service. My post is based within the central strategy and supports team which supports staff in delivering services to communities. My work programme for this year includes the following :

I have just completed my MA in Applied Community Studies, my dissertation focused on how open dialogue is important when organisations have to implement legislation into policies and the practices of staff. The research also explored if addressing issues of race gender disability etc in isolation of each other helps to maintain divisions.

Interests

I am interested in taking part in the project as it gives me the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other people on a broader scale, which in turn will increase my awareness and understanding of issues, which effect women across Europe . The project includes having discussion with men; I feel this is important when looking at issues of gender, as sexism should be explored with men. Any learning will be brought back and incorporated into my working practice, and my personal life.

Participates: Northampton PREW