Barka UK staff took part in the Extraordinary Business Seminar organised by the Voice of Nations (VON) in Liverpool (27/08/2011). After an inspiring introduction by the founder and CEO of VON dr Sylvia Forchap on empowering young girls and women for a purpose, Barka representatives spoke on the topic of “The Power of a Purpose Driven Business” with an example of the Barka Network’s projects in Poland and in Europe. The seminar was designed and delivered with a purpose of transforming ordinary women into extraordinary, successful and fulfilled business women. The seminar was addressed mainly to African American community in Merseyside.

See the programme : Business Workshop 27-08-11

Barka UK staff will take part in the conference on democratic changes in Tunesia versus Polish experiences. The participation in the event is connected to the recent joint work opportunities and contacts which Barka had made in North Africa.

Please read the  conference program

An invitation to a seminar and program

Zaproszenie na konferencje i program

Konferencja.Tunezja a doświadczenia polskie_27-07-11

See the link for report from the conference with pictures from Barka’s study trip in Tunisia: click here

On the 21st of June 2011 at the Arlington Conference Centre in London a conference organised by Crisis took place. The representative of Barka UK Social Economy Centre attended it. Speakers’ representatives from Government, Financial Times, Crisis, Employment Related Service Association, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, Minister of Employment, the Opposition party leaders and others debated over welfare system impact on homelessness in current economic climate
and near future It was confirmed that current government plans for welfare and public sector reform, including Work Program and cuts shakes up whole system already with deeper impact in next few years ahead. Current DWP and Government plans for reform based on Work Capability Assessments should be supported to ensure vulnerable people end up getting help to enter employment market and obtain the right benefits once they are looking for a job. There were also workshops and networking sessions between speaker’s presentations where we had chance to discuss our points and views on current welfare programs. Specialist from Barka UK and representatives of Crisis run workshop called: Central and Eastern Europeans: where next? We discussed the unique and complex issues EE migrants face in the UK and how good practices in place implemented by Barka UK or Crisis, both in cooperation with OAK Foundation help them into employment. It was confirmed that recent lifting restrictions to some welfare benefits give opportunity for more vulnerable Eastern European people to access
them. There is a fact that no information about it is distributed around and more intensive checks by Jobcentre Plus and other agencies on EE migrants and their status should be in place.

Please find other discussed matters during all workshops on attachedagenda in attachment. Crisis Conference note. Crisis Conference 2011

THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

CONFERENCE

Dorota Harembska of Barka UK took part in the conference

SLAVERY IN THE UK 15^th of JUNE 2011

The main speakers were:

Andrew Wallis Founding Director of Unseen (UK) CSJ Slavery Working Group Chairman

Rt. Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions CSJ Founder and Patron

In the UK works many organized gangs that deal with human trafficking. People on arrival in Britain are forced into slave labor under the pressure of health and even life loss.  Global trafficking research estimates that at least one person is trafficked across International borders every minute.  “Trafficking is closely linked to poverty – work by the International Labour Organisation in 2005 found that the majority of victims live in the poorest sections of their national population”.“According to the Association of Chief Police Officers there are at least 2,600 migrant victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in England and Wales alone. Data from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre finds that on average, 300 children are trafficked into the UK every year – almost one a day”.

To read more: THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE note

Barka UK representatives took part in the event organised by the REVES Network in Siena, Italy. REVES, the European Network of Cities and Regions of Social Economy organised a seminar to explore ways to fully exploit the potential of territorial social Initiatives in terms of improvement of social cohesion through better quality of life for all citizens. In the three laboratories, the forum looked at the “why”, the “who” and the “how” to do it.

As a consequence, Barka Foundation – in partnership with local authorities of the city of Poznan and regional authorities of Great Poland Region (Wielkopolska) have been invited to join the REVES Network by its Co-President, Mr Jan Olsson.

To discuss details of cooperation between REVES and Barka, REVES Co-President Mr Olsson will visit Poznan in July 2011.

See attached information on the Siena event: brochure and invitation

Barka representatives’ report from the conference will soon be available on this website.

Please read Polish version of report: note from the REVERS conference

On 11 – 12 June 2011 Ewa Sadowska will contribute to the conference:

  “Women,Leadership, Engagement and Influencing”

 organised by CHARA Trust in Liverpool.

Ewa will talk about the role of women is the establishment and development of Barka’s vision and work.

Please see the  programme: click here

Report from Dorota Harembska’s (Barka UK) participation in a conference organised by CSJ Alliance

In the conference, organized by CSJ which took place in London, many interesting individuals participated from different organizations and members of parliament from across the UK. To name the few: Chance UK, Circle Anglia, XLP (Patrick Regan), Philippa Stroud – Special advisor to the State for Work and Pension, Frank Field – MP for Birkenhead, former Minister for Welfare Reform… Read more

Barka UK staff took part in a parliamentary reception to celebrate the Big Society in action, hosted by Homless Link on the 22nd March in Westminster. The reception showcased the innovative work of the homelessness organisations in partnership with private enterprise, supporting vulnerable adults along their pathway to paid employment. Among speakers were former beneficiaries of homelessness charities who shared inspiring stories of overcoming rough sleeping and entering into a path to sustainable life. The highlight of the day was a concert of Street Opera.