Awaz Utoah
Awaz Utaoh Asian Festival 2005
Awaz Utoah began life in 1994 under the umbrella of the Safer Community in Easton Project. In 1996 it came into its own to specifically work with Asian people affected by crime, social and economic deprivation and to empower Asian people to fight social and economic deprivation, crime and drug abuse.
We spoke to Simi Chowdhry about the work of Awaz Utoah and what challenges they are currently facing.
What does your service offer?
We work with people from black and minority ethnic communities and specifically with South Asian communities. We offer practical assistance and counselling to victims of crime with language/ cultural support. We work to increase awareness of crime, the reporting of crime and the fear of crime (including the teaching of self defence and assertiveness). We also endeavour to increase awareness around issues of drugs and alcohol misuse.
We provide training and support to empower people to gain employment skills leading to paid work. We offer support and training to employers so that the working environment is culturally sensitive to the needs of employees from the black and minority ethnic communities. We enable people to gain experience of the workplace through job shadowing, work experience and placements. We offer advice, information and practical experience on running a business and self- employment.
What have been your key achievements in the last year?
A key success of our organisation has been the establishment of the first South Asian community development centre located in a street crime area of Bristol. This has become the one- stop venue for the local communities and public/ local voluntary sector organisations in accessing the South Asian communities. Services at the centre include weekly luncheon clubs, drop- in services, 1-2-1 support and family based workshops.
Another success was the 4th annual South Asian Diversity Festival in July 2005, which promoted community cohesion across the city and attracted over 10,000 people. The event saw the inter- mixing of all communities based in Bristol and highlighted the positive contributions made by the South Asian community.
Do you have future plans to expand on the services you offer?
Our aim is to continue to meet the needs identified by the communities we serve. Through our community based and culturally appropriate consultation methods we continue to deliver the services they themselves identify. If this means to either expand current services or even establish new innovative services, our organisation will strive to deliver the services.
What kind of funding problems do you face?
Like all voluntary sector organisations we face long term core-cost funding issues. Costs attached to effective management, rent and rates have caused increased pressure on delivering the services which the communities have identified as vital throughout the ten years of our establishment. We are able to secure projects funding but there seems to be a lack of ownership of funders to acknowledge core cost funding.
Who are your funders?
We are funded by Bristol City Council, Safer Bristol Partnership, Quartet Community Foundation, Children in Need and Connexions.
What are the challenges facing you as an organisation this year?
The main challenge we face is to continue to secure core- costs for the Community Development Centre and long-term funding. Increased pressure has been levied on all voluntary sector organisations due to the restructuring of funders.
What are the benefits of being a member of Voscur?
We receive regular updates and funding opportunities within the voluntary sector. Also we are able to update ourselves on the general activities within Bristol's vast voluntary sector.
How can people contact you?
Simi Chowdhry, Awaz Utoah,
404 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6NQ.
Drop-in (10.00am- 1.00pm daily).
Tel: 0117 935 4528 Email: awazutaoh2@aol.com
If your group would like to be profiled in a future Voscur newsletter or on our website, please contact Sophie Mellor at the Voscur office Tel. 909 9949, or email: sophie@voscur.org