02 Asian LEADER
02 Asian LEADER
local news
LOCAL NEWS
NWAS turns on
Interfaith Cultural
Conference in Rochdale
the blue lights to
increase public
awareness
Multicultural Arts and Media Centre
(MAMC) organised Interfaith Cultural
Conference last week in association
with various groups.
Approximately eighty people attended the event from all sections of
A
recent survey by
the North West Ambulance
Service
(NWAS) found the general
public has some misconceptions about what happens
when they ring 999. For example, almost half (47 per
cent) of people in the North
West think an emergency
ambulance will reach an elderly person in less than ten
minutes if they fall. However, ambulances are not
always dispatched, and if
they are, can take up to four
hours to arrive when it’s not
a serious or life-threatening
situation.
That’s why NWAS has
launched its #Team999
the communities including The Police,
local Councillors, primary and secondary schools, community organisations,
Adult Care Service, Mental Health and
Wellbeing service providers, organisations from, Mosque, Multifaith Partner-
campaign, which aims to
educate the public about
the different care options
available when they call
999 – an ambulance or a trip
to hospital might not be in
the best interests of the patient.
There are 2,700 ambulance clinicians working in
the North West, including
Ruth Thomas – Emergency
Medical Technician and
Pete Sutcliffe - Paramedic,
who this month are being
profiled by the #Team999
campaign to raise public
awareness of their role and
skills within the ambulance
service.
Educating
the
public
ship and parents.
The afternoon sessions provided the
opportunity to participants to express
their views on various cultural and Diversity topics.
Mohammed Sarwar, CEO of MAMC
about what happens when
they call 999 is especially
important over the festive
period – traditionally a very
busy time for NWAS. From
April 2012 – March 2013, ten
of the fifteen busiest days of
the year for NWAS fell within the festive season.
The busiest day in this
period was New Year’s Day,
with 5,125 calls to the ambulance service, which is
70 per cent higher than the
number of calls received on
an average day (3,000). This
was followed by 21 December 2012 (commonly known
as ‘Mad Friday) with 3,866
calls and 26 December 2012,
Boxing Day, with 3,799 calls.
A
recent
poll
by the 95 per cent that are honGreater Manches- est law abiding citizens.
ter Police has re“It is important to rememvealed that one in ber that if that latest gadget
20 people would buy stolen was bought for a price that
goods.
was too good to be true,
Over 2,000 people took then more than likely it has
part in the online survey to been stolen. Buying stolen
find out how honest the pub- goods not only undermines
lic of Greater Manchester legitimate businesses in the
would be if they were offered area but fuels further c rime,
goods at a price that was too drug abuse and misery in the
good to be true as today’s community.
cheap deal could have been
“Everyone has a role to
a part of yesterday’s crime.
play in reducing crime by
Greater Manchester Po- simply Jess Steele of
Mohammed Ullah gets certificate fromnot buying the goods.
lice Assistant Chief Con- Crushing the stolen goods
Community Organisers
stable, Garry Shewan, said: market deprives a thief of
“While our figuresof working his fortune and puts an end
fter a year show that isers have graduated from
five per cent local commu- to theft.”
in the of the public the national Community
would purchase something if Organisers programme.
In the ‘morality’ survey,
nity four trainee Roit was stolen we can’torgan- respondents were asked four
chdale community ignore
The programme is about
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said, “the purpose of the conference was to look at the
collective approach of asking
questions, listen to diverse
views, compare answers and
make informal decisions
about what to do next to improve quality of life. It’s so
important to understand and
promote diverse cultures and
faiths across the borough.
We were so pleased to see
people from various sectors
who feel the need to be involved in more cultural based
events to increase better un-
derstanding of communities,
faiths and cultures.”
Some
attendees
were
quoted as saying “we need to
promote positive practices in
the community, have regular
events lead by community,
confidence building in faith
and culture, offer relevant
training for staff and offer a
voice to under-represented
groups.”
Findings will be fed back to
the policy makers and service
providers.
member of the ambulance
service on the scene as soon
as possible. However, if it is
a less urgent situation, people should think about the
other options – for example
taking alternative transport to the hospital, visiting their GP or local walk-in
centre, calling NHS 111, or
following self-care advice at
home.
“It’s also worth noting
that arriving at A&E in
an ambulance will not get
you seen any faster than if
you’d arrived there by other
means.”
The
remaining
#Team999
representatives will be profiled over
the next three months
through Q&A sessions,
social media takeovers,
roadshows, short films
and a range of other activities to further increase
public awareness.
ab, Mohammed and Qumar
local people in Rochdale
have started a wide range of
projects including: a football event bringing together community clubs from
across Rochdale; coaching
and football matches for
young people; a gardening
project; a food bank; a fun
cent had thought about the
day, and much more.
impactorganisers have also
The of stolen goods on
the community, such as the
built up a strong network
effect it has on small local
of volunteer community orbusinesses.
ganisers in the local area.
ACC Shewan added: “The
On 17 Dec Asia, Aftab,
festive period and
a time
Mohammed can beQumar
of struggle for many famigraduated at a ceremony
lies particularly with othin London, alongin current
climate, but don’t forget
er organisers from around
the real price of your goods
bought from the man at the
pub, your door or betting
shop may have come from a
victim of crime.
“Some of these victims their stories andvulnering are the most experiable people in society and
ences and people were able
criminals the profile of two
to read may have used
or threatened violence to
brothers who are seeking
obtain the items which will
care.
have been stolen because
The event at Troy Street
thieves know theinformation
Mosque saw 40 cash value
they hold.
packs handed out and the
“By refusing to buy goods
Council has since received
you suspect are stolen local
five enquiries from the you
can help stem further crime
community.
and deprive drug users of
The Lancashire Council
cash. Remember looking to
of Mosques is that anyone who receivesofstolen
extend this type
event
goods or local communities
to other assists a thief in
its disposal is essentially
to promote fostering and
fuelling further crime Lanadoption throughout and
is a criminal offence which
cashire.
holds a sentence of 14 years
Councillor Frank Connor,
in prison.” Member for ChilExecutive
England, after achieving
their accreditation in Foundations of Community Organising.
They hope to continue
their
community
organising work in the area
he authorities must
through employment or
be allowed to deport
self-employment and are
failed asylum seekers,
keen to hear from local orNick Clegg has insisted after
ganisations and funders
the Government spent thouwho want to support the
sands of pounds attempting
work and take advantage of
to send hunger-striking Isa
the many skills they gained
Muaza to Nigeria only for
during the year. They will
him to be turned away.
continue their own develThe Deputy Prime Minopment through CoCo, the
ister said that the asylum
new solidarity network for
system should be “fair and
community organising.
compassionate” to those in
genuine need but promised
to defend the principle that
those whose applications
are unsuccessful should be
sent back to their home
countries.Mr Muaza, who
has refused almost all food
for moreServices said: “It’s
dren’s than three months
and is said to that thisdeath,
great to see be near event
was flown outgreat turn-out
had such a of the UK on
Friday after a last-ditch legal
with lots of people taking inchallenge failed. with them.
formation away
But he had to be brought
“Foster carers and adoptback can Malta when Nigeers via make a huge difrian authorities apparently
ference in children’s lives,
refused the chartered plane
providing stable and loving
permission to land.
homes and the support and
Mr Clegg, speaking on a
encouragement they need to
visit to businesses in Chisflourish and do well.
wick, west London, said:
“If you’ve ever provide
“ I’m not going to thought
about fostering or adoption,
a running commentary on
make today the day you do
one individual case. My unsomething is that he up
derstandingabout it, pickhas
the phone and call the adopexhausted all the legitimate
tion steps available to him
legal and fostering service on
0800 328 against his deporto appeal 6919 for more information”.
tation.
Ruth & Pete Ambulance Crew
Pete said: “The Christmas period is always a really
busy time of year for NWAS,
so it’s really important to
let people know when they
should be calling an ambulance, what could happen
when they do, and what
other help is available.”
Ruth said: “There is no
doubt that, in a medical
emergency, it is essential to
call 999 and get a trained
GMP poll reveals one in 20
Rochdale community
organisers graduate
people would buy stolen goods
inspiring action at a neighbourhood level. Organisers
questions to test how far
listen to the concerns and
they would go to obtain the
aspirations of people in
latest gadgets.
their area, build relationOne in six said that if they
ships and help people take
were offered something like
action on their own behalf
the the local issues that
on latest smartphone or
hair straighteners at a price
matter to them.
that was too good to be true,
The Community Organthey would still buywill item.
isers programme the train
The rationale they gave
500 community organisers
for this was ‘everything2015.
around England by is so
expensive these days, why
These organisers will rewould a further down a great
cruit you turn 4,500 volunteer community you’re getdeal…as long as organisers.
The programme, funded
ting a legit product.’ Some
by
is
gavethe Cabinet Office,the
‘low wages’ and
run of Locality, a reason.
‘cost by living’ as a leading
network 84 per cent still
However for community-led
organisations in partnerwould not have made the
ship with
purchase. RE:generate.
Naomi Diamond from LoHowever, 58 per cent
cality said: “With they had
would walk away if the help
of the Rochdale organis-
1 Jan - 14 Jan 2014
4 Dec - 17 Dec 2013
ers, people have been listening to each other’s concerns and dreams for the
area, getting organised and
taking action together to
improve their neighbourhoods and make Rochdale
a better community to live
and work in. We are very
grateful
to
Community
concerns about where the
Focus who hosted the orgoods throughout their
ganisershad come from and
37 per year.”
training cent of those taking
part would question where
Rochdale’s
community
the goods had Asia from.
organisers are come RiaFeedback was ‘if it’s too
sat, Aftab Ali, Mohammed
good to be true it, then it
Ullah and Qumar Khan.
probably is’ and ‘I wouldn’t
They’re based at local charwant anything to do
ity Community Focus. with
it if they knew goodsAftWith help from Asia, had
been obtained dishonestly.’
The
consensus
with
most of the respondents
on whether they would buy
something if they knew for
certain that it had been
stolen n information event
was that ‘it’s the
public was ultimately have
who held in Blackto pay the price in the end’,
burn on December
‘honest people any miscon4 to address losing goods
that theyabout fostering
have worked
ceptions
hard adoption andthe costs
and to buy’, in ‘it Musa lot for small and recruit
lim community businesses
particularlyfamilies.
more Asian when they are
already struggling in the
Around 70 local residents
economic climate.’ Others
listened
to
representasupported the purchase of
tives from Blackburn with
stolen goods and the MusDarwen Council, said; ‘no
one cares for Institute peolim Welfare the little and
ple, we need to care for ourthe Lancashire Council of
selves’ and ‘because when
Mosques talk about the benyou’re struggling financially
efits of both fostering and
it’s very easy to think about
adoption.
yourself.’ adopters and fosExisting
Of those that had taken
ter carers from the Muslim
part in thewere there sharcommunity survey 91 per
Failed asylum
seekers ‘must
leave’
T
Residents adopt better understanding
of fostering and adoption
A