Educafe named West Berkshire diverse ethnic community agency

A NEW organisation to help and promote West Berkshire's diverse ethnic communities has won a council tender.

Community engagement organisation Educafe will provide a voice for ethnic communities, working with West Berkshire Council to find the best ways to meet their needs.

Educafe and the council said they wanted to ensure that residents from diverse ethnic communities knew that support could be provided from statutory agencies, charities and voluntary organisations.

The council appointed Educafe as its ethnic communities support agency, with the aim of reducing inequalities and to address employment.

Educafe co-founder Clare Middleton, of the Berkshire School of English, based in Cheap Street, Newbury, said: "At Educafe, we create safe, friendly spaces for people to eat, learn and make new friends.

"Our customers, learners and followers represent the minority voices who enjoy living in West Berkshire but may feel isolated and excluded from the wider community.

"There are around 30 languages spoken in the district and many different cultures live side by side, each with their own traditions, but all with similar needs and sharing the same concerns.

"Their low visibility and lower levels of engagement within the wider community, and with the council, is often due to their lack of English language skills and, sometimes, a cultural fear of engaging with officialdom.”

As part of its service, Educafe will operate a confidential helpdesk that will direct people to the relevant service provider to meet their needs.

Educafe will work with local providers to ensure that their services embrace different cultures and promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing through events, food, education and language support.

There will also be opportunities for local providers to meet residents and inform them about their services at ‘pop up’ Community Cafés.

Educafe co-founder Colline Watts, of Colline's Kitchen, said: “Educafe addresses the issues and concerns of minority groups, through friendly, targeted interactions between people using our services and the wider community.

"We have a direct line of communication with the council and with public and independent service providers, and we support people to access them.

"We run small, targeted projects, including English as an additional language courses, and work with individuals to improve their employability and work skills.

“We will also promote inclusion though our regular ‘pop up’ Community Cafes.

"These mobile events will bring people together to share their experiences and learning, and enable them to form new friendships – or simply to feel that they are part of, and have something to contribute to, the wider West Berkshire community.”

Pop-up ethnic market stalls will also take place throughout the year to support local ethnic community enterprises.

The events will aim to spotlight the cultures of diverse ethnic communities among the wider community.

Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) said: “We are proud of the incredible diversity of West Berkshire.

"Our ambition is to provide residents from diverse ethnic communities with support, representation and a voice, as well as educate local service providers and the wider community of their needs.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Educafe to help people to gain access to the services they need and are entitled to.

"We were very impressed with Educafe’s strong track record in supporting diverse ethnic communities and their plentiful ideas to progress social inclusion and celebrate the wonderful diversity in West Berkshire.

"Ultimately, working with Educafe, we want to empower individuals and communities to identify and benefit from their own strengths and resources.”

Educafe will run a free six-week Job Support Club and English for Work course for people who speak English as an additional language looking to start or return to work.

The course will take place from June 11 to July 18 at Newbury Town Hall, with appropriate Covid-19 safety measures in place.

Further information can be obtained from https://sites.google.com/view/educafe-uk/job-support-club-esol-for-work