About Us
Furness Multicultural Community Forum was established in 2003. It was an idea born
in the minds of a small group of conscientious citizens of the Furness peninsula
working in various statutory & non-statutory organisations to form a non-political
platform for the benefit of the local community.
Originally, Barrow Multicultural
Community Forum was formed to support black & minority ethnic communities in
Barrow-in-Furness and over the years this select group has come of age by their
sheer relentless effort and sound organisation. It is now known as Furness Multicultural
Community Forum to include larger numbers living in the peninsula and has the vision
to engulf the rest of the UK with our philanthropic philosophy.
The group became
constituted and obtained charitable status with significant increase of its membership.
The diversity of the group members has exponentially augmented the credibility and
potential of the Forum to formulate the base work for an exemplary multicultural
environment in the region. The increase in permanent membership from 8 to 80 with
over half of the executive membership from the Black & minority ethnic (BME)
community speaks volume for our achievement.
Furness Multicultural Community Forum
has been able to organise many events since 2004 which included raising awareness
for diverse cultures. The dance, food, music and costumes from different cultures
made the occasions memorable. The Forum obtained grants in excess of 5000 for these
activities and are hopeful to raise more money this year. They also obtained 8000
from Cumbria Childrens Fund to carry out a piece of important research, aimed at
young BME people.
We received almost 60,000 in funding in 2005 to employ a development
worker for two years to assist us in achieving our goals. The worker has successfully
helped many people in the area, including finding accommodation and jobs.
The encouragement
from previous success and recent adverse times after 9/11 and 7/7 have raised our
resolve to work harder to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves to pave way
for a contented society rich with diversity.
We look forward to stage a larger Day
with Difference in January 2007. This is a week long event and the rough estimate
of the amount to be spent to highlight multicultural performances, involvement of
local youth from schools and celebrating the idea of a holistic society, would be
around 20,000.
Our spirits have been lifted recently by receiving National award
of recognition from Criminal Justice System for providing outstanding support to
the relevant section of the public, in Connecting Communities
We find ourselves
ready to face new challenges and look forward to form alliances with like-minded
organisations for enhancement of our vision.