ByoU + Common Purpose + Rafiki/Motswako Project = Wigan Council

A month or so ago I submitted a Freedom of Information 2000 Act request to Wigan Council, seeking information on certain organisations, projects, 'charities' and certain annual events that our council may or may not have involvement with; and additionally, to what degree of funding comes from the public purse to sponsor these particular groups and any annual events.

I now have the response from council; of which I will relay here further down. But, firstly I will give you an insight into the following:

ByoU

Homophobia is something that is faced by many young people every day and is something the 15 - 24 year olds in the B.yoU youth project in Wigan are very familiar with. To raise awareness about homophobia and lesbian, gay and bi-sexual (LGB) issues, they adapted the play Romeo & Juliet, to artistically express to people what it means to be LGB. The group has performed at hate crime conferences, local council conferences in Wigan, pride parades and local schools. At the end of each performance the group facilitates discussion with the audience getting feedback and answering questions. They've had a tremendous impact in Wigan, though many LGB youth still face harassment and bullying. To keep their campaign going, the group is now working on an adaptation of the classic, Oliver Twist, which they hope to begin performing in October 2008.

The above extract was taken from the 'charity' Common Purpose website, after B.yoU had just won an award for their rather queer adaption of Romeo and Juliet, Rosemary and Julian?
http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/home/resources/changeitawards/performancewinners.aspx

And the group get more high praise here from the indigenous British, hetrosexual hating Wigantoday online newspaper.

http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Youth-scheme-honoured.4109866.jp

And here we have the group on the Wigan Council website:

http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/EducationLearning/Youth/ByoULesbianGayBisexualYouthWorkProject.htm

And here is the other:

Rafiki/Motswako Project

This is an extract that was taken from the Wigan Council website; note; how in the above description the use the word safe and seperate?

Rafiki/Motswako Project aims to:-

1)Provide a safe and separate space for bme young people (Refugees, asylum seekers, Black young people, European young people, etc.)
2)Provide new and challenging experiences
3)Develop programmes of work in response to young peoples needs and requests
4)Look at cultural identity and provide a safe environment where young people can learn about other cultures and religions
5)Address issues relating to education, training and employment
6)Enhance language skills where appropriate
7)Identify and address the needs of individual young people

http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/EducationLearning/Youth/RafikiMotswakoProject.htm

And here is the criteria in which you need to have in order to join the group:

Eligibility Criteria (Who is this service for?)

Rafiki Motswako is for all young people 13 to 19 years from diverse ethnic backgrounds, cultures and religions who live, work or study in the Wigan or Leigh areas. Including black & minority ethnic young people, refugees, asylum seekers, black young people & european young people.

And here is their own meaning of Rafiki and Motswako:

"Rafiki means fiend in Swahili and Motswako means good stuff in Sotho South African!"

Rafiki means FIEND !!!!!

See here: http://www.help4me.info/service.aspx?serviceid=%7B4731A287-797D-4F95-AF9C-C11B85C6B4EC%7D

So there you have a little insight into these groups and you may want to look further into the sinister dealings regarding the 'Common Purpose, charity! if you get the chance.

So, do we, the beleaguered council taxpayers of Wigan and Leigh contribute to any of the above? Please read the following reply to my Freedom of Information 2000 Act request here from Mr Tim Turner representing the council!

"I am emailing to respond to your FOI request to Wigan Council about funding of groups, projects, conferences and special commemorative days."

A) B.YoU Project
B) Rafiki/Motswako Project

A) B.yoU Project:

Year 1999-2000: funding from Core (Council) Budget = £5,000, Coalfield Challenge = £31,000 Total = £36,000

Year 2000-2001: Core Budget = £24,000, Health Promotion = £6,000 and Social Services £5,000 Total = £35,000

Year 2001-2002: Core Budget = £13,000, Social Services =£5,000 and Coalfield Challenge = £18,000 Total= £36,000

Year 2002-2003: Core Budget = £9,600 and Social Services = £5,000

Total = £14,600

Year 2003-2004: Core Budget = £26,943 and Social Services = £5,000

Total = £31,943

Year 2004-2005: Core Budget = £45,852 and Social Services = £5,000

Total = £50,852

Year 2005-2006: Core Budget = £43,290 and Social Services = £5,000 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) = £7,200

Total = £55, 490

Year 2006-2007: Core Budget = £51,709, Social servics £5,000 and Leisure and Culture Trust-Witness This = £2,000

Total = £58,709

Year 2007-2008: Core Budget = £60,487, Social Services = £5,000 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) =£2000

Total = £67,487

Year 2008-2009: Core Budget = £40,407, Social Services = £5,000 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) = £1,000

Total = £46,407

A GRAND TOTAL OF £ 432,488

B) Rafiki/Motswako Project

Year 1998-1999: Core (Council) Budget = £5,000 and SRB-Investing in Tomorrow's Citizens = £14,500

Total = £19,500

Year 1999-2000: Core Budget = £6,000 and SRB-Investing in tomorrow's Citizens = £14,600

Total = £20,600

Year 2000-2001: Core Budget = £12,000 and SRB- Investing in Tomrrow's Citizens = £14,900

Total = £26,900

Year 2001-20002: Core Budget = £12,000 and SRB-Investing in Tommorrow's Citizens = £15,200

Total = £27,200

Year 2002- 2003: Core Budget = £7,500

Total = £7,500

Year 2003-2004: Core Budget = £12,869

Total = £12,869

Year 2004-2005: Core Budget = £33,532

Total = £33,532

Year 2005-2006: Core Budget = £42,792

Total = £42,792

Year 2006-2007: Core Budget = £36,058 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) = £1,450

Total = £37,508

Year 2007-2008: Core Budget = £47,866 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) = £5,800

Total = £53,666

Year 2008- 2009: Core Budget = £43,901 and PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People) = £1,000

Total = £44,901

A GRAND TOTAL OF £326,968

Collectively, this amounts to a sum of £759,456 over a ten year period that neither me or you gave the go-ahead to fund!

Do you have a comment? Is this beneficial to YOU and ME? Is this the way to reward the good men and women; the indigenous people of Wigan and Leigh ? Don' t forget; that this is just two projects that we knew nothing about until I intervened, that is being funded by you and me!

A more disturbing angle to my request for information is this response:

C) Wigan Hate Crime Conference

"The Conference is organised and funded by Wigan Community Safety Partnership - the Council provides funds to the Partnership for its work overall, so we do not have separate figures for this event."

D) Wigan and Leigh United against Racism

"The Council has not funded this organisation."

E) Wigan Remembrance Sunday Parade
F) Wigan Walking Day Parade
G) Leigh Remembrance Sunday Parade
H) Leigh Walking Day Parade
I) Wigan St. George's Day Parade

J) Leigh St.George's Day Parade

"I have not been able to identify any funding for these events." Well would you believe that?!

K) Black and Minority Ethnic Children and Young People Wellbeing Group

"This is not a community group that receives funding - it is a work meeting of officers from different organisations."

Please digest, and forward your response !

Fantastic! Red White and Blue Weekend

First and foremost, and before I give you a little bit of the insight into the British National Party's tremendous annual festival from a Leythers point of view; I must apologise for not having updated my blog for the last few weeks or so.

I would love to say that I'd been away on holiday; somewhere in the farthest south east of England being mesmerised with the breathtaking views from St. Michael's Mount or Land's End! Or equally, strolling around wonderful Wales and in particular the beautiful LLanberis, exploring the walks of Padarn Lake, treking in the footsteps of those hardy men to the Angelsey Barracks and beyond or maybe spending a day walking up and down Mt. Snowdon ! Unfortunately, I have done none of the this, quite the opposite in fact; I have been working a good 12-14 hour day whilst I cover for others at work who are on their annual jollydays and the many choosing those warmer climes outside this mainly beautiful land of ours; and they who opt to sleep amongst those many hideous and humongous looking cockroaches that gnaw at your toes and the many other creepy weird looking insects that infest these hotels and apartments! Do they really have to travel that far?

Sorry to prolong the events of the RWB, but, I must tell you that the "Save Our Post Office" campaign, this I highlighted in an ealier post, was all in vain (I was under no illusion) and that it is going, gone and soon to be forgotten! Thanks to all those who signed the petition.

Here we go! The Red White and Blue annual gathering of such kith and kin. To me this is something I now look forward to more than ever in the yearly calendar; and I must admit to not having much sleep on the Thursday night as I prepared the kit and and got the necessary provisions ready for the early Friday morning departure to destination Red White and Blue held in such a stunning part of the Britain Isles.

After a longer than expected journey down, due to an accident on the M6 (we were led to believe,) it was a welcomed relief to arrive at this picturesque and perfectly formed and kept English village where the festival was situated! It was also a welcomed relief for my right ear!

We found our pitch and soon all the tents where up and ready to inhabit (LOL!) it was encouraging to see T & S take such an interest in the art of how to put a tent up! Although, I do wish they'd been a little bit more pratical than theoretical in their efforts!! Saying that; 'T' could be excused I supposed as he had driven us there. We were soon fed and it was down to main arena to see what was on offer.

Although, the main day was to be the Saturday, 99% of the regional stalls and all the marquees where already up, with many officials, security, members and supporters having been at the site for more than a week or so before this particlar weekend in preparation. As day fell into evening; we were invited to a bit of musical nostalgia in the top marquee with a wonderful and beautiful lady who without any microphone and only her organist for accompaniment, sang many a traditional song of the British Isles, wonderfully. These included: Drink old England Dry, Black Velvet Band, The Owl, Johnny, I hardly knew you, Tell me Where my England's Gone and such favorites as Ilkla Moor and Wild Rover and to finish off the evening with a rousing Rule, Britannia! Which had everyone enthusiastically in full voice.

On the way back to our tents we encountered the mainly Sunderland entourage, with the added Teesider, who were courteous enough to allow the three of us onto their camp and to continue our evening with a couple of beers exchanging jokes, football banter and the serious issue of politics well into the wee hours of Saturday morning and beyond (for some.)

To be continued...............

Next time....The Labour 'Nazi' thugs, the beating drums, Arthur Kemp, music and champagne, the Green Man and the falling cans of beer, NG and the morris dancers, fire-eating, the rain,tent and the mallet saga, Nicks speech and much much more. So please come back for another look and keep the memory of the weekend alive!

I was awoken on the Saturday morning, with the sound of the Derbyshire Constabulary helicopter flying overhead, which I knew would be in the vicinity to keep an eye on the the great unwashed of the Labour party sponsored Nazi's and fascist's who had threatened to 'Smash the Fash (LOL!') and stop the BNP from holding their annual festival and who additionally threatened our women and children on their various daddy's boy and girly websites in the run up to the weekend! http://nobnpfestival.wordpress.com/2008/08/ and http://www.antifa.org.uk/

After walking around the site that was now in full flow, taking in all the regional stalls and spending many a pound in each to bolster their fund raising efforts, it was a welcomed respite to the pocket, (although I did win a lovely bottle of Rose wine, you jammy bastard!) when we met up with old friends and found a table to sit down and have a chat. By this time, word was filtering back to the site through various sources that the limp wristed 'champagne socialists' of the far Leftie rabble were trying to break the police cordon resulting in many of this loony brigade ringing their mummy to see if they'll pay their fine after being arrested for public order offences.

A senior BNP official approached our party to ask if we could be on standby to help security if required and be vigilant of anyone trying to access the site from the surrounding fields. It was also filtered back that one of our security had overheard a police officer telling one of protesters that if they didn't behave then he woud let them onto the festival site! Classic!

Every male on the site and indeed many women, apart from those who were attending the many talks and speeches that where currently going on in the politcal marquee and those manning the regional stalls, were on a heightened state of alert, ready incase these Labour party supporting cowards did indeed get onto the site and try and attack our children that they so spoke of doing previously. The beating drums in the distance was getting louder and louder as the march of the communist, unions and multicults marched in protest up Codnor Denby Road to the 'Bungalow' entrance! It was a bit of a blow to learn that the beating drums turned out to be a nearby farmers muck spreader, who was getting into position in the event that the rabble encroached onto his farm! LOL!

Shaking in my size 9's at the prospect of Tarquin, Quentin and Clarissa getting onto the RED WHITE and Blue site! These Pete Doherty and Amy Wineo brigade showing their true colours, here.

http://rss.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/080821barred.shtml
In all 33, of this bunch of drug addicted, alcoholic British hating tramps and scroungers were arrested. It's funny how no-one from this years or indeed last years Red White and Blue were arrested! Is it because we have higher moral values and respect?

It was time to stand down, and relax into the afternoon with a couple of welcomed drinks, and to continue to have a great festival. I had a great chat with both Shropshire Lass and Yanky who were dressed in old naval attire. We met up the Scotland organiser and his wife as well as a whole host of people from all areas and all walks of life from up and down the Britain Isles.


To be continued..............