Making Sport Matterhas created an opportunity to enable local youngsters to participate in physical activities and sport, no matter size or ability. This project ensures that the youth participating get the full flavour and opportunity of a variety of sports; every young person has an opportunity to explore what they want to do and not make them feel forced to participate or join a team.
Peer Mediation Serviceutilises techniques specific to the Asian community, offering early intervention, mediation, resolution, prevention, transition and diversionary services/activities. This is a unique, innovative service of high level, which uses ex-offenders as the communication channel between gangs and impressionable young people to resolve and mediate in serious issues. Ex-offenders and others with ‘street cred' act as Facilitators who are trained in mediation skills, personal projects and responsibilities in the community. The purpose is to take a dispute that is escalating into violence and offer both sides a route out of their entrenched positions without loss of face on either side.
Inspirer is a women only program which offers encouragement and support to help inspire women to enjoy who they are and what their roles in the home are as a parent, a wife, and an individual. The project offers forums/talks/chats by inspirational women from the local community, city and region; giving many local women a safe and encouraging environment to help motivate and improve their quality of life, employability and key skills.
Aston Mehfil , was an informal soiree, an 'art-party' held in Aston giving local individuals and small groups the opportunity to express themselves through art and appreciate art; to provide free musical instrument workshops. Thus enabling and empowering local talent to perform on a platform.
MAV (Men Against Violence) is a personal development program for young men. It examines masculinity, non-violence and relationships, using conflict resolution models. The program is a practical guide to provide young men with support and options as they search for their own understanding of masculinity. Boys will be boys is the fundamental reason given to a range of male behaviours that can eventuate in bullying, family violence, sexual assault and homophobic violence to others and suicide, substance abuse and harm to themselves. Values associated with maleness continue to encourage many men to minimise responsibility for their actions. This program encourages young men to avoid ways of being a man that can hurt themselves and disrespect the rights of others. This includes violence related to prejudice about sexuality, nationality, racial and ethnic heritage, family structure, age, religious affiliation, ability, physical appearance and socio-economic status.
ADA (Asian Drug Awareness) offers one to one workshops and seminars addressing the issues of drug use and drug dealing in the Asian community. The service is initially aimed at 16 – 25 year olds and their families – parent, partner, family or friend. The service is confidential and can be accessed through mobile phone, text or email, after which face to face meetings would be arranged. This project is unique as it deals with not only the drug user, but the dealer and the family. The project challenges the perceptions and stereotypes existing within the drug culture within the Asian community. There are many communities from Pakistan where drugs, the production/farming and trading is considered normal; this culture has then been transferred with them to the UK . ADA will challenge these communities here and in their home country.
Muslims and Alcohol is a confidential outreach service to help combat the increasing alcohol abuse in the Muslim community. The service is available to young Muslim men and women to help them discuss their need and abuse of alcohol, without being stigmatised by the community.
Cutting Edge program educates young people that knives cost lives. There is nothing that can be done about people getting hold of knives. Everybody goes to the market and buys kitchen knives. They say they want to use them in the kitchen, but they don't. Youth are walking around in fear of being stabbed rather than being shot. They feel there is nobody there to protect them. They don't want to go to the police. But they don't want to use the knife either. The program offers preventative, restorative justice and reparation measures provided in schools and any groups run for young people, providing young people with the information about the consequences of carrying a knife.
Ramadan Watch is operational during the month of Ramadan, when the streets of Aston will be patrolled by RW facilitator who will engage with everyone; e.g. shop keepers, local schools, businesses, families, local police, youth clubs etc. The aim of the street patrol is about talking to people, dialoguing with them, listen and gaining knowledge of what is happening in your local area. It is about engaging with local young Muslims and ensuring they are not partaking in antisocial behaviour.
Drum and Dhol offers youth an opportunity to learn Dhol drum, at 2 levels. They have the choice to either do it recreationally or train to become tutors; the choice is theirs.
My Life in Aston is a documentary that offers a glimpse of the world as seen through the eyes of an extraordinary group of young and old residents from all backgrounds. This project is an exploration showing Aston through the eyes of its residents using film and photography.
Faith Exchange deliver a series of inter-faith exchanges across Birmingham, bringing together young people aged 16-25 and schools, public, private and voluntary sector organisations, culminating in a public review and debate. Young people of different faiths across Birmingham who seldom have contact with other faiths, come together to explore, discuss and debate their attitudes and perceptions towards each other and be given the tools, to together develop youth led inter-faith efforts to bring about community cohesion.
Media Awareness is a program where youth assess and criticise the portrayal of them and the peers by the media. The findings are then offered to local media agencies to create a dialogue which leads to less stereotyped and more balanced portrayal of young people.
Asian Social Entrepreneurs is a unique first, a booklet in English, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati and Bengali, discussing definitions of social entrepreneurship and it being a respected form of employment, with guidance notes on how to create and pursue your own vision/idea.
