i've been thinking about setting up a voluntary agency for some time now. i am thinking of setting up an agency that works with african families to help them with self emopowerment on various issues and to basically bring them together as well as working with african children separately by promoting their cultural identity through education, peer support and also providing them with the opportunity to voice their opinions to society and also to their parents.

i wanted to know if anyone was involved with an african voluntary organization or if any one had any thoughts on what they would like to see such an organization do that will actually benefit the community and get us to start doing for ourselves as mentioned by Garvey.

Hi Unique



I know this was posted a while ago but i'm in the same boat as you. I thought you may be interested in alink to the Local Government and Communities website. They have funding for communities effected by slavery... Have a look any way. as for volunteers - register a charity with companies house and start looking for some help!

http://www.cdf.org.uk/POOLED/article...techart_227328

@Soul Unique...You need to make your objectives far more precise than they presenty are. You also need to objectively provide evidence of the problem in question. For example where is the objective evidence which would support the project you seek to establish. For example if the young men are suffering problems what are they and what is the evidence to back it. Same way if it is with women.

I might be able to be of assistance. Just finishing a commissioned piece on West African families in Britain and the social problems they experience with an empthasis on the criminological dimension. But I can help you with directing you to the evidence you will need to establish your proposal given without academic evidence to back it you are dead before you hit the water.

Let me tell you now there is not much research on West Africans in Britian and I am one of the few engaged in it. So you need to be clever how you handle the data which exists to beef up your proposal.

I may also be of use to you on the issue of effective voluntary organisations given I have been involved with them for a very long time and my Phd was on leadership and strategy effectiveness in addressing a range of social problems (eg crime related) within various black and non black ethnic communities.

One quick observation the issue of maintaining African identity may not fly or sound sexy to funders if you want to rely predominantly on that route. I personally never recommend it but as long as you know what the pros and cons are.

Peace.

FB

Little to add to FredB's comments.......clarity of purpose is all-important. Once you're clear about what you want to achieve, the form of organisation you need will also become clear. The charitable route is an obvious one, but not the only one and by no means the best one....plenty of pros and cons, depending on what you want to do.

A mistake I've seen too many make is that they set up the organisation and then search for a purpose, which can be a frustrating and expensive process.If you have a small nucleus of people committed to 'doing'and in the same place intellectually/emotionally,go with that for the time being - that's what will bring results, much more than the particular structure you adopt.

Have experience running vol orgs both as a manager and a trustee, so happy to put in my two cents as required (or not). niceone.gif

@ all,

I did not think i was going to get any replies. Thanks for all your replies. i have looked on each of those sites mentioned.

I am now in the process of actually come up with an objective and why another agency needs to be set up.

to those that are thinking of doing the same thing, please Pm me and tell me what ideas you have, if it is the same then maybe we coudl join forces.niceone.gif

Soul