EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Aurat Enterprise empowers and encourages women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds

Aurat Enterprise empowers and encourages women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds

Introduction

Aurat Enterprise, based in Slough in the UK, was set up to empower and encourage women women from black and minority ethnic (BME)backgrounds to engage in learning as the first step to employment or further education. Aurat Enterprise aims to offer tailored community courses to meet BME women’s needs, inspire women to assess their personal situation and assist women in taking steps to change their lives.

Description

Aurat Enterprise runs six activities:

A regular newsletter to keep the women in touch with community news is distributed to over 600 women. The mailing list is used by Aurat Enterprise and other providers seeking to engage specifically with Muslim women;
Information Advice and Guidance sessions provide impartial employment, skills and enterprise advice to women aged 18 and over;
The Employment & Enterprise Centre works in partnership with Job Centre Plus and Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport to offer guidance to young people to improve skills and access employment;
Opening Doors provides vocational tasters, skills workshops and careers coaching to support women to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 and above to break through barriers that prevent them from pursuing education;
The Lone Parent Projects provide job clubs, forums and training which have actively supported 38 lone parents into sustainable employment over a period of two years;
Enterprise Link employs a community business advisor to work with women to build their confidence to set-up their own business. One-to-one business advice, interactive workshops to support business plan writing and assertiveness training are just some of the practical support offered.

Target group

Aurat Enterprise aims at women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. It is particularly targeted at women at risk, recent arrivals to the UK, women with low self-confidence and at risk of domestic violence.

Results

Nearly 50 per cent of the women who have attended Aurat Enterprise’s projects have progressed to adult learning. Courses to build basic skills are offered to new migrants or women whose first language is not English, including ESOL, IT, confidence building and business start-up courses. To overcome some of the practical barriers Muslim women experience in pursuing education, Aurat Enterprise offers a mini-bus service and crèche facilities.

Since Aurat Enterprise works in partnership with many local organisations it is well connected within the community. They have established a good rapport with local women who feel comfortable coming to them to take their first steps to empowerment.

Financing

Aurat Enterprise is a Slough Borough Council project funded by Berkshire Learning & Skills Council and European Social Fund.

Contact info

Aurat Enterprise
Slough
Phone: +44-(0) 1753 476609
aurat@slough.gov.uk

Project start date

//2004

Links

For more information please visit the Slough Borough Council website

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Integration of social groups

Keywords

Ethnic minorities