Olive Tree Projects
Hikmat
HIKMAT is a project aimed at elder members of the ethnic minority communities in Exeter and the surrounding areas.
Back in 2004, research undertaken by Devon County Council and Age Concern entitled ‘Removing the Barriers: meeting the needs of minority ethnic elders in Exeter’ looked at the health and social care needs of local older people from minority ethnic groups. The report found that older people from these groups experience higher levels of general ill-health in comparison to the wider community and highlighted the issues of isolation that can impact on health and self-esteem as well as preventing people from accessing local services. The report identified the need for a specialist centre where elders from minority ethnic communities could meet.
The Olive Tree Association responded by setting up the HIKMAT project which was launched in December 2005. Hikmat offers a weekly programme of support services for elders from any minority community; operating out of St Sidwell’s community Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 10.30 and finishing after 3.
Any elder from the community who wants to come along can:
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Drop in for a cup of coffee and a chat. You don’t have to need help with anything in particular – if you just want somewhere to sit and talk in comfort and make some new friends, feel free to join us.
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Get advice and guidance on health issues, on accessing local services, on financial and educational issues. If somebody is looking for advice on healthcare, Hikmat offers regular visits from nurses in an agreement with the Royal Devon and Exeter trust.
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Book a session with our Acupuncturist and Herbalist who visits every Tuesday
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Improve your English. On Tuesdays, an experienced English teacher from Exeter College comes in and teaches English to whoever wants it. There’s a chance to practice speaking skills with discussion and help and practice with reading and writing.
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Join one of our regular excursions. In recent months these have included trips to Bristol and the Eden project and guided walks on Dartmoor. In July this year, some 30 participants will be heading off to France and Belgium on a short break
The Hikmat project is supported and funded through Devon County Council.
The Hikmat centre manager is Fakhira Ashfaq who can be contacted at St Sidwells on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fakhira is supported and assisted by a team of 4:
Musarat Rashid - P/T Project worker
Justin Wong - P/T Project worker
Fiona Hutton – Project Supervisor
Brenda Laker – Service Manager
Phone Hikmat on 07976876979
Email Hikmat at hikmat@stsidwells.org.uk
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Mosaic
The Mosaic project was launched in October 2006, initially to work with Turkish and Kurdish families in Exeter. The project is built around a programme of social and educational activities which aim to empower participants to address different issues in their lives.
MOSAIC offers:
advice on family issues, raising children, etc.
- advice and guidance on health problems
- advice and information on school problems and children’s education
- information on, and help with (we’ll go with you if you want) services like the jobcentre, the housing office, GP, etc.
- information and help with job seeking, writing CV’s
- Women’s group
- English Language courses
- Arts and Crafts
- Family days
The project has already helped to give support to over 30 people in Exeter and has now won funding to extend its activities into rural Devon. Initially, this will mean setting up a support group in Tiverton this September and this will form a model for further BME support groups around the county. By mid 2008 Mosaic will have a network of BME support groups across Devon
Mosaic has already worked closely with A4E (Action for Employment) who have been providing Mosaic participants with 15 hours a week of English classes at the A4E centre in Mary Arches Street. For those women who need it, A4E have arranged crèche care for small children. Mosaic is now working closely with Devon Community Council and is keen to form new partnerships for the future.
If you would like to come along to one of the Mosaic meetings, are looking for more information or would like to help as a volunteer then please contact Sevil Fertinger.
Phone: 07809450126
Email: otamosaic@btconnect.com
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Sewing the Seed:
The Olive Tree Textiles Project
This is an innovative project aimed primarily at women from BME communities. The central idea is to get women from different communities together to talk, to make new friends and to share their skills with textiles.
The group meets every Thursday afternoon at St Sidwells and is led by Lynn, an experienced textiles trainer. Each week participants can focus on a new skill or just drop in to get help with a sewing project of their own. It doesn’t matter whether participants are experts or beginners, everyone is welcomed and encouraged to share their existing skills as well as to learn new ones. Activities on the programme include:
- Dressmaking
- Curtain making
- Bag making
- Beading
- Patchwork
- Embroidery
But the project isn’t just about sewing skills. This is a chance for women from the community to get out of the house, meet new people and develop their confidence.
Alongside the sewing workshops there are opportunities to visit other groups in other areas and participants have already been to visit other textiles groups in Dartington in rural Devon and in Bristol.
We are currently planning a series of workshops, in conjunction with Exeter College, on setting up and running your own business
This project is based on the idea that, in helping people to fulfil their potential we need first to recognise and value their existing skills. Sharing expertise and learning together will form the basis for building self-confidence, developing a range of vocational skills and encouraging the women to explore new possibilities in their lives.
For more information contact Anita Nathwani
Telephone: 01392 253738
Email: o-t-a@btconnect.com
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UCLAN
Social and cultural isolation is a problem for many individuals and families from BME groups in the South West of England. Part of the problem has been the lack of support networks in a traditionally mono-cultural region of the UK. Projects such as Hikmat and Mosaic are helping to address these issues but they have also made us aware just how substantial the problems are and of the impact that isolation can have on both physical and mental health.
UCLAN is an innovative research project which is looking more closely at the mental health issues among BME populations in the area. The project is being run as a partnership with the University of Central Lancashire and has been identifying and training researchers from among the minority communities.
For further information, please email the project coordinator, Fiona Hutton
Email: kulini@msn.com
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After-school Clubs
Olive Tree, in partnership with St Peter’s School and with the support of Exeter College, Devon’s English as an Additional Language Service and Exeter University’s volunteer bureau, will be launching a pilot Inter-Cultural club in September 2007.
Pupils from any of Exeter’s schools will be welcome to join the club which will meet initially one night a week from 4 to 6. Participants will be able to:
- Play games
- Socialise
- Take part in Arts and Crafts activities
- Get help with homework
- Get language support
- Get confidential advice and guidance on bullying and racism and any other concerns
Parents will be encouraged to come to regular discussion groups and workshops.
For more information contact Sevil Fertinger
Phone: 07809450126
Email: otamosaic@btconnect.com
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ESOL
As the recent NIACE report More Than a Language recognised, language skills are a major barrier to successful integration and participation for many individuals from minority ethnic groups.
The Olive Tree Association began as a project to set up English classes in the Muslim community in Exeter and though we have grown since then and extended the range of our activities, we still recognise the importance of English language learning for many people from the community.
Generally OTA acts as a broker, directing people with language needs to existing classes at Exeter College, at the WEA and at A4E. In addition we have worked closely with all of these organisations to set up new community and work based classes.
Sometimes though, there are people who want to learn but who cannot attend one of the existing classes. This might be because of shift work, eligibility, childcare or simply because they are uncomfortable with a more formal environment. For this reason the OTA also organises classes run by volunteer teachers. Currently, these classes are running at St Sidwells most Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 to 12.
For more information contact our ESOL expert, David Wright
Phone: 07877688418
Email: o-t-a@btconnect.com
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