Mr Henry Adomako
BEN UK Policy and Training Officer

Telephone: 0131 622 7171
E-mail:
Henry@ben-network.org.uk
Address: Wellgate House, 200 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NQ

Ms Shaheen Safdar
BEN EQUAL Positive Action Worker

Telephone: 0141 566 2871
E-mail:
Shaheen@ben-network.org.uk

Mr Taja Sidhu
BEN HEAP Development Worker

Telephone: 0141 566 2877
E-mail:
Taja@ben-network.org.uk

 

BEN’s Website:
www.ben-network.org.uk

Address:
236 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JH.

The Black Environment Network (BEN) is the leader of Ethnic participation, working to improve Ethnic communities’ quality of life in the built and natural environment. We are a UK charity which promotes social inclusion through working as a catalyst for change.

Our approach is unique. While working to support Ethnic communities we recognise that mainstream organisations must also be supported to gain the awareness and skills to provide information, resources and services which are socially and culturally relevant to the needs defined by Ethnic communities. We use the word ‘Black’ symbolically, recognising that Black communities are the most visible of all Ethnic communities. We work with Black, White and other Ethnic Minorities.

BEN’s has two major projects in Scotland. BEN EQUAL and BEN HEAP (Heritage Education Access Project). Both projects aim to increase ethnic participation in the built and natural environment, as well as raise and increase awareness of the employment opportunities available within the heritage and environment sector to Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Scotland. The BEN EQUAL project is part-funded by ESF and BEN HEAP is funded by HLF.

BEN is presently working with heritage and environment organisations in order to promote inclusiveness, equality and diversity within the workforce in Scotland. These are the Scottish Museums Council, National Trust for Scotland, RSPB, Historic Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, BTCV Scotland, Forestry Commission, National Parks and the SEPA. BEN’s partnership work in Scotland is to promote the inclusion of Ethnic communities in the heritage and environment sector. BEN is supporting mainstream organisations to be pro-active in reaching Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

One of our major success stories has been our work with BTCV Scotland. In 1999 the Scottish Refugee Council approached BEN to design a series of activities, introducing asylum seekers and refugees to the built and natural environment. The Ethnic Environmental Participation Project evolved into a much wider and challenging project. BEN and the Scottish Refugee Council invited BTCV Scotland to develop a series of partnership outings to Cashel Forest, Loch Lomond.

Our work is opening up many opportunities within the heritage and environment sector, for mainstream organisations and Ethnic Minority communities throughout Scotland.

BEN works closely with grassroots Ethnic Minority community groups. Recently, we have worked with the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre in Glasgow, Scottish Filipino Association in Edinburgh and Edinburgh Chinese Community Association, on a Historic Houses Association Pilot Project and the Westerhailes Multicultural Welfare Project, Edinburgh on an Outreach Project and Exhibition called Ethnic Minority Youth Participation in the built and natural environment.

Action Group photograph of recent work in Scotland - Youth Group from Westerhailes Multi-cultural Welfare Project, Edinburgh. The above project was called Ethnic Minority Youth Participation in the built and natural environment.

We are very eager to extend our work throughout Scotland and would be happy to work with any group or organisation committed to diversity in the heritage and environment sector. If anyone has any questions about BEN’s work in Scotland or are interested in accessing the built and natural environment, please contact us on the details given above.