Aspire Partners

The following organisations are partners in ASPIRE.

Afro-British Support Services "IMPACT"

www.afrobritish.org.uk

The overall aim of IMPACT is to provide and maintain high quality services to improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in West Midlands. We seek to do this by four key methods:

• Provision of direct services;
• Awareness raising;
• Promotion of a comprehensive range of services through creative partnerships and referrals;
• Campaigning.

Banner Theatre

http://www.bannertheatre.co.uk/

Banner Theatre is one of Britain's longest established community theatre companies, with thirty years' experience of working with marginalized and disadvantaged communities. Using a combination of theatre, music and "actuality" (recorded voices captured by video or audio), we create entertaining and thought-provoking issue-led productions based on people’s real-life experiences and in support of disenfranchised sections of society.

Birmingham City Council

www.birmingham.gov.uk

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council

www.bvsc.org

BVSC is one of the largest voluntary sector support organisations in the UK.

It aims to:

• Champion social justice
• Fight poverty and deprivation
• Oppose prejudice and discrimination
• Speak out on behalf of the marginalised
• Uphold ethical living and working practices
• Demonstrate the power of the arts to change society for the better
• Exemplify responsibility towards the environment

From our building in the centre of Birmingham, we develop and run a range of innovative projects.

Bournville College

www.bournville.ac.uk

Our aim is to help you reach your full potential through excellent teaching and training in a lively, supportive and welcoming atmosphere.

You can study full time or part time; in the daytime, or the evening. You can study to develop new skills, to help get a job, to help get a better job, to go to university or just for fun. You can study at the main site on Bristol Road South or at one of our many community venues.

b:RAP

www.brap.org.uk

b:RAP is an organisation trying to make a sustainable difference by working with others to increase their understanding of how to improve their practice in ways that reduce inequality.

Connexions (Birminghan & Solihull)

http://www.connexions-bs.co.uk/

Connexions is a youth service providing advice, guidance, support and personal development services for all 13-19 year olds.

European Social Fund

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf2000/introduction_en.html

The European Social Fund (ESF) helps people improve their skills and, consequently, their job prospects. Created in 1957, the ESF is the EU's main source of financial support for efforts to develop employability and human resources. It helps Member States combat unemployment, prevent people from dropping out of the labour market, and promote training to make Europe's workforce and companies better equipped to face new, global challenges.

Fircroft College

www.fircroft.ac.uk

Fircroft is one of 5 specialist residential colleges. Residency allows you to focus on learning and enjoy more time with other students. Founded in 1909 the college occupies one of the Cadbury family homes in 6 acres of grounds in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Groundwork - Birmingham and Solihull

http://www.groundwork-birmingham.org.uk/

Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull is one of fifty Trusts that make up the national Groundwork Federation.  Our purpose is to build sustainable communities in areas of need through joint environmental action.  In this way, we believe we can change places and change lives for the better. 

iSE

http://www.i-se.co.uk/

iSE has been a trusted partner at the forefront of social enterprise support and has been committed to social firm development in the West Midlands since 1998.

iSE now has a further leading role to play in the changing face of the social economy sector as it strives to take its place at the heart of the governments strategy for the delivery of public services.

Learning and Skills Council - Birmingham and Solihull

http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/WestMidlands/

The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds inEngland.

Our mission is to raise participation and attainment through high-quality education and training which puts learners first.

Our vision is that, by 2010, young people and adults in England will have the knowledge and productive skills matching the best in the world.

Mytime

www.mytime.org.uk

Sound It Out

www.sounditout.co.uk

Sound It Out employs professional musicians with skills in all sorts of music - drummers, singers, bass players, songwriters, composers, classical musicians, keyboard players, guitarists, tabla players, music technicians and many more. They work with people with any level of musical experience or none at all to create and perform music throughout Birmingham and beyond.

Trellis / Employability forum

www.employabilityforum.co.uk

The Employability Forum is an independent organisation that promotes the employment of refugees and the integration of migrant workers in the UK.

We act as a catalyst - working with the voluntary sector, employers and government, identifying the key issues and developing strategies for integrating refugees and migrants in the world of work.