Integration is a process. I’m happy because they can now even meet, because it used to be that black and white kids were not mixing very much. But I’m happy because we start to have those activities where they can come together and let the community know about the things that are important to them - to try to break this ice between those communities.

Acane was set up in response to the Government’s decision of April 2000 to disperse asylum seekers to different regions of the UK. The process of dispersal has led to problems around integration with the host community as there were insufficient opportunities for the host community to prepare itself for the influx of so many asylum seekers.

Acane Drop in Centre was officially opened in June 2003 by Cllr Nick Kemp which is a first port of call for the African communities living in the North East including mainstream services and authorities who regularly use Acane centre to reach out to African and consult them on the different community issues.

Acane plays major roles in disseminating and exchanging information amongst regional and national voluntary and statutory agencies of the needs of the African asylum seekers and refugees. It also plays roles of facilitating the interaction and good neighbourhood between the host and African communities as well promoting and assisting the smooth integration of the African refugees including asylum seekers.

Acane has a management committee comprises of 5 volunteers. It has now a full time paid Community Development Manager, who will focus on creating partnerships with a range of service providers and other agencies in order to promote the most effective use of our Community Centre as a unique resource for bringing together individuals, and particularly children and young people, from the African and host community who are resident in the East End of Newcastle and promoting positive relationships, understanding, and building a sense of shared community and belonging in the locality

In most of cases, Acane’s centre is reliant much on volunteers to keep the centre opens regularly for different activities.

Main aims and objectives

ACANE exists to support the settlement of asylum seekers and refugees from the African continent, who have been dispersed to the North East region and Tyneside in particular, and to actively promote their integration with the host community so that they can lead full and active lives, and participate in and contribute to the community on an equal basis. 

We had secured funding from COMIC RELIEF this year for three years funding for salary of development manager, which we intend from now after over 5 years of existing, to develop our services in achieving our main aims by:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1)      <!--[endif]-->Running a community centre in the heart of Byker, which is open to all members of the community (African and Host) where they can meet each other as members of the same community, share in activities and events, and so promote Integration and Community Cohesion. This helps break down barriers and tensions created by negative propaganda, misinformation and lack of prior contact with people from Africa, and promote positive relations between the hugely diverse African population and the host community, to build a unified sense of shared community in the locality.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2)    <!--[endif]-->Working with a range of policy makers, service providers and agencies from all sectors, including participating in research, to raising awareness of the additional and specific needs of the African asylum seekers and refugees, and to assist them in delivering their services and support to this community. 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3)    <!--[endif]-->Giving one to one information and support to individuals to enable them to access services and opportunities, and understand British culture and systems, that will enable them to lead full and active lives in the community. We also organise training events and information sessions.

Main Activities

In the Community Centre:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Social events and celebrations

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Young people’s arts and crafts activities

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Young people’s drama project

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Delivering one to one information and guidance to individuals, including accompanying them to services, signposting and referral.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Free IT and Internet access

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Homework space for young people

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Large screen TV with Sky

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Food co-operative

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Health awareness sessions

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Meet the Football stars sessions

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Education through extra learning support

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Support with jobs search and information

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Translation services, newsletter, telephone helpline & fax, photocoping,

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Extra learning support for ESOL and IT

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Room space for workshops, training, consultation and events.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Volunteering opportunities

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Surveys of user needs and feedback

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Consultation meetings with other agencies

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·           <!--[endif]-->Networking and partnership building with service providers from the voluntary and statutory sector, including partnership arrangements for outreach delivery of services (youth work, community safety, safeguarding young people)

Also ACANE

• has participated and facilitated in research programmes on children and young people with the Children’s Society and Durham University
• Organised multiple learning visits for African community to understand more about the history and culture of the region
• has participated in housing issues training  and website design
• has Attended various conferences, seminars and workshops to add the voice of African asylum seekers and refugees to debate
• has participated in local planning initiatives to add the whole community’s views to development of local plans
• has joint local initiatives planned with other refugee led community organisations
• is participating in and contributing to the Regional Refugee Forum North East with around 40 other refugee led community organisations from across the region

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Creates an open and trusting environment in the North East for refugees and asylum seekers, and to facilitate their smooth integration through advocacy and information dissemination.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Facilitates neighbourhood harmony by promoting interaction between African refugees and asylum seekers through cultural events and activities.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Provides up to date information to African refugees and asylum seekers involving translation, interpreting, signposting and referral.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·        <!--[endif]-->Encourages the development of refugee led initiatives and activities such as basic IT training, health promotion, food and nutrition initiatives, access to facilities, and training programmes run at the drop in centre.)

 For further information contact:

Gaby Kitoko

ACANE

1 Raby Cross

Byker

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE6 2FF

tel/fax. 0191 265 8110

email :acane2003@hotmail.com