SCIPS has a long history of working with all sections of our various local communities. Within Sandwell 16% of the population are from the Black, Asian or ethnic minorities. There are approximately 40 Tenants & Residents Associations registered with the council and of those few have involvement from local BME tenants.

Back in 1996 SCIPS was instrumental in founding the BEAM Group - or to give the group its full title The Black Asian and Ethnic Minority Tenants Consultation Group of Sandwell.

The project was set up as a direct response to the lack of representation in the traditional forums such as Tenants & Residents Associations. SCIPS and Sandwell Housing Department both realising at that time that there was a clear lack of involvement from BME tenants. Since those early days the BEAM group has continued to flourish and now has its own standalone website (which was developed by SCIPS on behalf of the group). SCIPS continues to support this important local platform that gives a voice for many local communities into the decision making processes.

To discover more about this pioneering group visit their website at: www.beamgroup.org.uk.

In 2005 SCIPS undertook a small scale pathfinding project in close conjunction with the BEAM group around Community Cohesion - with the aid of a a small funding grant from Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations. The project was highly successful and warmly received by our membership and local BME organisations who took part... find out more.

One of the specific goals of our more recent IT is Empowerment initiative was to engage through the project with local BME groups and structures that we had little existing contact with. With an emphasis on groups forming to support new and emerging communities - and to engage with those communities through the support and services the project could offer them. Find out more..

SCIPS will continue to place addressing the needs of local BME communities high on its list of priorities when developing any new project or area of work, and will seek to develop new and innovative ways to engage with all our local communities wherever and however possible.