Press release

ROTA PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 February 2012

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant to Race on the Agenda (ROTA), in partnership with the Tamil Community Centre (Hounslow), to carry out an innovative one-year oral history project with the Tamil community in London.  The project, called ‘Through the generations: untold stories of Tamil migration’, will give different generations of Sri Lankan Tamils in London the opportunity to contribute to the first ever oral history of its kind.

Press Release: 5 September 2011

The free schools agenda is coming at a high price to many communities that already face educational disadvantage, says Race on the Agenda (ROTA). There are worrying signs that local communities are losing out.

These include 20 voluntary organisations that will be displaced by the West London Free School, whose choice of premises, Palingswick House, is the building from which they have provided services to vulnerable groups including refugees and homeless people for the past 30 years. Additionally Ark Bolingbroke Academy, another new school, has had a rethink following criticism for initially drawing boundaries for its feeder schools that excluded a nearby primary school on an estate that has high levels of deprivation.

Press Release: 22 March 2011

Follow-up to ROTA (Race on the Agenda) Female Voice in Violence report that discovered the use of "rape as a weapon of choice" against women and girls in London finds more weapons, less choice for females suffering from serious violence across the country.

England is failing to protect girls under the age of 18 from sexual and physical serious violence, according to new research by ROTA (Race on the Agenda).

Press Release: 22 March 2011

SENIOR MPS TOLD: 'WE NEED A GREATER FOCUS ON RACE'

A coalition of race equality organisations told senior MPs today that the government is not doing enough to tackle race inequalities in the UK.

They also expressed concern regarding the government's decision last week to re-open its consultation on the Equality Act 2010's specific equality duties, arguing that this could result in a watering down of the legislation. This is the third consultation on the specific equality duties.

Press Release: February 2011

Carlene Firmin has prioritised young people for years.

At 27, she is now the youngest black woman to receive an MBE. She has also been listed as one of Britain's top 35 most powerful women under 35 by GLAMOUR Magazine.

GLAMOUR's Features Director, Corrie Jackson, said: "Carlene really impressed us with her dedication - and, in particular, the fact that she has been so instrumental at such a young age. The brilliant and imaginative way she has tackled gang-affected women and girls should be applauded."

Press Release: October 2010

Dr. Elizabeth Henry joined ROTA (Race on the Agenda) in October 2010. Following a successful stint as Interim CEO, Dr. Henry will lead a member-driven organisation in ROTA that delivers voice and policy support to London's Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

Elizabeth said: "I am delighted to be joining ROTA. Now, more than ever, is the time for a revitalised effort on the part of the voluntary and private sectors to provide a proactive social voice to disadvantaged BAME communities."

Press Release: 23 June 2010

ROTA is pleased to announce new positions to the Board of Trustees today.

Ali Ahmed is Chair; Gifford Sutherland Vice-Chair; and new Trustee Patricia Lamour is Treasurer.

Ali currently works for the London borough of Tower Hamlets as Third Sector Strategy Officer. He was seconded to Tower Hamlets Council as CVS Development Officer, to provide support to a newly appointed interim Board setting up Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service. He has worked in the voluntary sector for over 15 years. Ali Joined the ROTA Board in January 2007 and was previously the Vice-Chair.

Press Release: 25 May 2010

Dr Elizabeth Henry joined ROTA as Interim Chief Executive in May 2010. She is also a self-employed consultant who develops and delivers a range of equality and diversity programmes in the areas of

• compliance: policy to practice
• training: needs assessment and analysis
• individual coaching/mentoring and support
• service delivery audits and assessment
• research and development
• community engagement and capacity building

Press Release: 12 April 2010

Race on the Agenda and the Winning the Race Coalition welcome the Equality Act 2010 which has now received Royal Assent.

Dr Theo Gavrielides, Chief Executive of ROTA said: "Over the last year and a half, we have worked with the members of the Winning the Race Coalition to ensure that our communities are represented and their views are included in the democratic process of passing laws in our country. Despite several amendments, I continue to believe that we are entering a new era of equality. Like any tool, the question now is what we do with it.

Press Release: 24 February 2010

Specialist services and policies targeting women and girls involved in gangs are needed to help reduce and prevent youth violence, a new report by Race on the Agenda (ROTA) says today.

The Female Voice in Violence report draws on face-to-face research with 352 friends, relatives, victims or perpetrators of gangs and gang violence. Ranging in age from 13-52, the experiences of these women and girls highlight lessons for policy makers and those working to prevent serious youth violence.