Historical Background
The conceptual idea of SPAT-C was
initiated around October 1992. Discussions and consultation
were arranged and executed by the main instigating body,
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
with the main ethnic minority training providers, namely
African Caribbean Enterprise Centre (ACE), Pakistan Muslim
Centre (PMC), Black Media Training Trust (BMTT) along with
the smaller community groups i.e. Bangladesh Neighbourhood
Association, Yemeni Language Project.
A pilot Programme was run in March
1993, for the purposes of assessing the education and training
needs of the communities, specifically ethnic minority communities
of Sheffield. It is very important therefore to emphasis
at this stage that the day-to-day realities of the black
experience shows that there has not been a substantial improvement
in the education, training and employment opportunities
for Black adults since the mid 1980's. In fact many local,
regional and to some extent national studies show the opposite,
that:
- Because of many reasons, such as,
institutional racism, the negative attitudes and low expectations
of teachers and lecturers, and the ethno-centric nature
of the curriculum, Black adults continue to leave the education
system with low self-esteem and low self-confidence, with
no or few recognised formal qualifications to gain access
to F.E. and H.E. courses, or to compete for jobs on an equal
basis, in a highly competitive labour market.
- The effects of the economic recession
nation-wide and the high rates of unemployment in Sheffield
and the surrounding areas has ensured that the Black communities
(particularly the African and Caribbean and Pakistani adults
aged between 16-25 years of age) continue to experience
disproportionately higher rates of unemployment than any
other groups.
- Due to the many changes that have
been taking place or which are scheduled to take place in
F.E. & H.E., in the funding arrangements of Adult Education
provision, and in the relationship between local government
and the Black communities in the last few years, has meant
that low priority has been given to Equal Opportunities
policies and practices. This has also been the case with
Education and Training Programmes such as that of SPAT-C;
(which is not directly linked with F.E. or H.E. institutions
and therefore is seen as a project which is not generating
income directly for these institutions).
- The financial crisis that Sheffield
City Council found itself in the last few years, has resulted
in drastic reductions in other public services and in the
under-funding of community-based education and training
programmes and positive action programmes such as SPAT-C.
This had the effect of undermining the range and quality
of Education and Training provision offered to Black adults
in Sheffield.
Despite the constraints experienced, SPAT-C with
the pro-active support of the community and dedicated Council
officers managed to provide a range of training in a variety
of vocations, supplemented by a dynamic European programme
- the Local Integration Action (LIA) project. Along with
8 other cities in Europe, Sheffield through SPAT-C was able
to create model training programmes in a variety of areas,
including provision for those lacking linguistic skills
and exceptionally disadvantaged groups such as middle-eastern
women.
In the provision of its training
support from ESF and SRB, SPAT-C was able to deliver close
to 150 training places in 1998/99, with a substantial success
record in accreditation and job-creation. It's programme
provision is geared towards better future prospects as a
result of partnerships created with Sheffield College, SCEDU,
European Forum and other mainstream voluntary sector providers.
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