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RAPAR and the Somali community - a brief history
From its formation RAPAR has both involved Somali people integrally and had very strong links with the wider Somali community. This page gives an overview of some key points during RAPAR’s community development work and research relating to the Somali population in Greater Manchester and Salford, and of the role of Somali people in RAPAR. The links in red are to fuller pages/files of relevant information. Additionally, see the bottom of the page for links to pages relevant to RAPAR's involvement with the Somali community discussed here.
From the start - RAPAR's formation
In 2001, RAPAR’s founders were approached for help by community health, cohesion and social workers confronted with a new population when refugees, ‘forcibly dispersed’ to North West England, became their clients. RAPAR’s first meeting intended to build on work that had been in development over five years with and within the Somali community in Manchester, and was with a group of young Afghan men in October 2001.
From the start - RAPAR's formation
In 2001, RAPAR’s founders were approached for help by community health, cohesion and social workers confronted with a new population when refugees, ‘forcibly dispersed’ to North West England, became their clients. RAPAR’s first meeting intended to build on work that had been in development over five years with and within the Somali community in Manchester, and was with a group of young Afghan men in October 2001.
At both this and RAPAR’s next meeting, various members of the Somali community were present – some of whom kindly brought food – including RAPAR’s matron Zeinab Mohammed, a former head of Mogadishu Nursing School who has since worked for the World Health Organisation and Manchester University.
Evaluating Wellbeing research
In 2002-3, research about ‘Evaluating Wellbeing’ was conducted with women from Somalia and Iran and in partnership with Manchester Museum. This research was motivated by the fact that refugee women or women seeking asylum frequently faced (and continue to face) in Manchester numerous problems relating to isolation, stress, sometimes difficulties of single parenting, sometimes even just basic needs. In addition to research, the project resulted in various positive outcomes relating to, for instance, healthy lifestyles, access to arts and culture facilities, and improving spoken English. Project report (pdf).
In 2002-3, research about ‘Evaluating Wellbeing’ was conducted with women from Somalia and Iran and in partnership with Manchester Museum. This research was motivated by the fact that refugee women or women seeking asylum frequently faced (and continue to face) in Manchester numerous problems relating to isolation, stress, sometimes difficulties of single parenting, sometimes even just basic needs. In addition to research, the project resulted in various positive outcomes relating to, for instance, healthy lifestyles, access to arts and culture facilities, and improving spoken English. Project report (pdf).
Salford: people seeking asylum, forced dispersal, community issues
As the effects of the ‘forced dispersal’ policy manifested, RAPAR’s work around the difficult community issues this inaugurated, as seen in areas of Salford, continued. Somali children contributed to a comic book (pdf) about their experiences, which was made during a 2003 summer school aimed at tackling the isolation often faced by child refugees and children of families seeking asylum, and the barriers between they and other children in Salford. Meanwhile, this Guardian article from 2004 reports on the experience of isolation and abuse from strangers in the local community faced by a young Somali woman made destitute in Salford, and covers RAPAR’s involvement in hers and similar cases.
Learning To Live Together / Doing Research With Refugees
These kinds of issues fed into Learning To Live Together: developing communities with dispersed refugee people seeking asylum, a detailed research report (pdf) for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 2005, which, again, involved various Somali participants, as well as Somali community researchers, and examined questions around how to foster cohesion and harmony within and between communities in the wake of forced dispersal. Meanwhile, the health needs of Somali people in Manchester are the central concern of Chapter Four of Doing Research With Refugees (Bogusia & Moran, eds. Policy Press, 2006). This, the first book ever published specifically about doing research with refugees, grew out of the work of RAPAR and is co-edited by RAPAR matron Rhetta Moran.
As the effects of the ‘forced dispersal’ policy manifested, RAPAR’s work around the difficult community issues this inaugurated, as seen in areas of Salford, continued. Somali children contributed to a comic book (pdf) about their experiences, which was made during a 2003 summer school aimed at tackling the isolation often faced by child refugees and children of families seeking asylum, and the barriers between they and other children in Salford. Meanwhile, this Guardian article from 2004 reports on the experience of isolation and abuse from strangers in the local community faced by a young Somali woman made destitute in Salford, and covers RAPAR’s involvement in hers and similar cases.
Learning To Live Together / Doing Research With Refugees
These kinds of issues fed into Learning To Live Together: developing communities with dispersed refugee people seeking asylum, a detailed research report (pdf) for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 2005, which, again, involved various Somali participants, as well as Somali community researchers, and examined questions around how to foster cohesion and harmony within and between communities in the wake of forced dispersal. Meanwhile, the health needs of Somali people in Manchester are the central concern of Chapter Four of Doing Research With Refugees (Bogusia & Moran, eds. Policy Press, 2006). This, the first book ever published specifically about doing research with refugees, grew out of the work of RAPAR and is co-edited by RAPAR matron Rhetta Moran.
Walking with the Cloak in Cheetham Hill / Equality and Human Rights Commission study on education
Somali women, alongside other women who are Muslim, contributed to a community development project from 2007-2010, exploring what 'wellbeing' meant to them, how to feel it, and how you know when you are feeling it! In addition to its community development outcomes, the ‘Walking with the Cloak’ project, funded through Manchester’s Joint Public Health Unit, resulted in further written research into issues of community and wellbeing. Additionally, young Somali people and a Somali peer researcher were involved in a 2009 report for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Engaging all young people in meaningful learning after 16: a qualitative study.
Somali women, alongside other women who are Muslim, contributed to a community development project from 2007-2010, exploring what 'wellbeing' meant to them, how to feel it, and how you know when you are feeling it! In addition to its community development outcomes, the ‘Walking with the Cloak’ project, funded through Manchester’s Joint Public Health Unit, resulted in further written research into issues of community and wellbeing. Additionally, young Somali people and a Somali peer researcher were involved in a 2009 report for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Engaging all young people in meaningful learning after 16: a qualitative study.
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Somali Forums
In 2010, funded by Lloyds TSB Foundation, RAPAR supported the creation of a Somali Youth Forum, run by local young Somali men with the aim of providing a forum for the discussion of issues important to the Somali community in Manchester and, subsequently, a voice to express these. (Press release from the formation of the group.) This subsequently grew into the Somali Men’s Forum, and, additionally, in 2011, a Somali Women’s Forum (pdf) was launched, supported by Gingerbread. |
For the future
The Somali community forums are currently thriving. A recent public meeting launched new research (pdf) into the gap between ‘NEET’ stats and experiences at school for young people of Somali heritage, and heard from Cllr Cox, representing Moss Side Ward of Manchester, and Chief Inspector Arif Nawaz. Also at this meeting, concerns were raised about institutional racism in education. Subsequently an open letter was sent to the headteacher of Manchester Academy requesting a further public meeting involving the school. [Update 18/02/13: RAPAR, with the Somali Men's Forum, are delighted that the Manchester Academy is taking steps towards working with Somali families to begin to address some of the issues exposed through this research into NEET stats. See the update on the Somali Community Forums page for the Academy's call out for a Parents' Forum. It is a good start. Well done Academy. RAPAR and the Somali Men's Forum remain open to supporting and enabling all future constructive work.]
The Somali Men’s Forum has also been instrumental, with several other campaigns/community groups, in setting up the new Northern Police Monitoring Project. The Somali community's concerns about how they are being policed, and particularly the treatment of their youth, are being joined up with concerns from other population groups in the NPMP to meet the need for public discussion, information and action on this issue.
The Somali community forums are currently thriving. A recent public meeting launched new research (pdf) into the gap between ‘NEET’ stats and experiences at school for young people of Somali heritage, and heard from Cllr Cox, representing Moss Side Ward of Manchester, and Chief Inspector Arif Nawaz. Also at this meeting, concerns were raised about institutional racism in education. Subsequently an open letter was sent to the headteacher of Manchester Academy requesting a further public meeting involving the school. [Update 18/02/13: RAPAR, with the Somali Men's Forum, are delighted that the Manchester Academy is taking steps towards working with Somali families to begin to address some of the issues exposed through this research into NEET stats. See the update on the Somali Community Forums page for the Academy's call out for a Parents' Forum. It is a good start. Well done Academy. RAPAR and the Somali Men's Forum remain open to supporting and enabling all future constructive work.]
The Somali Men’s Forum has also been instrumental, with several other campaigns/community groups, in setting up the new Northern Police Monitoring Project. The Somali community's concerns about how they are being policed, and particularly the treatment of their youth, are being joined up with concerns from other population groups in the NPMP to meet the need for public discussion, information and action on this issue.
Links
Somali Community Forums
Walking with the Cloak in Cheetham Hill
Northern Police Monitoring Project
Somali Community Forums
Walking with the Cloak in Cheetham Hill
Northern Police Monitoring Project
Email: admin@rapar.org.uk Telephone: 0161 834 8221 Fax: 0161 210 2970 Address: RAPAR, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS
Registered Charity Number: 1095961 Company Number: 4387010
Registered Charity Number: 1095961 Company Number: 4387010
