- Conference
- 2011 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 1 September 2010
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that since the Conservation/Lib Dem Coalition Government came into power there have been announcements of excessive cuts to public spending amounting to £1.166bn. The Area Based Grants available to Birmingham City Council via the Department for Education would normally be £31 .638 million this is set to be reduced to £7.582 million 24%. Already this has seen a proposed 31 % reduction to the Connexions budget affecting Aston, Handsworth and surrounding areas of Birmingham containing a high density of Black residents. According to the 2001 Census the population of Lozells and East Handsworth Ward confirms that approximately 57% of the population are of Asian origin with 25% from Pakistan, 18% from India and 12% from Bangladesh. 19.5% of the population is Black, including 16% of African Caribbean descent, 4% are of mixed race and 3.5% are of Chinese origin. The White population accounts for 10%, 6% are White non-British (including Irish). The 2001 Census is out of date; therefore it is likely that the population has grown since then. Unfortunately underachievement in education is prevalent amongst the Black communities as well as the rate of unemployment within these wards, in spite of the Governments’ assertion that unemployment is falling.
Conference in addition apprenticeship schemes will also suffer a major blow with the cuts to education and rising demands. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report that looks at tackling under achievement in young people confirms that young people leaving school at 16 need a range of high-quality career and personal development options, including further education, apprenticeships, employment and work-based training. It is also recognised that multi agency solutions are a way of supporting and helping young people to achieve their goals. However the Coalition Government have failed to properly consider the impact their cuts will have on the future of young Black people seeking education or employment and does not appear to be offering a robust alternative that responds to the needs of young Black people that require quality based training and education especially with the growing demands on University/College places and apprenticeship schemes.
Therefore Conference instructs the National Black Members Committee (NBMC) to:
1. Liaise with the National Executive Council and the TUC to raise awareness of the growing problems facing young Black people regarding cuts to education funding and the impact this will have on their future.
2. Work with the Young Members Forum to campaign against the Government’s attack on education including lending support to the Connexions campaign.