This is another of a successful project developed and being supported by the Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance. The project is a partnership between the Kirklees Young Peoples Service and the HPCA underpinned by an annually agreed Service Level Agreement which we had since 2001.

The Pakistani Youth Forum was launched in September 2001 with the following aims:

- To give young people a platform to advocate on their issues and concerns;
- Tohelp young people to build on their confidence and leadership skills;
- To advise and support young people on how to access opportunities in education, training and employment;
- Provide sustainable access to personal development opportunities, quality arts, sports and cultural activities
- Encourage young people to contribute to community life and regeneration
- Bring together young people from different geographical, cultural and ethnic backgrounds to encourage community 

  cohesion;
- Toundertake preventative with young people around drugs, anti-social behaviour and crime.
 

The PYF’s approach is based on belief that “it is important to listen to young people because they are the best judge of their needs and concerns”. In this respect the PYF provides young people with a safe, secure and supportive environment for them to unwind and freely speak their mind. In short, PYF gives young people a chance, choice and voice.

The PYF particularly targets those young people (male and female) who for a variety of reasons have not done well in schooling, young people with low self-esteem, new arrivals, unemployed, not in education and with social behaviour problems and vulnerable to life of crime and drugs etc.

This is achieved through involving young people and offering them activities designed around their interests, aptitudes and needs by introducing them and encouraging them to take part in a number of national schemes and programmes for young people, for example:

- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Millennium Volunteers
- Youthtrain
- Community Sports Leadership Awards
- European exchange programmes
- Taking part in grant making and interview panels for young people.
 

The PYF also offers a time table of weekly sport, recreational and educational activities, team building, leadership and mentoring programmes.

PYFalso has a number of week-end residential training programmes which are very popular with young people and greatly contribute towards team building, and developing leadership potentials, and for young people to think outside of the box.

A number of our young men and women have progressed on to either full time education, employment or are active volunteers in the community, taking responsibility and leading roles in projects such as film making, documentary for the local KMC on regeneration and renaissance work.

ELDERLY Drop-in provision:

In partnership with Kirklees Social Services - Community Liaison, this is a new project of the HPCA.

The project provides a safe space for elderly to socialise in a culturally appropriate and supportive environment. To give them a sense of independence and supporting them to interact with people of their own age and backgrounds, and also to get involved in planning and delivering programmes and activities meeting their needs.

A small project management group of elderly has been established to guide the planning and delivery of activities, for example:

·         Luncheon club for men and women.

·         Excursions and outings.

·         Health based information and advise sessions.

·         Recreation and leisure activities.

The space has already been furnished with TV, video, disabled toilet, and small kitchen for tea and refreshments. The local English news paper and the National Urdu paper also get delivered.

The HPCA is very excited about this pioneering service for elderly who because of language, religion and culture are house bound.

Pakistani Women’s Forum.

The organisation is keen to encourage the involvement of Pakistani women. This involvement is at three levels:

I.      To become members of the organisation and to become

       activelyinvolved in the development and the management

       of the organisation. This proving to be highly successful as

       more and more women are becoming members of the

       organisation which is this greater is reflected on the  

       number ofwomen on the management committee.

II.     Involvement as volunteers in various projects, making sure that in all aspects of the organisation’s

        work women are in the forefront of planning and delivery of facilities and services, for example, the 

        elderly women’s project and the young women’s forum.

III.    Despite our best efforts, there are still a high percentage of women who either lack confidence 

        because of religious and cultural sensitivities are reluctant to take a step outside their immediate

        families. They therefore generally miss out on social, recreational and educational opportunities on

        offer. The Pakistani Women’s Forum aims to target these women and provide a programme of

        activities which are perceived safe, religiously and culturally sensitive, and cater for the fears and

        aspirations of Pakistani women in self-imposed asylums.