Funding Campaign update

 First, a big thanks to so many people that have stepped forward and help lead a campaign for justice and common sense concerning the Cabinet decision to stop our funding.

 Apart from some officers and some Councillors who are keen to see RCRE close, there are also a small band of extremists that have seen the opportunity for their dream to come true. The level of racist venom which has been unleashed by means of blogs and comments in the papers (the same band of 5-10 people hiding behind false names) shows the need for RCRE. These people do not have the same courage as those people who have written letters of support and signed our petition. The bad news for those people is that the RCRE is resolved to continue to fight the cause of justice, with or without council funding.

Well, let’s leave those people to one side for a moment. Here is where the campaign has got so far;

The bad news is that the Cabinet did confirm the decision to cut our funding, and this decision is set to be received on Tuesday 22^nd February 2011.

 We have arranged a lobby of the council, join us sometime between 5pm-5.30pm Tuesday 22^nd Feb outside the Civic Centre.

 At 6.30pm, the Council meeting begins and some of us will be staying behind to go into the public gallery so that we can listen to the discussion and debate.

 Our petition has been really well received and we have collected about 2,000 signatures. The petition will be presented to the Council meeting at 6.30pm.

 Many people and organisations concerned about the Cabinet decision have lobbied councillors by means of emails, letters, telephone calls and personal contact. We thank you all. For those people that have not given us copies of their communication, it would be really helpful if you could, please. We will be submitting a pack of the representations that we have received, to all Councillors, so that there is no doubt about the strength of opinion.

 Some of our supporters have submitted questions to the Council and these will be asked in person between 6.40pm to 7pm.

 We have taken legal advice and there is no doubt that the Council has not just acted unfairly and in an unjust manner, but they have driven roughshod over the equality laws. At the time of writing, the Council have been informed of our view that they have acted unlawfully, but they seem to think they are above the law and ready to press ahead. If this happens, then RCRE will take legal action.

 There has been regular media coverage of our plight and therefore very large numbers of people are in the picture. This public information will continue well into the future.

RCRE has a 40-year track record of working in partnership

with Statutory Agencies, Voluntary Organisations and

Community Groups.

We are now under threat and need your support.

The Reading Borough Council Cabinet has decided to discontinue funding for the RCRE. This is a devastating blow to us and the decision seems to be based on rather spurious reasons and carried out without any consultation with us or our stakeholders. We need your support; Click here for more information

RCRE Annual General Meeting - 28 July 2010

"INTEGRATION IS GOOD, BUT IS IT EASY TO ACHIEVE IN THE FACE OF CURRENT ECONOMIC PRESSURES?" Listen to speakers from the newly arrived Polish Community in Reading, and also from the new Coalition Administration at Reading Borough Council.

Uni Network

Uni BME Network is now a Registered Charity and Limited Company. Uni invites applications from community groups and  is advertising to recruit three project workers

Our mission is to create a fair, just and united community which is free from racism, discrimination, and bigotry, and gives everyone an opportunity to use their talents for the benefit of our community as a whole.