Ascent 2000 citizenship centre - request for funding

Report: 5
Date: 19 May 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

Part of the Commissioner’s CRE Leadership Challenge is a commitment to work in partnership with London’s Black Majority Churches and faith communities. Over the last three years, there have been a number of initiatives and partnerships events and programmes with the MPS and the Black Majority Church. The New Testament Church is seeking to develop a Citizenship Centre in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Centre (ASCENT Citizenship Centre) will be housed in a Grade ll Listed Church Building in Morgan Street, Bow.

The Citizenship Centre aims to reduce the incidence of youth crime in London, promote citizenship training, education and youth inclusion, foster good relations with the community, and actively encourage young people from the black church community to join the police and other public services.

In 2001, a major feasibility for the project was funded by The Millennium Commission. The project is supported by English Heritage and planning permission was granted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in September 2002.

This report requests a contribution of £86,000 from the MPA towards the funding of the project. The Deputy Chair of the MPA, R. David Muir has a direct connection with the project and this report is consequently submitted for approval by the Committee.

A. Recommendations

That the Committee:

1. notes the contents of this report; and
2. agrees the proposed partnership contribution of £86,000 from the MPS to the ASCENT Citizenship Centre as outlined in this report.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. A request for a contribution towards funding of a project has been made by The New Testament Church of God. The Deputy Chair of the MPA, R. David Muir, is involved with the Church and the project and, if approved, the financial contribution would therefore need to be disclosed in the accounts of the MPA as a ‘Related Party Transaction’.

2. The Commissioner was initially approached prior to the inception of the MPA and, following a visit to the Church, gave an indication at that time that the MPS would be prepared to support the project. This was subsequently confirmed in writing to the Millennium Commission in support of the Church’s application for funding from the Commission.

3. The expenditure involved is within the limits allowed for delegated approval. However, in view of the relationship of R David Muir in this matter, it is considered that it would be appropriate to obtain formal MPA Committee approval in this instance. The item is being presented at Co-ordination and Policing Committee because it is not within the specific terms of reference of other MPA Committees.

The Church

4. The New Testament Church of God (NTCG) is one of the largest and most cohesive black organisations in the UK. Over the last thirty years, it has made significant contributions to social and community development. It was one of the first black churches to actively encourage its members to join the Metropolitan Police Service and it successfully pioneered ‘Adopt a Cop’ scheme at its church in Brixton in the mid 1980s.

5. During the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, leaders from the NTCG gave written and oral evidence, arguing for the development of effective partnerships between the Black Majority Churches and the police. In their evidence to Macpherson Black Majority Church leaders said: ‘As Black Majority Church leaders we will seek to work more effectively with these bodies to improve police-community relations and change the culture of policing. We will establish a Committee for Black Church Police-Community Relations to relay our concerns and inform police practice; we will use our churches as “safety zones” for articulating concerns and to report to the police racial incidents and crime, especially where there is distrust of the police.’ There are over 250,000 black Christian Londoners.

The Project

6. ASCENT Citizenship Centre is a multi-agency partnership to convert the crypt of a Grade II Listed building in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets into a multi-purpose space for community activities, education and training aimed at improving the life choices and life chances of young people. The project will make a significant contribution to police-community relations, crime reduction and youth inclusion in London. It is envisaged that the programmes and activities of the Centre will further help to break down barriers between the police and the community, inspiring trust and confidence in the police service especially among ethnic minority communities.

Centre Programmes and Activities

7. Below is an indication of the proposed programmes and activities of the Citizenship Centre.

ASCENT Citizenship Centre Key Partners

8. A number of key partners have worked with NTCG over the last three years to develop the project and secure funding for a major feasibility study. Apart from financial support, partners have also provided professional financial management, architectural services, legal advice, educational and business support as well as corporate fund raising expertise. These include:

• The Bow Peoples’ Trust
• The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO)
• Mile End Old Town Residents Association (MEOTRA)
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets
• English Heritage
• The Millennium Commission
• The Prince’s Trust
• The Harmony Mental Health Project
• Community Music
• Churches Commission for Racial Justice
• The Mayor of London
• The Metropolitan Police Services (BPA, CPA, CO24/DCC4)
• JPD Architectural Services
• Divert Trust

Commissioner’s Leadership Challenge and Partnership with Black Majority Churches

9. Part of the Commissioner’s Leadership Challenge is a commitment to working with the Black Majority churches and other faith groups in London. A number of MPS officers including Chief Inspector Leroy Logon and Inspector Bob Pull have worked with the Black Majority Churches over the last two years to fulfil this commitment. Below are some of the key events and activities.

10. Development of the PEERS Project in conjunction with the Black Police Association, the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, the 1990 Trust, the Mile End New Testament Church and the Churches Commission For Racial Justice. One of the key aims of PEERS is to break down barriers between the police and black and ethnic minority young people. This youth focussed project will be linked into the BPA’s Paddington project.

11. Promotion of the MPS at NTCG National Conventions. In the summer of 2000, police officers were invited to promote the MPS as a career of choice to black church leaders and members. Chief Inspector Leroy Logon and members of the Positive Action Team (PAT) addressed the conference and displayed career information literature at the Brighton Conference Centre. Over four and a half thousand attendees were at the convention and the response was positive. In the same year, the Prime Minister attended the Black Majority Church Faith in the Future Celebration, praising the Black Majority Churches’ role and leadership in the community and its partnership with the police.

12. In 2001 and 2002, similar promotional activities took place at Cardiff City Centre and the Brighton Conference Centre. PC David McFarlane of the BPA addressed the NTCG’s 2002 Brighton convention, promoting the work of the MPS post Lawrence and encouraging young people to join the police service. The BPA and the CPA are currently involved in a number of partnerships with the Black Majority Church, including the Haringey Peace Alliance with Pastor Nimms and the Street Pastors’ Initiative with Revd Les Issacs. Both of these initiatives are aimed at reducing gun and drugs related crime in the community.

13. Commissioner’s meetings with London’s faith leaders. The Commissioner has had series of meetings with members of the NTCG and other Black Majority faith leaders to develop partnerships and focus on ways in which the churches can play a more effective role in crime reduction and safety. Meetings with Revd Joel Edwards of the Evangelical Alliance, Chief Inspector John Sutherland and other faith and community leaders have led to the development of Hope for London. As a partnership initiative between the police and the churches, this is a user friendly 10 point plan for churches to assist the police service and re-build communities.

ASCENT Citizenship Project Cost and Partnership Contributions

14. There are four phases to the development of the site at Mile End New Testament Church. Phase I was the refurbishment of the church hall where services and community activities are currently held. The local congregation spent £325,000 on this phase. Phase II, the repair of the main church roof, was completed in July 2002. The cost of this phase was £250,000. This was partly funded by a grant of £150,000 given by English Heritage, the balance being met by the church.

15. Phase III is the conversion of the crypt into the Citizenship Centre and is estimated to cost £850,000-£920,000. Building work is due to start in July 2003. This is the Phase for which financial support is now sought.

16. Funding has been requested from a number of Agencies. The Millennium Commission has earmarked £336,500 on a matched funding basis. An application has been made to the London Development Agency for a substantial contribution to the balance of the scheme but no commitment has yet been given. Further contributions have been sought from the Church Urban Fund and BBC Children in Need. These are under consideration but have not yet been confirmed.

17. The MPS Commissioner has indicated that a contribution of £86,000 could be available from MPS funds. Approval of this contribution would assist in both direct funding the project and in obtaining match funding from other partners. The church will meet the balance of costs not covered by partner contributions.

18. Phase IV would be a further extension of the Church’s activity with similar projects after completion of the current scheme. There are no proposals at this stage for which funding would be required.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The development of the Citizenship Centre will allow the MPS to work with a large section of London’s visible and ethnic minority communities and support the Commissioner’s leadership challenge. The promotion and recruitment potential of this multi-agency partnership can support the MPS recruitment targets.

D. Financial implications

The funding requirements of the Ascent 2000 project are set out above. Provision is available within the MPS budget to meet the proposed contribution of £86,000. In view of the relationship of the Deputy Chair of the MPA, R David Muir, with the Ascent 2000 project, the payment will need to be disclosed as a ‘Related Party Transaction’ in the published accounts of the MPA.

E. Background papers

• Project costings – A.J.Oakes and Partners.

F. Contact details

Report author: PC David McFarlane, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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