Introduction:
Connecting with local communities of the same race/ethnicity as that of the international student is often an important aspect of successfully settling in for the international student’s period of study.
An absolute starting point will be your student union or student support facility in regard to ethnicity/race/nationality, and culture and faith/religion societies, as almost all of these will have direct links into respected, established ethnic minority and/or faith/religion groups outside of your university or language school or college. The university student’s union website will list university societies and groups, giving contact names and details.
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Below we list some community organisations and others that may be able to provide assistance in connecting with such communities – OCHD and UKNFS have direct substantial established records on supporting international students on issues and support needs. Dorset Race Equality Council (DREC) has THE go to directory for BAME and multicultural groups and organisations in the BCP and Dorset areas:
One Community Hampshire and Dorset: OCHD has direct supportive relationship for South Coast (Dorset and Hampshire) Indian international students in particular, but other nationalities international students, and is the main partner of the UKNFS, and with a strong, established pedigree of international students support in conjunction with the latter. It also works closely with the IAC. Contact: info@ochd.org.uk
UK Nepal Friendship Society: The UKNFS is predominantly for Nepali international students, but with connections to other nationalities too, and is the main partner with OCHD, and also works closely with leads of the International Education Council (IAC) – details below.
The UKNFS has in the area led on direct ethnic minority communities, international students issues and needs for almost a decade.
It has extensive experience on in parliament and with national level Nepali representation organisations such as the NRNA UK, representing international students, and in provision of international students’ information, including a resource with a formal dedication from the then/former Ambassador of Nepal to the UK.
Resource link: http://uknfs.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/UKNFS-Nepali-internattional-students-information-resource.pdf and dedication link: http://uknfs.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/UKNFS-International-Students-Resource-Dedication-from-Dr-Suresh.pdf
Dorset Race Equality Council: (DREC) works with both OCHD and the UKNFS but is also a main interfacing organisation for all Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset councils and public service organisations because of its long-standing formal relationships with the councils and public service organisations.
The DREC community organisation BAME community organisations and groups Directory is THE go to resource for the fullest range of community organisations & groups and is arranged on a thematic basis: http://www.dorsetrec.org.uk/community-directory/
DREC is an important go-to organisation for signposting to specific ethnic minority independent community level groups and organisations. Contact: http://www.dorsetrec.org.uk/contact-us/ / Telephone: 01202 392954 / Email: enquiries@dorsetrec.org.uk
In addition to OCHD, there are three established and respected multicultural organisations in the pan-Dorset area:
IAAC (‘Its All About Culture’): multicultural organisation based in Bournemouth, and with outreach to a number of BAME communities such as African and Caribbean, Portuguese and more: http://itsallaboutculture.org.uk/ and Telephone: 07392 707598, and Email: iaaculture@gmail.com
South West Dorset Multicultural Network: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Service/South-West-Dorset-Multicultural-Network-382422228437702/
Unity in Vision: multicultural organisation with members from and outreach in a number of BAME communities across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole: https://www.facebook.com/UnityinVision/
Not directly ethnic minority community organisations, but relevant:
IAC: The IAC (International Education Council) supports and assists in shared issues, needs and topics, regarding and impacting all the major British Council verified Bournemouth and related areas international language colleges, and includes Bournemouth University, and the AECC (Anglo-European Chiropractic College). Website: http://itsallaboutculture.org.uk/ and Contact: http://itsallaboutculture.org.uk/pages/contact-us/
BIG (Bournemouth Interpreters Group): A not for profit group providing interpreting and translation services.
Tel Alan Marshall: 07818420522 / Email enquiry@bournemouthinterpreters.org.uk
Web: www.bournemouthinterpreters.org.uk