The projects we are currently involved in:
Ther project will connect local people to nature and inspire them to take care in the local area activities, focusing on nature, across the whole length of the project and will include physical improvements, as well as educational workshops.
ICOS is grateful to the Linden Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear & Northumberland for their funding to provide holistic, one-to-one employment advice support to people from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds.
We will work with that least 25 clients, and out of those clients:
-at least 13 will progress into employment
-at least 13 will access training
-at least 16 will experience a better financial situation and 11 better wellbeing.
Many will benefit in more than one way.
ICOS would like to thank Bernicia Foundation at the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear & Northumberland for their generous funding, which will enable ICOS to provide intensive one to one support to migrant and minorititized people with accessing employment.
ICOS will support migrants in Sunderland to progress into work, education and training through delivering one-to-one, intensive employability advice and providing access to opportunities for progression to: -women affected by systemic barriers, such as being a single parent, childcare access or travel, and those affected by domestic abuse -refugees who have recently been granted refugee status and are now able to apply for work for the 1st time.
The project will provide dedicated support to progress into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) jobs, and placements/work experience.
The recently concluded ICOS project in Sunderland successfully supported Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals in achieving improved financial resilience, enhanced well-being, and better access to mainstream services. With a focus on tailored, intensive support, the project addressed a range of issues faced by excluded BME people, including accessing benefits, housing, and essential services. Through one-on-one assistance from experienced advice workers, the project significantly impacted at least 120 individuals, both adults and children, providing an average of 10 hours of support per person.
The project’s proactive approach involved establishing SMART goals during initial meetings, ensuring mutual understanding and progress tracking. By addressing the needs of families in transition, such as those fleeing domestic abuse or recent asylum seekers, the project played a crucial role in guiding them through challenges and unfamiliar territories.
ICOS’s peer-run model, comprising staff and board members with migration experiences, contributed to effective support delivery. Additionally, the recruitment of volunteers from the community further enhanced the project’s impact, involving them in engagement, planning, and administration.
The project successfully filled gaps in existing services, providing comprehensive support beyond appeals, particularly for those with limited English proficiency. Outreach efforts, including social media, local shops, faith centres, and word of mouth, ensured wide community engagement.
ICOS collaborated with Sunderland City Council, leveraging data and intelligence to address the unique needs of BME communities. The project’s success, rooted in the diverse experiences of its team, exemplifies its commitment to aiding integration, reducing social isolation, and improving the overall quality of life for BME individuals in Sunderland.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Links for Life for their generous support, enabling us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve
The project will aim to enhance the well-being of Black and Minoritized (BME) individuals in Sunderland, with a particular focus on those facing exclusion and distress, such as refugees (including Ukrainians), asylum seekers, women affected by domestic abuse, and individuals impacted by modern-day slavery/exploitation, including participants from the BiC2 project.
The core activities of the project will average one per week, alternating between physical activities like well-being walks, Nordic Walking, or Yoga, and sessions fostering togetherness and emotional well-being through arts & crafts or social outings. Leveraging partnerships with organizations like MBC Arts and FODI, the project will also engage Wellbeing Volunteers, including project ambassadors recruited from the community.
With an average participation of 10-15 hours, the project aims to benefit 50 adult clients, with at least 6 volunteering. It is anticipated that the project will significantly impact 37 adults and 17 children, resulting in improved well-being, and 42 adults and 20 children forming new friendships. By connecting BME individuals to existing local opportunities, such as the Glass Centre and Winter Gardens, the project aims to contribute to better integration and neighbourhood familiarity for newcomers.
We express our sincere appreciation to the Sunderland Counselling Service for their generous support, empowering us to enhance the well-being of our community.
ICOS Creative Mum’s Club will continue to bring together Eastern European (EE) mothers and children through a series of bi-weekly, co-planned creative activities. The project, aiming to address social isolation, will feature diverse initiatives such as seasonal arts and crafts, heritage-themed projects, and workshops led by group members. It is expected to engage over 100 women and children directly, with an additional 50 benefiting indirectly, guided by the Project Steering Group comprising 6-8 women.
Collaborating with partners like Sunderland Culture and Sangini, the project will deliver 26 sessions at accessible venues, fostering creativity and building strong community bonds. The outreach strategy will encompass social media, word of mouth, and collaboration with partner organizations, ensuring widespread community engagement. Responding to specific challenges EE women face, such as social isolation and discrimination, the project will continue to provide structured volunteering opportunities for at least 15 individuals, contributing to their skills and confidence development.
Maintaining a commitment to environmental consciousness, the project will incorporate eco-friendly activities and upcycling workshops, aligning with ICOS’s comprehensive environmental policy. The project’s anticipated success will build on ICOS’s track record, creating a welcoming, creative space that successfully addresses the needs of EE women and their children in the future.
We express our sincere thanks for the invaluable support from the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, which is instrumental in fuelling this project.
ICOS is embarking on a project that aims to provide essential, needs-tailored support for inactive or unemployed Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals residing in Sunderland. The initiative seeks to facilitate integration and enhance the quality of life for these clients by offering comprehensive assistance in employability, skills development, and navigating support systems. With a focus on refugees, Eastern Europeans (EE), and EE women, the upcoming project will address the well-documented barriers faced by BME individuals, particularly women, in accessing employment and quality jobs.
As a peer-run organization with staff and board members who have experienced migration to the UK, ICOS will leverage this unique perspective to deliver effective support. Building on ICOS’s extensive experience in employability interventions dating back to 2014, the project aims to support at least 25 clients through one-to-one, needs-tailored sessions, addressing barriers such as lack of confidence, experience, or skills. The project worker will guide effective job searching, skill enhancement, and the creation of a broader support network.
Recognizing the challenges faced by refugees, especially with limited time for accommodation transition, the project will also assist clients in navigating Universal Credit and accessing external opportunities, such as local college courses. By identifying and overcoming barriers, the upcoming project aims to significantly contribute to aiding BME individuals, including refugees and EE women, in their pursuit of work, education, training, and volunteering opportunities. The peer-run approach and focus on tailored support underscore the anticipated success of the project in fostering integration and addressing multifaceted challenges within the BME community in Sunderland.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Community Foundation for their generous funding, enabling us to make a positive impact in our community.
The project will deliver intensive and holistic advice to migrant families in Sunderland, encompassing refugees, asylum seekers, and those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Aimed at enhancing well-being, financial inclusion, and access to vital services, the initiative will focus on connecting families to healthcare, schools, housing, and welfare benefits.
To be implemented by an experienced advice worker, the project will provide one-to-one support to at least 25 families, addressing specific needs such as school registrations, healthcare access, housing applications, and welfare benefit applications. The support, averaging 12 hours per family, is expected to contribute to the overall well-being of the families and facilitate their integration into the community.
Utilizing established partnerships with local organizations, the project will extend its reach, referring individuals to services addressing debt, mental health issues, and other specific needs. Wide-ranging advertising through social media, local shops, faith centres, and word of mouth will ensure effective outreach and engagement.
The project will primarily cater to BME individuals facing exclusion due to language barriers or recent arrival in the UK, fostering integration and improving their quality of life. The targeted support will address the unique challenges faced by asylum seekers, refugees, and Eastern European migrants in accessing mainstream services and overcoming mental health issues.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Community Foundation for their generous funding, enabling us to make a positive impact in our community
The project will address the underrepresentation of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sector in Sunderland. The initiative will focus on empowering at least 30 BME women, including migrants, Eastern Europeans, refugees, and those providing care, to develop and progress in STEM careers.
Through a series of five workshops and one-to-one support sessions, the project will provide tailored advice on employability, personal development plans, and practical steps to enter STEM professions. Established links with STEM employers such as the North East Ambulance Service, Northumbria Water, Sunderland University, and NEXUS will facilitate valuable insights and networking opportunities for the beneficiaries.
Example workshops, including health professions and environmental engineering, will be designed to provide practical information, motivation, and networking opportunities. Each client will receive an average of 10-15 hours of support, addressing individual needs and complexities.
The project aims to overcome barriers faced by BME women, such as discrimination, racism, and social exclusion, documented in research conducted between May 2021 and December 2022. By enhancing awareness, confidence, and access to training and employment, the project seeks to contribute to breaking down barriers and promoting equity in the STEM workforce.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Community Foundation and Platten Community Fund for their generous funding, enabling us to make a positive impact in our community.
More details can be found on the following page:
https://icos.org.uk/east-rangers/
The project is scheduled to run from April 2023 till April 2024.
In cooperation with the local community, ward councillors, Sunderland City Council, schools and others, we are currently working to make St Michal’s ward in Sunderland a better, greener and more community– focused place to live. This is done through regular clean – ups, maintenance activities and awareness- raising workshops; including those focusing on families with children.
We focus on Backhouse Park, but activities elsewhere in the ward are also delivered from time to time.
The project offers numerous volunteering opportunities and most activities take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with some also happening on weekends.
If you are interested in volunteering at our litter picks or helping with installing bird houses etc., please contact Daniel Krzyszczak: https://icos.org.
Training opportunities in environmental management are also available!
The project tile (70/100) is inspired by 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign and 100 years’ anniversary of the founding of Backhouse Park.
It focuses on two strands:
-Community renewal and community development
-Shared natural world and the environment
The project will deliver place-based community work, focused on Backhouse Park, St Michael’s ward and build on the experiences we gained during the COVID19 pandemic, when our environmental work proved to be very valuable in reducing social isolation amongst both- migrants and the local people.
The project will:
-Enable local people, including refugees and migrants to acquire new skills and training-accredited and unaccredited environmental training, including on invasive species, land management, use of equipment (e.g. strimmers), risk assessment and health and safety. At least 70 clients will be trained.
-Improve the local area and inspire more people to use Backhouse Park and the adjacent Barley Mow Park. Working with the local people, we will deliver creative activities, focusing on families- including local environmental surveys (e.g. on birds, butterflies, bugs), identifying different species, making bird houses and feeders from recycled materials and upcycling- e.g. making items such as bat houses, designed by the local children.
The project will last from June 2022 till the end of May 2024.
For more information, please contact Daniel Krzyszczak at daniel@icos.org.uk
Through EESP(3) will offer individual, flexible support to EE communities in Sunderland/surrounding area. This will enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address problems at the earliest possible stage. It will be done through regular one-to-one support with a range of issues, including help with contacting/responding to public bodies/organisations (e.g. the local council, GP practices, schools), support with correspondence as well as attending services in person. Access to information and signposting to appropriate services- (such as English/ESOL classes, health/well-being services or legal advice) will also be core to the offer. The project will be delivered by our current staff and 10 volunteers will be recruited. The project will provide better access to advice and guidance/early intervention and we will target at least 120 beneficiaries. Of these, we expect that 70% will report that their problems have been solved/prevented, 35% will report better health/wellbeing and 35% will report a better financial situation.
ICOS is grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for their funding.
More details can be found on the following page:
We continue to represent new communities in Sunderland and beyond and make sure we are heard and visible.
We are an active member of the Sunderland Black and Minority Ethnic Network (SBMEN, http://www.sbmen.org/), which helps us to work together and be heard. Michal Chantkowski represents SBMEN at the board of Sunderland’s Community-Led Local Development.(https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/clld ) as deputy chairperson.
We are also involved in the regional skills board, the North East Migration Partnership, Sunderland’s local area committees and Northumbria Police’s Independent Advisory Group.
- People’s Powerhouse- strategic engagement:
-On 09/11/2019, we organised a successful event to engage Eastern European current and potential entrepreneurs with the Northern Powerhouse agenda and talk about the priorities they believed the government should be pursuing with regard to supporting small businesses in the region. We engaged with about 20 people.
-on 19/11/2019, our staff (Michal, Julia and Alessia) delivered a workshop at the annual People’s Powerhouse convention. This session focused on the issues that migrants in the region face when it comes to progression into work and training, as well as in-work exploitation and abuse. https://icos.org.uk/2020/01/07/peoples-powerhouse-convention/?fbclid=IwAR3vg3fYfzTP7BYWh9BS7BpP39rr_fxlNJzdr0lYWXeLj968eRV4U1Y0nCs
- The Back in Control project
This project opens up new opportunities for influencing policy.
- Eastern European Women Survey (2021)
Between May 2021 and December 2021, ICOS worked with the University of Sunderland to research issues affecting Eastern European women in Tyne and Wear. This research uncovered wide spread discrimination, racism and misogyny directed at Eastern European women in areas including employment and public services:
Part 1 (Survey) https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/13971/
Part 2 (Qualitative findings: Focus groups and interviews) https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/14580/
The project was funded by the Growth and Resilience Fund at Community Foundation Tyne and Wear Northumberland.
-Through the Community Buddies research project, we are working with the British Science Association. The aim of the research project is to raise awareness and importance of healthcare research among Eastern European (EE) women (especially including women in pregnancy or child bearing age/ young children) and to create equal opportunities in research participation.
-‘They see us as an easy target’: discrimination and hate crime against Eastern European women living in the UK : https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/17445/
-Community Buddies Programme Final Report : Link