12:00pm Thursday 29th October 2009
By Harry Hogger
A NEW scheme offering support for ethnic minorities in West Dorset has been launched in a musical style.
The South West Dorset Multicultural Network held a reggae night at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange to kick off its Community Contact project.
The scheme will see designated volunteers in communities across the district who will be on hand to offer help and support for people from different backgrounds.
The volunteers will be there to help newcomers integrate into their new neighbourhoods as well as addressing concerns of existing residents.
Ann Marie Vincent will be acting as the community contact in Bridport.
She said: “The main aim of the community contacts is for us as individuals in different parts of West Dorset to ensure we are a focal point for black and ethnic minority people to come to so they feel less isolated.
“We will be putting up posters and giving out our contact details as we want them to know we are here and if they have any particular concerns we can help them or introduce them to other agencies.
“It can be quite baffling for people to come down into this area, particularly if English is not their first language and they have no family here as they have come down for work.
“They may not have contact with anybody else and it is up to people like us to ensure they meet people."
The launch started off with a meeting for stakeholders and people involved in the project, which is funded by the West Dorset Partnership, to come and find out more about the scheme and meet the community contacts.
That was followed by a night of musical entertainment to promote the scheme to a wider audience, with DJs playing a host of reggae favourites.
West Dorset District Council community development officer Emma Scott said: “The reggae night was a real success and really well attended.
“The music was fantastic, the two DJs were really popular and had lots of requests.
“There was also lots of interest in the Multicultural Network and we will be hoping to build on that.”
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