The network was formed in partnership with West Dorset District Council but operates under its own constitution. It is managed by a voluntary committee.

The network produces a regular newsletter and arranges a number of social events during the year, including a multicultural celebration day each October.

Opportunities are also provided throughout the year to discuss more serious issues. The network is represented on various strategic steering groups and committees in the area.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2012: Speak Up, Speak Out

The South West Dorset Multicultural Network held a very moving service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day on the 27 January with the powerful message to 'Speak Up and Speak Out '.

The event was held at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester.

Speakers included young people from Sunninghill Preparatory School in Dorchester who read an account by Val Ginsburg - entitled 'A Survivor's Story', Sue Robinson from the Intercom Trust talking about the persecution of gay and lesbian people during the Holocaust and students from the Anti Bullying Council of Budmouth Technology College telling people about all of the work that they do to 'speak up and speak out' in their school to put an end to bulling and discrimination.

The guest speaker was a gentleman called Harry Grenville who first came to the UK as a young Jewish child, saved from death by the 'Kindertransport' which was the informal name of the rescue operation in which many organizations and individuals participated to bring unaccompanied children out of countries where they faced persecution by the Nazis.

Harry's story was particularly moving as he recounted how he had recently returned to the village he had left in Germany as a child. He was welcomed and honoured by the current mayor and local towns people who made a deep apology to him for the atrocities of the past and showed him how they had set up monuments to his family and others from that area that had been sent to the gas chambers - least anyone should forget to speak out in the future to prevent such things happening again.

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month 2012

This free event is taking place in Borough Gardens from noon until 4pm on Friday 8 June to celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month 2012. The afternoon will be fun and informative and visitors will have the chance to find out more about the history of Gypsies in Dorset and learn about their life style and culture - historical and current, as well as participate in a range of interesting activities from story telling to peg making.

This Is Our Home Too

The Dorset Race Equality Council have now launched their report 'This Is Our Home Too'. Commissioned by the SWDMCN, the report explores the problems BME residents living in West Dorset. It covers a range of topics including health, the police service, education, employment and housing and makes a number of recommendations based directly on people's experiences of living in Dorset.

You can download a copy of  the This Is Our Home Too report (pdf, 534kb) (opens in a new window) or contact Emma Scott for a printed version.

• Equality and Community Development Officer
  Name: Sue Bickle
  Email: s.bickle@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252314
  Fax: 01305 251481
  Full details for Sue Bickle
• Community Development Officer
  Name: Emma Scott
  Email: e.scott@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252204
  Full details for Emma Scott