Network organisations

Rais Academy

10 Milkstone Place

Rochdale

0L11 3TA

Tel: 01706 522120

Email: raisacademy@yahoo.co.uk

Rais Academy exists to advance the education of the public in the understanding and appreciation of Asian arts and culture and deliver strategic objectives to develop communities and using the arts based activities to encourage participants to explore issues in their lives. 50% of the committee is service users and Disabled people. We offer a wide range of workshop programmes in arts and literature. Help local artists to exhibit and publish work in all art forms. Provide training to small groups.

Foster understanding and integration between Asian and mainstream communities.

Work with different groups in partnership to develop projects towards positive image.

We also publish two quarterly BI-lingual magazines for elderly and mental health service users.

Carvan-e-Adab [UK]

93 Lees Road

Ashton

OL6

Tel: 0161 3399115

Carvan-e-Adab is a voluntary group that that is mainly involved in the promotion of literature and poetry within the North West of England with a particular focus within Oldham and Tameside. The writers and poets come from all over the uk and sometimes, on special events, from other parts of the world including South Asia. We pride ourselves for being the key organisation that promotes the highest quality of work not only in the Urdu langauge but also in other languages such as Bangla, Hindi, Pujabi, Gujarati, Pushto and English.

Our performers, workshop leaders and audiences are from a range of cultural backgrounds and participate fully in our activities.One of the most remarkable things is that even those people who do not speak the particular langauge are able to appreciate the performance poetry. At within a short time, the langauge of the particular audience member is also heard and becomes even more enjoyable.

The past projects of the group have included the following:

Mushairah and International Adabi Conference on 30th July 2004;

Paper Reading and recitation Selected Poetry in the UK in July 2005;

Sultan Bahoo Adabi Conference in July 2006.

The aveage number of people attending these events is 450 people from various cultures, ages and backgrounds. The local authority officers and other people were surprised to see such well attended events with a small level of financial input from local funders. We are confident that, if more substantial funds are made available, then we can increase the level of particpation even further and increase the range of activities of the group. For example, we would increase the number of workshops during the year in local community centres.

Institute of Urdu Culture and Literature

Blackburn,                                                                                                    

Culture, Arts and Heritage Organisation                                                          

22 Harwood Gate                                                                                

Blackburn                                                                                                       

BB1 5HP                                                                                                       

Tel: 01254 693664  

Safara Arts Society                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Westbrookhouse Women Association.