The community we serve has grown considerably over the years from first generation migrants to third generation young Britons. Along with this growth has been an increase in the social and economic problems they face, and in turn increasing challenges for our Organisation.

Capacity building has been the essence of our Organisation over the last year. Our work with the Ethnic Minority Foundation has greatly strengthened our project, and given us greater strength and sustainability to enhance the position of the community. MCWG has developed a long term Strategic Development Plan, which will prove immensely useful in improving our services. In addition, MCWG Dar Al Arqam over the last year has consciously adopted a stronger emphasis on structured educational and formal accreditation. The plan gives the project a special momentum that will carry through the new thinking behind the Organisation.

MCWG Dar Al Arqam’s success in the past year has been due to the enormous ambition of staff and volunteers to achieve high standards. The achievements over the last year have stemmed from sustained hard work.

During 2002-2003, the Organisation continued to deliver a high standard of existing activities, developed new programmes, and concentrated on highlighting the needs and problems of the Arabic and ethnic community through various consultation studies, campaigns, and reports. This has resulted in the design of projects that take findings into consideration, and therefore meet our users’ needs.

The Organisation has continued to expand its services, and relationships with other groups to now work with many more users and partners than ever before. I personally see this as a significant factor, since MCWG Dar Al Arqam has always believed in being at the heart of the community, feeling their problems, and becoming part of their challenges to succeed.

A significant feature has been cooperation and networking between various community groups in London, which has brought together many local projects to share ideas, cooperate, and plan together for supporting the community. We have continued to set agendas to tackle issues of education, crime, the youth, and cultural identity.

Lastly, I would like to thank on behalf of MCWG Dar Al-Arqam, everyone who has assisted our work directly, and indirectly. Their help has contributed to our success, and without which it would not have been possible.

Organisational Development / Capacity building

Over the course of the last 12 months MCWG has worked together with the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) and the Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF) on its London Capacity Building Programme, accredited by the North London University.Our Organisation has worked closely with a Capacity Building Officer to identify MCWG’s strengths and weaknesses from a management and organisational perspective, and worked hard to put develop management systems and processes in places that will make us more efficient and sustainable in the future.
In the last year MCWG has developed a comprehensive Business Plan, Code of Conduct, Fundraising Strategy, Child Protection Policy, and a set of Financial Procedures amongst other official guidelines and strategies that strengthens our infrastructure.
In addition to this we have trained our staff in various areas in order to improve relevant skills and knowledge. Staff training in the past year has included:
- Certificate in Fundraising Management- 1 year course accredited by the Institute of Fundrasing: currently being attended by Project Coordinator
- Project & Staff Management: attended by our Project Manager in Oct 2002
- Conflict Resolution: attended by the Project Coordinator and Youth Workers in Oct 2002

Over the last year we have also strengthened our management and staffing of the Skills Development Center by introducing two new qualified Youth Work Officers, working 4 days a week. The workers are now working closely with the MCWG Management Committee and Youth Forum to shape policy and deliver quality projects.

Community Learning
MCWG has continued to deliver its Community Learning Scheme for local excluded people of all ages. The project is in line with the Lifelong Learning theme, and involves working closely with local education providers, as well as the Local Authority’s Community Education Dept. to run specialist courses and careers advice at our Skills Development Center. This has allowed us to use our own tutors who appreciate cultural needs, and permits local excluded people to access courses they previously would not participate in.
MCWG is also in the process of becoming an approved center with the Oxford, Cambridge, and RSA (OCR) awarding body, in order to run accredited courses ourselves at our Center.