Information Exchange Forums, or IEF's, are part of the CSRECL's Community Development work, aiming to make information about local services more accessible by bringing service providers and agencies to local community meeting places and groups.

 

The IEF, organised by the CSRECL Community Development Team, was centred around the theme of 'heritage'. The speakers at the event were Taja Sidhu from the Black Environment Network and Nicola Holland from Falkirk Council Cultural Services.

 

The Black Environment Network is an organisation that looks to increase the interest and participation of Black & Ethnic Minority communities in natural heritage and the environment. The organisation provides funding for community groups with projects based in an environmental theme, also helping to develop the project. Taja's input was very engaging and, as he could speak Urdu, very useful in communicating directly to some of the attendants.

 

Nicola works as an outreach worker at Callander House in Falkirk, working with local community groups on projects looking at local history and the changing histories of Central Scotland. She talked about the resources available to groups within local museums and heritage centres and the importance of ethnic minority communities being involved in local heritage.