Leading the way- Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre
Written by Paul Drury-Bradey Posted: 16/10/1995
The pioneering north east community business that is leading the
way, by putting the needs of local people first.
A community business in Sunderland is transforming the way people are supported by putting their needs first.
The Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre is powering entrepreneurship in the North
East by offering more tailored support to local people. And ahead of a big building refurb the
team have championed the potential for social change through big ideas, social
entrepreneurship and community business.
Empowering people
Community businesses are defined as businesses that help make places better. Run by
local people and trading for the benefit of a community to which they are accountable, they
put power in the community’s hands and are best placed to deliver solutions that work for
their areas.
In the diverse and multicultural area Hendon, south of the River Wear in Sunderland, that
means a community-first approach. And nowhere exemplifies this better than the Sunderland
Bangladesh International Centre.
Lived experience
This innovative space is bringing people together in new ways. It uses the power of lived
experience to drive its work forward. Lived experience is the knowledge and understanding
you get when you have personally lived through something.
Abu Shama, CEO at Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre, explained this type of
person-centred helped to deliver truly community specific ideas and support.
He said: “The Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre is so important for people here
because we don’t just deliver programmes or training or help people set-up businesses. We listen first. And provide a community-specific and person-centred approach that is based on lived experience.
Untapped potential
“This is one of the most diverse parts of the north east of England, which we see as one of
our great strengths. South of the river in Sunderland has a huge and untapped potential to
become a hotbed of entrepreneurship – but more mentoring, guidance and most of all good listening is needed.”
The Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre provides space for organisations to run
their own activities, through an easy booking system. It also manages projects that provide
local services and are funded by grants and fundraising. And it supports the development of local social enterprises that will provide income for the centre and a needed service.
Boosting employability
Perhaps its most important service is the advice offered to individuals and groups who use
the centre.
Abu explained: “What we do here is vital for the community. I think when people step foot
through our doors they just know this is going to be a hotbed of ambition, offering so many opportunities and boosting employability too. This is pretty unique in the north east of England, especially for the diverse communities that live up here that aren’t always best
served by business support programmes.”
Supporting change
He added: “We are all about being there for people when they need us – and supporting
them to make the change they need.”
The Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre’s approach has shifted over recent times.
A popular programme uses sports as a tool to raise aspirations and bring diverse
communities together. This can mean simple ideas such as football training for young people
that are having unexpected benefits.
Connecting people
Abu shares a passion for football with community members. He explained: “There are so
many young people in the community here who love football and the Premier League. But
it’s not easy to play in urban places, most flats and houses here don’t have gardens – and
definitely not big enough for football goals. So, our training sessions for young people have
been so popular and often fully booked. It’s not just football though, we know that, it’s about
health & wellbeing, teamwork, and bringing people together.
“We are starting to develop new links with Sunderland AFC, so it’s an exciting time for young
people in Hendon. Previously they might have watched football on TV and thought this is not
for me. But through some of our programmes we are joining the dots and proving that people
can participate – it is bringing communities together which is so powerful.”
Driving impact
Away from the football pitch, the Sunderland Bangladeshi International Centre is still offering
educational programmes such as ESOL language skills classes which are tailored to
individual needs. This aspect of training & education for people who might be new to the
North East and even to new to the UK is vital to the organisation’s impact-driven work going
forwards.
The organisation is working with training providers to offer online and face to face skills and
training courses ranging from functional skills in Maths and English to training in level 2 and
level 3 in various fields. This means local people can access opportunities in education and
training to better themselves.
Providing pathways
Other training includes, I.T. For Beginners, Child Care, Health and Social Care, and Food
Hygiene. Abu explained these broad opportunities were in the DNA of his organisation.
Abu said: “What we are all about is giving people here in Sunderland a wide range of
choices. This means they can really be ambitious, follow their dreams and make change
happen here in their own communities. Just take a look at our successful International
Women’s Day events – we are enabling, empowering and inspiring folks here to have a
voice. This means bringing social changes to our communities and cities. It’s a fantastic
time to be doing this type of work in the north east, we’re just getting started – there’s a long
way to go. This is just the first chapter in our story!”
Strengthening communities
Kate McKenzie, Portfolio Manager at Power to Change, said: “The work of the Sunderland
International Business Centre is a perfect example of how community businesses can
massively strengthen local communities. The work Abu and his team are doing in the north
east shows that businesses can really help places to thrive.
“But entrepreneurial and hugely ambitious people like Abu need more strategic funding,
trusted partnerships, and a network to come together. With this great alchemy we can share
the ideas, impact evidence and models for success that will help to create a fairer economy –
not just in Sunderland but around the UK.”
For more information on the Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre:
https://sb-international.org.uk/what-we-do/
Power to Change: https://www.powertochange.org.uk
