[WiLT] National conference to support local delivery of the Preventing Extremism agenda

Wed Oct 24 14:45:47 BST 2007

National conference to support local delivery of the Preventing
Extremism agenda

As part of our work to support local authorities and local
organisations who are delivering projects to tackle violent extremism
in their communities through the Preventing Violent Extremism
Pathfinder Fund (PVEPF), we are organising a national conference for
all our local partners on 31 October 2007.

The main objectives of the conference are:
* to promote and share good practice amongst practitioners
* to provide practitioners and strategic leaders with an opportunity
to feed back on the Pathfinder year
* to prepare local authorities and partners for work on preventing
violent extremism in 08/09
* to engage local authorities not currently involved in the Preventing
Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund
* to raise awareness and provide a strategic overview of this
important work among local partners.

This conference has been developed in partnership with the Home Office
and other government departments who are involved in the PREVENT
agenda. The programme includes a performance of From One Extreme to
the Other, by GW Theatre Company, which is a play aimed at young
people and adults that explores issues around extremism and
radicalisation. This is an innovative and exciting approach to
stimulating debate amongst young people. Ed Husain, author of The
Islamist, will also address the conference at the end of the day.
Please see the enclosed programme for further details.

The event will take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
in Westminster, London. If you wish to attend please contact
peu at communities.gsi.gov.uk - If you have any enquiries about this
event, please contact Jas Ghag on 020 7944 0514

Please note that facilities will be provided for Muslim delegates who
wish to observe their daily prayers.

Please also note that there are very few places left and you need to
confirm by this Friday 26th October that you would like to attend.

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Preventing Extremism: Strengthening Communities
Learning from the Pathfinder Year

31 October 2007, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Programme

09:15 Registration and opportunity to visit exhibition stands

10:15 Introduction and overview of the day
Peter Housden Permanent Secretary Communities and Local Government

10:20 Keynote speech: The importance of the local dimension
Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government

10:35 The threat we face
Sir Norman Bettison, Chief Constable West Yorkshire Police and ACPO
lead on PREVENT

10:45 The local level response
Andrew Kilburn, Chief Executive Oldham MBC

10:55 Refreshment break

11:15 'From One Extreme to the Other'
A performance by the GW Theatre Company

12:15 Lunch and opportunity to visit exhibition stands

13:20 Workshop Session 1

14:25 Workshop Session 2

15:25 Break

15:40 Looking forward: local delivery in 2008/09 and beyond
Parmjit Dhanda MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communites
and Local Government

15:50 My personal journey: how things could have been different
Ed Hussain, author of the Islamist

16:05 Refreshments and opportunity to visit exhibition stands

Workshop Sessions

In the afternoon, there will be a series ofinteractive workshop
sessions.

Each workshop will last for one hour and will run twice-please
indicate on the delegate booking form which two workshops you wish to
attend.

Details of the workshops are as follows:

A Schools, citizenship and working with mosque schools (Madrassahs)
Chair: (to be confirmed) Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools
and Learners

B Understanding your communities and working in partnership
Chair: Cllr Mahroof Hussain, Cabinst Member Rotherham MBC

C Promoting positive alternatives
Chair: Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport (first session only)
(second session to be confirmed)

D Tackling grievances : Getting the after-incident response right
Chair: Cllr Clyde Loakes, Leader of Waltham Forest Council

E Supporting young people and mainstreaming the PREVENT agenda
Chair: (to be confirmed) David Williams Local Government Association

F Developingleadership and building capacity in the community
Chair: Julia Middleton, Chief Executive Common Purpose (first session)
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (second session)

G Supporting Faith Institutions
Chair: (to be confirmed) Henry Grunwald, President Board of Deputies
of British Jews

H Universities and Further Education
Chair: Tony McNulty MP, Minister of State for Policing, Security and
Community Safety (first session)
Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State, Lifelong Learning, Further and
Higher Education (second session)

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