Press Release - 15 September 2006

Bradford Charity's work showcased by Government Minister

A DVD encouraging Muslim women to enter employment will receive government endorsement when it is launched at an event hosted by Ruth Kelly MP on Wednesday 20 September.

The Women at Work DVD produced by Bradford-based community economic development agency QED-UK features successful female role models from ethnic minority communities and explains the barriers that they have had to overcome to improve their social and economic circumstances.

The event in London, entitled Engaging Muslim Women: Challenging the Myths and Stereotypes, will explore perceptions, cultural attitudes and behaviours, which affect Muslim women, who - like everyone else, want to play a part in their community and society, gain skills and have interesting and fulfilling jobs.

Deputy chief executive of QED-UK Adeeba Malik MBE will take part in the event following her involvement in a consultation held at 10 Downing Street in May. Adeeba joined in the discussions, led by the Prime Minister, which examined issues such as Muslim women's economic and social activity, the impact on good community relations and how this affected those attending, their families and communities.

She expands on the issues facing Muslim women: "The barriers to employment for most Asian women in the UK include a lack of education, training and qualifications. Coupled with social and domestic pressures, this means that women from ethnic minorities often lack the confidence and knowledge to join the country's workforce. We hope this DVD encourages women to come forward to help themselves find employment. QED-UK can then help these women access training opportunities and find jobs, organise child care and help them improve their interview techniques."

This DVD is the latest initiative from QED-UK's Treasury funded and supported by the Department of Work and Pensions' Narrowing the Gap' project which aims to help 2,000 Pakistani and Bangladeshi men and women throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region to become economically active over the next three years, with 500 of them securing jobs.

Recent figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) show that there is a 30 per cent employment gap between people with Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin and the rest of the community. With just 25 per cent of Muslim women venturing into the workplace this new DVD sets out to significantly increase employment opportunities for Asian women in the UK.

The charity is working closely on the Narrowing the Gap project with the United Multicultural Centre, Rotherham, Pakistani Muslim Centre, Sheffield, Shantona Women's Centre, Leeds and Sangat Centre, Keighley. It is supporting 30 more community groups in the region that are seeking to remove the obstacles preventing ethnic minorities from entering the labour market.

For all media enquiries contact Lizzie Wilson/Simon Collister at Cicada PR by telephoning 01423 567111 or 07944 972393 (out-of-hours). Alternatively, email lizzie@cicada-pr.com or simon@cicada-pr.com