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Youth group: CRE investigation has been criticised

Charity investigated over advert encouraging writing by BME youth

The Commission for Racial Equality has been slammed after it a launched an investigation into a London-based scheme that rewarded black and ethnic minority youths for achievement and good behaviour.

The Brent Youth Spotlight (BYS), scheduled to take place next week on June 9 in Harsleden, recognises 13-17-year-olds in Brent who have achieved worthy community goals and promote exemplary behaviour.

BYS placed an advert in local newspaper the Willesden and Brent Times last month, inviting nominations for BME youths.

There have reportedly been a number of complaints made to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) that the advert called solely for BME youths. A CRE spokesperson told The Voice: "We are making enquiries into their adverts and making sure that it is not breaching the Race Relations Act."

The Race Relations Act makes it unlawful to publish adverts that discriminate on racial grounds. Section 29 of the 1976 Act says: 'It is unlawful to publish, or cause to be published, any advertisement that indicates or might reasonably be understood as indicating, an intention by a person to do an act of discrimination.'

However the decision to investigate the youth scheme has been slammed by a number of community activists who believe that the CRE inquiries were unwarranted.

SCHEME

The BYS award scheme is organised by the BTWSC (Beyond The Will Smith Challenge), which began in 2002. That competition encouraged youths to write an uplifting song, poem or article without profane language. Since then, the organisation has kept the initials of the scheme.

The BTWSC now has until June 10 to provide evidence that they are permitted to advertise specifically for BME youth nominations.

BTWSC co-ordinator Ms Serwah said that the purpose of the scheme was clear and exemption under the Race Relations Act should have been automatic.

She said: "I assume the CRE is aware that BYS is lawful under section 35 of the Race Relations Act. I am therefore disappointed that it did not take the opportunity to educate the alleged complainants on the exemptions to the Act. But rather, it chose to burden an un-resourced voluntary organisation by requesting for information it should be aware of."

The organisation's complaints have attracted the support of Harrow Councillor Nana Asante.

She said: "If the CRE pursues spurious complaints and asks an organisation to explain why it is legitimate to run an award for ethnic minority young people aged 13-17 in a borough like Brent, then it makes you wonder why the organisation was set up.

"I would have thought that there was enough real work to do examining publications and statements by the BNP, but perhaps that is too much like hard work."

The BYS scheme has been running for the past three years. This year's guest of honour is Superintendent Leroy Logan MBE, former head of the Black Police Association.

Published: 07 June 2006
Issue: 1221

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