About us

Respect, Equality, Open and Inclusive

Stevenage World Forum (SWF) for Ethnic Communities was officially founded on 10 October 2000.

We are based in the Sherma Batson Centre in Bedwell, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The building was initially used as garages and later converted into a purpose built centre following a grant from the Active Communities Unit in partnership with Volunteer Centre Stevenage (VCS). Since 2006, the Centre has been managed by SWF.

Why was the forum established?

To give the ethnic communities a voice and platform. We act as their representative body in communicating with other organisations and consultative groups (both statutory and voluntary) to ensure that they are not left out of the decision-making processes.
To raise issues of concern, develop proposals and practical initiatives to ensure services are more accessible in partnership with statutory and voluntary bodies.
To encourage networking amongst ethnic groups and share/celebrate cultural diversity.
To develop projects to meet the needs of ethnic communities and mixed heritage families of Stevenage.
To enable the public to share knowledge and good practices within the community.
To break down barriers caused by ignorance and encourage mutual respect.
To work towards establishing a multi-cultural centre for educational purposes, social activities, meetings, worship and fair access to existing community space.

Our charitable objects are:
To address the needs and aspirations of the minority ethnic communities of Stevenage and surrounding areas to support and assist in achieving their goals.
To improve the quality of life, education, social, economic and cultural life of the Borough.

We endeavour to achieve this by fostering understanding across all communities and by working in partnership with statutory providers and the voluntary sector.

SWF is a non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.

What we do

We support ethnic community groups by building their capacity through provision of resources and assistance within the boundaries of our funding.

We do this by offering the following services:

Administrative assistance (including photocopying)
Contact/Mailing address (including fax, phone, email, website space)
Meeting spaces
Internet Access
Assist other organisations to ensure their activities are more accessible to members of Black and Minority Ethnic communities
Manage accounts for member groups
Provide training