Here is further information about some of our projects:

Drop-in Centre

AIC operates a drop-in centre and encourages communities to use its premises and facilities for meetings and information-sharing activities.

Capacity Building and Training

• Language Classes: Our English classes for women were very successful. Our first session has come to a conclusion a while ago and we hope to be in a position to offer more sessions in the future.
• Childcare Training: We were able to provide childcare training to 13 women from various ethnicities to enhance their employability
• Short seminars: A series of short seminars on wide range of issues including Confidence Building, Race Relation Amendment Act (2000), Presentation Skills, First Aid for Children etc. was run at our centre.
• Healthy Living Project: Fitness classes for women from a variety of communities.

Research

• The IC has completed research projects in partnership with other organisations. The main thrust of our research activities has focused on issues with an ethnic minority perspective e.g. "Living in Aberdeen"
• We organised focus groups and provided facilitators for the effective delivery of research projects on behalf of established research organisations. The AIC's deep-rooted understanding of the cultural needs of the BME communities makes it an ideal candidate for this type of activity.
• Minority ethnic research project: A one-year joint project with Pillar Aberdeen looking at the need of mental health support to ethnic minority communities living in Aberdeen. This project's aim was to explore more areas of partnership working for the provision of mental health support to ethnic and international communities.

Effective Communication

• For a period of time, AIC ran a fortnightly mailing system which reached more than 27 community groups. Our mailing system proved to be an ideal mechanism for disseminating information to interested parties.
• We have experience in creating newsletters with articles from different community groups with corresponding English text.
• AIC has gathered an information pack on Asylum and Immigration in a variety of community languages.

Individual casework

• We deal with individual cases which are wide ranging and also provide information, advice and support to victims
• Our centre acts as an effective referral agency and refers individuals to other service providers based on a thorough understanding of need

Ethnic Job and Business Fair

In October 2002 the International Centre and Multi Ethnic Aberdeen Limited (MeAL) jointly organised an "Ethnic Job and Business Fair" to bring potential employers and individuals from different communities together and provided an opportunity to understand the UK's labour market. More than 24 employers had information stalls where they were able to make direct contacts with potential candidates.

We also held two workshops on employment and setting up a new business, which were followed by an open forum seminar providing an opportunity to raise questions.

 

Information Pack on health

The IC is planning to prepare a comprehensive information pack on health for new migrants to the city. This pack will contain information on GPs, health promotions, special services for children, older people and those with special needs.

Roots of Costume