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A team of local people from the police, the Council
and the local health authority have received ground-breaking training
in cultural diversity, enabling them to train people from their
own organizations in the needs of the increasingly diverse population
of Kensington & Chelsea.
The volunteers are to be known as Community Associate
Trainers. All live or work in the Royal Borough and have a real
understanding of the needs of the communities within Kensington
and Chelsea, where there are now more than 90 languages spoken.
Kensington and Chelsea Council Leader, Councillor
Merrick Cockell said: "This kind of training is essential these
days and I particularly support this scheme. I think local people
with real life experience will have a better understanding of our
needs than external consultancies."
Inspector Kevin Hobson of the Kensington Police
Community Safety Unit, commented: "We have the vision of making
a safer place for all our diverse communities. This course is only
the beginning, and we are looking forward to the partners training
alongside each other and with their communities."
Emilia-Alesia Marino, one of the newly certificated
Community Associate Trainers, said: "This may seem a small step
for the organisations, but it is a giant leap for the communities
of the Borough. If the organisations have invested in finding us
in the community, then it shows they are taking the issues seriously.
Community groups as well as statutory organisations need this training
if we are to understand diversity from all viewpoints. The course
has opened my eyes to the range of diversity within the Borough.
It has been well worthwhile."
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