Asian Resource Centre

Move your pointing device over the image to zoom to detail. If using a mouse click on the image to toggle zoom.
When in zoom mode use + or - keys to adjust level of image zoom.

Date:1976 - 2007 (c.)

Description:The Asian Resource Centre was established in 1976 at Villa Road in Handsworth. It was founded on the belief that it was "necessary and desirable for Asian residents in Handsworth to have their own autonomous and physically distinct base for community activity" (MS2478/B/3/5 Progress Report 1979 p.2.) The centre was thought to be modelled on local organisation Harambee (Rex & Tomlinson, 1979:269.)

The Asian Resource Centre's functions included:

1) Offering free advice and information on health, housing, immigration and social welfare.

2) Providing interpreters & translators, and arranging representation at courts and tribunals.

3) Co-operating with and advising statutory agencies which exercised some control over the lives of Asian people in the area.

4) Holding classes in English and major mother tongues.

5) Responding to demands for cultural provisions.

6) Managing projects providing emergency accommodation for vulnerable groups.

7) Engaging in youth activity.

Advice and assistance offered by the centre transcended existing inter-ethnic differences and broke through restrictions imposed by religion, caste and gender. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, men, women, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and East African Asians were all beneficiaries of services that became "a vehicle for the radical transformation of Asian life." (Progress Report p.6)

The Centre saw itself as an agent for change by empowering different sections of the local community including both young and older people and women. To address the issue of domestic violence and family crisis the Centre developed hostels which provided a place of sanctuary for women, the first of which was opened in April 1978 in Hall Road (Silver Jubilee Review 2003:20.) Its work with women and girls was viewed as quite controversial within the community at first but gradually, after a long process of negotiation with Asian men and community organisations in the area, they were able to gain their confidence in dealing with the issues.

The Asian Resource Centre formed close alliances with different organisations in the area. As a result of their dealings with the Indian Workers Association, many ARC members joined the organisation (Silver Jubilee Review p.22.) The Centre was also able to draw in many organisations and over the years many campaigning groups used the Asian Resource Centre's offices as a base, including:

Asian Youth Movement
Iqbal Begum Campaign
Muhammad Idrish Anti-Deportation Campaign
Baba Bakhtaura Anti-Deportation Campaign
Free Satpal Ram Campaign
Audrey Grant Anti-Deportation Campaign



Author: Sarah Dar

Share:


Creators: Vanley Burke - Creator

Donor ref:BCA MS 2192/A/P/1/40 (30/764)

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.