What is a Multi-Agency Forum (MAF)?
A MAF could simply be described as a round-table that brings together a variety of statutory, voluntary and community organisations to discuss asylum seeker, refugee and migrant worker issues. As Multi-Agency Fora mainly focus on local issues, they essentially feature local representation. They may have no formal status, a relatively simple structure and little or no funding.
Multi-Agency Fora operate in many areas across the UK although they are not necessarily joined up into a national network of forums. However, they do often play a key role in developing stronger networks locally. Most MAFs are now being run by local council diversity or housing teams, by coordinating MAF meetings, providing venue and chairing meetings.
Local MAFs in the East of England: Currently there are 11 Multi-Agency Fora across the East of England which meet regularly. The MAFs are linked by a regional network through Partnership Development project from MENTER and the EELGA's SMP.
Contacts for the local MAFs are as follows:
Bedfordshire New Migration Partnership.
Contact: Robert Brady (Chair), email: robert.brady@pbic.co.uk
Cambridgeshire Migrant Workers & Asylum Seekers and Refugees Network.
Contact: Stephen Vartoukian (Chair). Tel: 01223717031. Email: Stephen.vartoukian@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Fenland Diverse Communities Forum.
Contact: David Bailey (Chair). Tel: 01354 622566. Email: dbailey@fenland.gov.uk
GYROS - Great Yarmouth Multi-Agency Forum.
Contact: David Nettleship (interim Chair). Tel: 01493 745260. Email: admin@gyros.org.uk
Hertfordshire Migration Partnership.
Contact: Mark Mitchell (Chair). Tel:01442 253935 . Email: mark@communityactiondacorum.org.uk . Vice Chair: Andrew Burt. Email: andrew.burt@hertscc.gov.uk
Luton New Migration Partnership.
Contact: Jane Perry (Chair). Tel: 01582 589084. Email: JPerry@redcross.org.uk
Norwich Asylum-Seeker and Refugee Forum.
Contact: Sue Gee (Chair). Email: Sue.Gee@norfolk.gov.uk Tel: 01603729279
Peterborough Multi-Agency Forum for Asylum Seekers, refugees and Migrant Workers.
Contact: Andy Hewitt (Chair), ahewett@redcross.org.uk Tel: 01733 557472
Suffolk Forum for Refugees, Asylum-Seekers and Migrants.
Contact: Rebecca Crerar (Chair) Email: rcrerar@srsf.org.uk Allison Coleman, Tel: 01473 265160. Email: allison.coleman@suffolk.gov.uk
West Norfolk Diverse Community Forum - not meeting regularly.
Contact: Marie Connell .Tel: 01553 760568. Email: marie@westnorfolkvca.org
Essex Migrant Worker MAF.
Contact: Sandra Cullham (Chair), Email: sandra.culham@colchester.gov.uk
Norfolk Migrant Worker Partnership (role assumed by the Norfolk County Council Cohesion Strategic group which has links with other Norfolk based MAFs).
Contact: Jo Richardson. Tel: 01603 223 816. Email: Jo.richardson@norfolk.gov.uk
For the timetable of planned meetings of each MAF, please follow this link to MENTER's partnership development project webpage:
http://www.partnershipdevelopmentproject.org.uk/html/our_fora___meeting.html