0. Preambles

WE THE MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:

RECALLING the “Principles and Vision Statement” and “Objectives” in Central Africa’s Rights and Aids Society (CARA SOCIETY)’s Constitution adopted 2 October 2003, as amended 7 December 2003;

EMPHASISING our organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy, Confidentiality Policy and Complaints Procedures adopted on December 6th 2004;

ACCEPTING to work in accordance with the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC);
HAVE HEREBY AGREED TO THE PRESENT:

I.1. Statement of Values

The underlying principles describe the values that underpin the Central Africa's Rights & AIDS Society that include amongst others clear links to the Corporate Purpose, Vision, Core Values and Priorities, which are as follows:

Providing Community Leadership
Giving Best Value for All Services
Tackling Disadvantage
Working in Partnership.
I.2. Principles

CARA Society clearly supports, and is supported by, all of these values. Its own underlying principles are set out below:

Underlying principle 1.
A diversity of need can best be met through a diversity of delivery - where this diversity of delivery improves the quality of service to the end user.
Underlying principle 2.
The planning and delivery of all services must be underpinned by a commitment to equality of opportunity.
Underlying principle 3.
Local people must have confidence in the quality of services available.
Underlying principle 4.
Planning and provision of services must be based on local need.
Underlying principle 5.
Access to high quality information and advice is a crucial way of supporting vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged people and communities.

I.3. Strategic Aims and Key Objectives specific to the provisions of immigration advice and services

Based on the needs and supply analysis, CARA Society has agreed 3 strategic aims for its work:

Strategic aim 1
To meet the advice and information needs of vulnerable people.
Strategic aim 2
To improve provision in key areas of law;
Strategic aim 3
To raise the profile of good quality information and advice provision;

In turn, these strategic aims inform 9 key objectives, which all members of CARA Society agree, will help inform our future planning and delivery:

Key objective 1.
Providing immigration advice and services by starting at Level 1 then Levels 2 and 3 within the current year 2005/6.
Key objective 2
Developing and promoting immigration advice and services for those who are in isolated communities.
Key objective 3.
Developing and promoting flexible methods of delivery which allow agencies to engage 'hard to reach' client groups (in particular young people, victims of domestic violence, older people, the disabled and ethnic minority communities).
Key objective 4.
Developing, promoting and maintaining services for all the Africans living in the UK across all areas of immigration and social welfare law;
Key objective 5.
Increasing access to immigration, housing and debt advice across the UK.
Key objective 6.
Strengthening services in immigration and asylum in terms of both information and advice;
Key objective 7.
Promoting awareness of people rights and freedoms - amongst users and providers.
Key objective 8.
Assist other small charitable and non-voluntary organisations working in immigration in achieving the Quality Mark at the most appropriate level.
Key Objective 9
Within the subsequent two/five years, CARA Society shall achieve the objectives stated above and become one of the leading charity giving legal advice and representation services to immigrants and asylum seekers free to those who are eligible.

Clearly, it would be difficult to address every one of these priorities and key objectives. However, this statement of key objectives of what CARA Society aims to achieve is of paramount importance since they can usefully inform the work of Central Africa’s Rights & AIDS Society.

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