AUTUMN 2011

www.unity-organisation.org

* New and Updated Accountancy service *

Qualified accountancy services are now available at very competitive rates. If you are a small business, an individual, or even a large company we can provide accountancy services tailored just right for you and your own requirements. To find out more just call in to our offices or contact us using the details on the back page of this newsletter, such as our e-mail address.

Message from the UNITY Chair Person, Mr Tahir Khan

When I compare some of our neighbouring cities and towns the sense of freedom there is so great that I consider myself part of their communities. However, my home city of Sunderland gives me feelings to the extent that I feel like a foreigner. Yet I have lived in the city for over four decades.

Therefore, as Chair person of Unity organisation we endeavour to see some changes to demolish these barriers and values to promote better and united recognition for all residents, regardless of their colour or creed.

We welcome the opportunity from residents and various authorities to work together to promote peace, harmony and prosperity in our society.

VOLUNTEERS SPOTLIGHT

Observations of a UNITY Volunteer on the UK

Living in the United Kingdom for nearly ten years has given me the opportunity to observe the country’s benefits and drawbacks.

One of the benefits, as a child growing up here, is the free schooling children get, which gives everyone a chance to have a positive and hopeful future. We also have freedom of speech – even as children.

Another advantage is that almost all medical healthcare bills are paid for by the state, especially in emergency cases where one is able to access emergency numbers easily.

The UK is also a very secure country to live in. On the news we hear it is very common for people to die here of old age, neglect or suicide rather than car bombings, murders or food poisoning. Police authorities here work very hard to make this country a very secure place to live using advanced technology and intelligence operations.

Living in the UK has its advantages but there are also a few drawbacks. Children have so much liberty that they have no discipline whatsoever. Parents and teachers are even sometimes intimidated by children due to the way the Government has laid the law down. The weather does not make it a very attractive destination for a holiday, day trips or outdoor activities.

Racism is also a very big factor. Sometimes I feel ethnic minorities are treated with less respect in terms of jobs and even emergency situations and are usually portrayed in a negative way in the media.

Another drawback is the way some criminals are being treated – some should not be able to get away with the little or no punishment they get in this country. One example is people who go about causing trouble and hurting other people and even bullying them. The punishment they get is not harsh enough otherwise most of them would not go back to it. For example, the prison is a place where criminals are supposed to learn their lessons and pay for what they have done, like the recent riots in London, but a lot of them are given freedom to such an extent that they have the opportunity to play games and do all sorts rather than suffer for what they have done so as not to repeat their actions again.

August 2011

MY VIEWS AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IN THE UK

International students usually encounter problems like accommodation, language, different culture, different educational system, racist language and discrimination. I have the same problems but with the passage of time I have overcome most of them. I take it also as part of my learning. A student should be a student around the clock, wherever he is. I understand that there are many advantages of studying at Sunderland University , especially for my future career around world.

MMY, Student LLM Criminal Law and Procedure,

University of Sunderland

September 2011

 Unity Organisation,

     29 Whitehall Terrace,

     Hylton Road,

     Sunderland,

     Tyne &   Wear,

     SR4 7SR

  Lodge House

     1 Lodge   Street

     Stockton-on-Tees

     TS18 1EN

Our office opening times are - Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am to 4pm (GMT)

TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE CONTACT US BY ANY OF THE METHODS ABOVE – YOUR DONATIONS HELP US TO KEEP GOING