A dynamic scheme aimed at raising the number of Black and minority ethnic (BME) people has inspired Somalian scheme participant Omar Ali to seek greater engagement within party politics on behalf of BME communities.

Winner of the 2008 Channel 4 Political Awards, Operation Black Vote's Welsh Assembly Member (AM) Shadowing Scheme has continued to nurture the next generation of decision makers.

Hosted by the Rt. Hon Lord Dafydd Elis -Thomas PC AM, Presiding Officer for the National Assembly for Wales , AMs, Scheme participants, BME community groups and Black churches gathered on Wednesday July 2 nd at the Welsh Millennium Centre to celebrate the success of the Welsh AM Shadowing Scheme.

The unique cross party initiative has enabled nine individuals from BME communities across Wales to shadow high level AMs . For the past six months participants have gained invaluable insights into the roles and responsibilities of an AM. As Community Ambassadors, they have played vital roles helping to raise awareness amongst BME communities about our democratic institutions as BME communities on the whole are up to three times as likely to be unregistered to vote as the white community.

Omar Ali, who shadowed Plaid Cymru Dr Dai Lloyd AM, said: "I feel I can make a greater contribution to the BME communities that I work with by having a better understanding of how decisions are made within the Assembly. I feel I can bring a specific view point to the work of the Assembly members, particularly in relation to groups that I'm working with at the moment and also my extensive work with young people and the BME communities over the years.

Rt. Hon Lord Dafydd Elis -Thomas PC AM, Presiding Officer for the National Assembly for Wales : “The Shadowing Scheme has benefited both the Assembly, and Operation Black Vote participants. Shadowing participants have seen the democratic process in action from the inside, from committee meetings, constituency surgeries to participating in internal party meetings. But of equal importance is that the Assembly has gained invaluable insights on how to improve engagement with local communities, and also on how we can help address the democratic deficit in BME participation.”

Simon Woolley, OBV Director said: “I'm particularly pleased that so many participants from the political parties have done well on this scheme. Where are British Barack Obama's? Well, there's a number of Obama's right here; they're a credit to themselves, their parties and Wales .”

Ends

Notes to the editors:

• Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign

• The term “Black” is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.

• The Operation Black Vote Shadowing Scheme is the first to specifically target ethnic minorities.

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