The North Hertfordshire Minority Ethnic Forum (the Forum) is an umbrella organisation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities living in the district of North Hertfordshire and Stevenage in the county of Hertfordshire. The communities they support include Asian, Chinese, Italian, African-Caribbean, Middle-Eastern, Polish, EU nationals and refugee and asylum seekers including the recently arriving Ukrainian refugees. The Forum helps these communities overcome problems that prevent them from playing a full part in society. They are a charity for the local BAME community, run by the local BAME community.

The Forum provides a variety of services to improve the quality of life of BAME people. These include information, advice and guidance on housing, benefits, employment, education, training and health matters. They also have range of skills development course and activities to increase the employability of BAME people. They have projects for children and young people to support them in education and prevent any future disadvantage. The Forum is also used by various organisations as an access and meeting point to reach BAME communities.

As part of their ongoing work to help children and young people raise their aspirations and achievement, they have launched an after school homework club, running on a weekly basis with qualified tutors helping vulnerable children to keep up with their core subject such as Maths and English. Support is provided to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils who are failing in education.

The project will improve the confidence and academic achievement level of BAME children in Maths and English who are at the risk of failing and thus reduce their future disadvantages. The project will directly contribute to the higher education of these children and empower them to achieve their economic wellbeing.

The COSARAF Foundation are delighted to be supporting NHMEF, with a donation of over £5,000 to pay towards this vital project enabling young people to realise their potential