Services

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AMA Consultants 2000 is committed to providing high quality management and consultancy services to housing and other “not for profit” organisations in the social sector. The range of skills within the company mean that we are a “one stop shop” to answer initial and subsequent enquiries.

We have experience of carrying out work at short notice, and can provide consultancy services from concept development to on-site delivery, ensuring that the process is as participatory as possible. We offer on-going support throughout the course of the project so everyone involved has the skills necessary to work effectively.

AMA Consultants 2000 guarantee quality services and estimates to meet your deadlines. We are committed to providing a flexible and co-operative service and clients can have confidence that our products and services will be as requested and meet required standards.

Our recent projects include a housing needs study, tenement rehabilitation and new build contracts, leading community training and various research and feasibility studies. The following pages give further information on recent work undertaken by AMA Consultants 2000.

• Community Development and Area Regeneration
• Housing Development for Neighbourhoods
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers
• Small Organisation Development

Community Development and Area Regeneration

The theory of community development

The community development method of empowering communities forms the basis of our working practices. We identify problems or needs through activity based learning, to raise the consciousness of groups and individuals. We then work with communities in a holistic fashion to address the problems and needs that they have identified, looking with them at the possibilities for mutual support and finding areas for change. We can also assist with reports or studies to identify ways to resolve these problems and generally support the local community throughout the life of a project.

We apply our skills and experience to research projects and feasibility studies at the initial stages of a development.

AMA Consultants 2000 has worked with a wide variety of housing associations and community groups, including:

• A housing needs survey for Pineview Housing Co-operative in Drumchapel, Glasgow.

• A feasibility study for Southside Housing Association on the extension of their black, minority ethnic and refugee young person’s befriending project.

• A investigation for Clyde Valley Housing Association into the prevention of anti-social behaviour by young people.

• A community conference for residents on the Dumbarton Road Corridor, Glasgow in June 2002 – “Pathfinder Community Conference”

Pathfinder Community Conference, June 2001

(click on the thumbnails to view the photos)

The Bambury

Sheila Arthur was director of Camlachie Housing Association in the east of Glasgow, giving her an understanding of all aspects of community regeneration and housing projects. She was responsible for the development of the Regeneration Strategy for the Camlachie area, and the project management of the new Bambury community building.

We have extensive experience in working in large teams, made up of professionals and community groups. Partnership working is at the heart of all our services.

Housing Development for Neighbourhoods

AMA Consultants 2000 has experience in both tenement rehabilitation and new-build projects in the west of Scotland.

Sheila Arthur has direct experience of the management of housing projects as the director of Camlachie Housing Association in the east of Glasgow.

Other recent housing projects have included tenement rehabilitation in Ferguslie Park (Paisley), and redevelopment programmes in Partick, Tollcross (Glasgow) and King Street (Portobello).

AMA Consultants 2000 has worked on two different rehabilitation projects in Argyle Street, Paisley.

7-15 Argyle Street was completed in December 2002.

Work began on 17-23 Argyle Street in Summer 2003.

AMA Consultants 2000 is also working on a new build scheme in Linwood for Loretto Housing Association.

Barrowfield/Camlachie

Sheila also has experience in policy-making, contributing to the Housing Development Strategy in the Barrowfield/Camlachie area. She was then responsible for implementing the strategy, in conjunction with Scottish Homes, private funders, the local community and other key partners, such as Celtic Football Club.

We can offer assistance in:

• Housing project development and management

• Monitoring and evaluation on contracts on-site

• Area housing development strategies

• Housing stock transfer advice

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

As the issue of asylum seekers in Britain climbs higher on the political agenda, AMA Consultants 2000 has become a source of expertise for “not for profit” organisations and community groups.

The company has recently been appointed by Save the Children to investigate the prevalence of the trafficking of children and young people into Scotland. We have also presented a report to Southside Housing Association on the feasibility of extending their black, minority ethnic and refugee young person’s befriending project to other groups in the area.

We have recently carried out pilot training for GARA (Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance) in Gorbals, Glasgow. Entitled “Training for Change: Community Capacity Building” the scheme aims to help communities understand the issues of equality and discrimination before, or during, the arrival of asylum seekers or refugees.

AMA Consultants 2000 also has experience in field research and interviews on a number of projects involving refugees and asylum seekers, such as Save the Children’s investigation into the trafficking of children and young people in Scotland.

Sheila Arthur is actively involved in the work to welcome refugees and asylum seekers in the Greater Glasgow area. She is a committee member of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, attends the North Glasgow Asylum Support Network and has served on the Housing and Welfare sub-group of the West of Scotland Refugee Forum since 2000.

As part of her commitment to maintaining up-to-date training on specific issues, Sheila recently completed the experiential workshop entitled “Working with the refugee experience: explaining the issues facing refugees” run by MissingLinks. She also co-ordinates the running of two English and support classes for asylum seekers and refugees in Sighthill, Glasgow.

Working with associate consultants, some of whom are refugees, this extensive background gives AMA Consultants 2000 the expertise that is needed to understand the specific and complex issues to provide support to of asylum seekers and refugees across the country. It is a developing part of our work.

AMA Consultants 2000 can also provide interpretation services for several languages from the black, minority ethnic and refugee and asylum seeker communities.

Small Organisation Development

AMA Consultants can assist all small organisations in the fields of housing and community development, such as community-based housing associations.

We have extensive experience of partnership working, and encouraging co-operative working between funders, statutory agencies, voluntary organisations, the private sector and the community.

AMA Consultants is assisting Pan African Arts Scotland in developing the organisation.

We can offer small organisations a variety of services:

• Strategy development

• Policy and procedure development

• Communication management

• Production of Annual Reports and other publications

• Partnership development

• Human resources

• Training for staff or committees

• Practical assistance