Her Excellency Fatima Al Balooshi, Minister for Social Development meets Hazel Blears, UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

A snapshot of some of the projects we ran in 2008 – 2009 is below:

1. Co-operatives Development

We have helped develop relations between the Ministry of Social Development and Co-operatives UK to run a series of projects aimed at stimulating and developing new diverse co-operatives in Bahrain and re-energising existing co-operatives that have lost their competitiveness in a modern market place.  Starting with a visit by Dame Pauline Green to Bahrain early in 2008, we have since had a visit to the UK’s co-operative congress where Her Excellency Dr Fatima Al Balooshi had the chance to meet with Hazel Blears, the UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.  The last stage has been a visit to Bahrain by experts from two of the UK’s Co-operative Development Bodies, who have provided a need analysis and models for establishing new co-operatives in Bahrain.  This project will help with employment and wealth generation for Bahraini communities.   

2.  Youth Leadership Workshops

Working in partnership with Smart Coaching & Research, we supported a series of workshops for youths active in their communities. Those who took part gained a better understanding of their social roles, how to develop initiatives and become positively active in civil society.   


3.  Children’s Rights and Internet protection

The Embassy sponsored a visit by representatives of the Be Free Centre to the UK to meet with leaders in the Convention on the Rights (CRC) of the Child and how to relate it to online abuse and internet protection.  The delegates learned how to work with ISPs and their role in protecting children; how lawyers can help in child protection and in suggesting a solid law for children that can help in applying the CRC; and the Department of Children and Families showed what work the UK government was doing on the CRC.

4.  Parliamentary capacity building

The UK has one of the world’s oldest parliamentary systems.  Through a series of workshops and visits we have had an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with the Council of Representatives.  Focussing on areas such as constituency work, dealing with the executive, committee activity and parliamentary process Council members have had first hand access to a wealth of information to assist in developing processes within parliament in Bahrain.