The 90s
This decade saw the Commission for Racial Equality support the organisation to become a fully fledged Racial Equality Council. We received funding to employ our first chief officer as well as securing Lottery funding for a Community Development Team.
The Noughties
The CRE continued to provide support, expanding its funding to enable us to offer a fully funded race discrimination casework service in 2000. We also became a charity in 2001.
2003
saw the murder of Johnny Delaney, a 15 year old Traveller in Ellesmere Port and propelled us into working more with Gypsies and Travellers. We also secured funding from the Home Office to run a really successful project - Connecting Communities – a helping to increase BME representation in employment
2007
Report into the BME third sector conducted with Change Up monies ‘Reaching Out’
Report into Gypsy & Traveller needs conducted with Change Up monies ‘Here to Stay’
Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) takes over from the legacy commissions including the CRE
2008
Secured funding from Capacity Builders for a three year project to strengthen BME community organisations
2009
Change of name to Cheshire, Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre
CHAWREC holds conference ‘Community Cohesion not just an urban issue’
2010
Start of Schools Stand Up 2 Racism – Big Lottery funded research project
Equality Act 2010 comes into force
CHAWREC expands casework into all areas of discrimination
2010 onwards....
2011
CHAWREC opens the Unity Centre and Heritage Lottery Fund funds ‘Journeys to Cheshire’ a 12 month oral history project
2012
EHRC ends legal grants programme & so CHAWREC starts discrimination casework service as chargeable service
2013
Launch of findings from Stand Up 2 Racism project
2014
Launch of BME Mapping Report of Cheshire West & Chester
2016
Refugees arrive in West Cheshire through the Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme
2017
Became registered with Ascentis to offer ESOL qualifications
2018
Secured funding from Brightlife to open a Community Cafe in the Unity Centre and from the Home Office Building a Stronger Britain to support work around anti extremism
2019
Secured OISC registration to offer immigration advice
2019
secured funding from the Co-Op Space to Connect programme for the Unity Centre development
2020 onwards....
2020
Funded to encourage BAME communities to be vaccinated. Covid 19 impact research report launched. Start of ‘asylum hub’ at the Unity Centre to support asylum seekers and new refugees.
2021
Launch of the Hong Kong BN(O) scheme sees large numbers making Cheshire their home. Funded to deliver support to Hong Kongers by the Dept for Levelling Up.
2022
Russia invades Ukraine leading to Cheshire welcoming Ukrainian guests. CHAWREC offers more support, including taking on Ukrainian workers and offering specific classes to Ukrainians. Funding secured for a health project in Cheshire East through NHS Charities Together working with ICC and Pathways CIC. Afghan resettlement programme sees us providing ESOL at local hotel for Afghan families.
2023
Due to rapid expansion we take on Head of ESOL to develop Unity College further.
2024 Secured funding for a volunteer co-ordinator through UKSPF. Takes on new ESOL contract offering classes across Cheshire East. Secures funding from Home Office to support the government’s move to evisa applications. New base in Northwich for ESOL classes.