Black Minority and Ethnic (BME) Community Development Project in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
This project was established in 2007 and its aim is to improve access, outcomes and experiences for people of BME origin in Mental Health. The project consists of 9 Community Development Workers (CDW) (including one specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) worker and 2 Senior CDW's). These roles have come from the Department of Health 5 year action plan on Delivering Race Equality (DRE) in Mental Health. The DRE programme consists of 3 broad outcomes:
- Better use of information - for example regular monitoring of service users ethnicity and improved knowledge about effective services.
- Better engagement of services with their local communities - for example mental health service providers need to strengthen relationships with the local communities they serve and promote good mental health within those communities. Communities need to have a bigger role in planning and providing services.
- Increased community involvement in developing appropriate and responsive services - for example recruiting and training a diverse and culturally capable workforce and providing more services in community settings.
The DRE programme wants to ensure people from BME communities feel more able to access mental health services, have improved confidence and better experience of services and challenge and reduce the stigma and stereotypes that exist around mental health in BME communities.
The role of the CDW has 4 main functions
To read more about each of these functions and some examples of work we have completed to date and are still on-going click on the links below:
We also regularly attend various community events and programmes to promote the work we are doing and to establish new working relationships and networks. If you would like us to attend an event or meeting please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.
SO HOW CAN WE WORK WITH YOU?
If you are a mental health service provider, manager, professional or clinician -
We will encourage you to have better engagement with BME communities and the voluntary sector to provide more appropriate services for BME communities. We want to influence the decision makers to make appropriate, positive and real changes. We want to provide awareness raising and training on race equality and cultural capability in the field of mental health.
If you are a person that has never used mental health services, previously used services or currently uses services -
We understand that mental health and well being can be a difficult subject to talk about so we want to work with you to challenge and change this so it is something we all feel safe and comfortable talking about regardless of your age, religion, culture, gender or class.
We want to make you more aware of mental health and well being through awareness raising, training, health promotion and community activities. We want to ensure you know how you can access the right mental health services and support when you need it. We want to make sure that language and other cultural barriers are not a barrier in getting the help you need.
We want you to get more involved in the planning of services and feel you can do this by taking part in user engagement forums and making sure your views and opinions get listened to by those who can make changes happen.
If you are a BME voluntary organisation -
We want to work with you to identify gaps and needs so we can take them to the people that can make the changes. We can help with capacity building with members of your organisation to raise awareness around mental health and support mental health related projects. We can help develop community leadership and empower you to make the changes you want to see happen. We wish to seek out capabilities of communities to develop innovative practice.
We recognise that we are not experts in all matters. This is why it is important we work with as many different people as possible so we can share expertise and skills and get the best outcomes. Whatever you have to offer, we welcome your support.
HOW TO CONTACT US
Leicester and Leicestershire BME CDW Team.
Write to us at:
Age Concern, Minster House, 30 DeMontfort Street, Leicester, LE1 7G
Ring us on:
Senior for City Team: Phone: 0116 2237 37
Senior for County Team: Phone: 0116 204 6440
BME Child and Adolescent Mental Health Worker (CAMHS): Phone: 0116 2237 367
USEFUL LINKS
Full version of the Delivering Race Equality Report
Interim Guide for Community Development Workers
National Mental Health Development Unit:
East Midlands Development Centre:
Information about Mental health in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland: