Race Equality Foundation - Research
Strengthening faith communities and black and minority ethnic voluntary and community sector's capacity to deliver health and social care services
Background
Research continues to show the inequitable experience of black and minority ethnic communities in health and social care services. It also highlights the limited usage of mainstream services by these communities and the reliance of many on services provided by BME voluntary and faith-based organisations. Voluntary, community and faith organisations provide a range of invaluable services to Asian, African and Caribbean communities both directly and also indirectly as commissioned by mainstream providers.
Faith can also be motivator for wider community action. Faith communities bring resources to, and provide a host of social activities/initiatives for the wider community (not just their members).
There has been growing interest in including faith organisations in the development and delivery of local services, for example in urban regeneration. But there is little information about the extent of health and social care services provided by this sector or indeed by black and minority ethnic voluntary organisations in general.
Aim
The main aims of this work are:
- To explore the main messages highlighted in research and literature, regarding the experiences of health and social care services by black and minority ethnic (BME) individuals and communities, particularly faith communities.
- To ascertain the views of these groups on the state of health and social care services to BME communities.
- To gain an understanding of the main concerns regarding health and social care funding to the BME voluntary and community sector, including Faith groups.
How are we doing this work?
This work started in March 2006 and will conclude by September 2006.
We will undertake a brief literature review focusing on two issues: (1) the experiences of BME communities, particularly Faith communities, of health and social care services, and (2) experiences of BME, particularly Faith communities providing health and social care services.
We will hold two regional events with BME voluntary and community sector and faith based groups. One will take place in London and the other in Manchester. The groups identified will include those that are specifically Faith based, as well as those that have a more general focus, some of whom will have faith and spirituality integral to their values and work ethics.
These events will provide organisations with the main messages from research, both, about the experiences of BME communities, particularly Faith groups of social care and health services, as well as experiences of BME organisations (including faith groups) in providing social care and health services. The messages will facilitate a discussion about the issues raised and their relevance and validity to the direct experiences of the participating groups. Groups will be able to identify a 'wish list' of changes required.
A Department of Health representative will inform participating organisations about specific work undertaken by Department in addressing the issue of service delivery to BME and Faith community groups and, share information about grant funding, including Section 64 funding and how this can be accessed.
Outcomes
The main outputs are:
- Brief scoping report highlighting: headline messages regarding the experiences of health and social care services by BME including Faith communities; experiences of BME voluntary sector organisations in providing health and social care services.
- Organisations are better informed of the role of Department of Health
- A report highlighting the issues identified by the two regional events including suggestions for change.
For further information on this project, contact Ratna Dutt or Tracey Bignall on 020 7619 6220. Email ratna@racefound.org.uk or tracey@racefound.org.uk
Useful Race Equality Foundation publications
- Supportive services effective strategies by Jabeer Butt and Leandra Box
- Same service or equal service by Jabeer Butt
- It takes a whole village to raise a child by Pat Joseph and Ratna Dutt
- Social care and black communities by Jabeer Butt and Kurshida Mirza
- Discussion paper 8: Engaging black and minority ethnic families in policy development and implementation by Tracey Bignall and Leandra Box
Click here to see all Race Equality Foundation publications.