Community Development Workers (CDWs) for
Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities

Community Development Team
 
Roger Batterbury (Manager)
Mabel Fan (Senior CDW)
Sadhia Amin (CDW)
Shipa Ahmed Khan (CDW)
Lola Adegboye (CDW)
 
Friendship House
Elm Grove
Southsea, PO5 1JT
 
Tel: 023 9275 5485 Fax: 023 9281 5483 Email: cdw@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
 
Facts
 
Statistics from the Department of Health reveal 1 in 4 people in England will experience some form of mental health problem during their lifetime. Figures indicate people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities are likely to suffer more and tend to access mental health services at the crisis point, rather than at the beginning of their illness. BME people experience poor health and face greater problems accessing health services.
 
See "Delivering Race Equality"
 
What are Community Development Workers (CDW'S)?
 
CDW's are supporting BME communities by:
 

• Providing information on mental health and well being.
• Reducing the fear and stigma associated with mental health.
• Addressing the barriers to accessing services.
• Listening to your comments & views about local mental health services in Portsmouth.
• Informing mental health services of your views and needs.
• Engaging & empowering communities to help shape local MH services.
• Setting up culturally appropriate support groups & signpost to other relevant services.
• Aiming to improve satisfaction with services for BME communities

Four key roles for CDWs set by the National Delivering Race Equality (DRE) team in Mental Health:
 

• Change Agent: To identify community concerns and gaps in services, and to increase communication between community and statutory services in order to promote change.
• Service Developer: To develop joint work relationships between statutory and volunteer organisations, education and training by highlighting the importance of culture in services and advice on training and education for staff.
• Capacity Builder: To engage with BME communities, organisations and groups to support community leadership and develop socially inclusive BME communities.
• Access Facilitator: To address language, culture and other barriers and help people to find effective pathways across mental health services.

Download the CDW Annual Report 2010
Download the CDW Action plan 2010 -2011
 
BME communities in Portsmouth
 
The term Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) group is any group in the UK who are not white British but have a shared race, nationality or language and culture. This definition includes:

• Eastern Europeans
• Gypsy & Travelers
• Irish people
• African and Caribbean people
• Asian and East Asian people
• Chinese
• Mediterranean
• People who are mixed race

PROJECTS THAT CDWS ARE RUNNING IN PORTSMOUTH
 
Women's Group
 
The CDW Team introduced a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) drop-in for women in May 2008. The aim of the drop-in is to promote mental health and well- being. The drop-in runs every Tuesday at the Wesley Centre, 128 Fratton Road, Fratton, Portsmouth from 12:00 -14:30.
 
Since the launch over 70 women on our record, these include mental health service users and carers. We have a diverse mix of ethnicities attending the drop-in. CDWs' offer regular workshops delivered by professionals on health and mental health. As well as delivering workshops the women are also offered short courses on arts. The drop-in has now been funded by Portsmouth Learning Disability Team and will offer sessions on raising awareness and their services.
 
BME Carers Group
 
The CDW Team has set up a BME carers group, now known as Diverse Carers, running every 3rd Wednesday of each month from 12-3pm at the Carer's Centre. The carers group is led by carers and supported by the Carers Service and the CDW team. The group's main contact - Miho/leader, mob: 078 7384 7451, email: diverse.carers@hotmail.co.uk
 
The group offers BME carers a safe place to talk about their caring role, as well as other issues including culture and faith. The group looks at carers as individuals and supports BME carers in finding ways to explore their own personal needs. This can range from advice about benefits to opportunities for learning new skills or further education. As well as finding out about other services the group will link in with existing carers services and participate in local joint activities.
 
Health Seminars and Community Workshops
 
The CDW’s work in partnership with the Health Improvement and Development Service (HIDS) to carry out series of mental health and well being workshops for BME women and community groups in Portsmouth. The aims and objectives of this partnership are to provide culturally appropriate mental health workshop sessions where information is easily accessible and to empower people from BME communities to access Adult Mental Health and Social Care services.
 
Some useful links
 
Delivering Race Equality (DRE)
Count me in census
CDW's Final Hand Book
Black and Minority Ethnic Mental Health
Chinese Mental Health
Black Mental Health UK Statistics & Facts