Cambridgeshire

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum (CECF) Health Project

The Health Project identifies the needs and issues and raises awareness amongst community groups and service providers.

Our aim is to identify the health needs and problems of access to services facing various Ethnic Minorities in Cambridge and South Cambs.

We encourage communities to help themselves to address and solve issues by forming self help groups. The groups are a means of accessing information, building capacity and providing support. Some of the groups have regular fitness session and regularly use complimentary therapies such as aromatherapy.

Research:

Base-line Survey and Health Needs Assessment of Ethnic Minorities in Cambridge

Ethnic Minority Young People(16-19) Not in Education, employment or Training in Cambridge

Survey into Mental Health Issues amongst BME Communities and Service Providers in Cambridge (not yet available)

BME Research Project

Gillian Clarke is the BME Community Development Officer for Peterborough REC.  She has been working in partnership with Cambridgeshire Ethnic Community Forum over the past seven months, undertaking a research project aimed at  mapping the location and needs of Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals/families/groups across rural Cambridgeshire. 

A comprehensive assessment of the support needs of BME communities /individuals and their actual engagement with the voluntary & statutory sector has now taken place and a report of findings has been collated and produced. 

To share and disseminate the report, a Conference was organised and took place on Friday 2nd June 2006 at Slepe Hall in Huntingdon.  This showcased the report, with the main report issues such as ESOL classes, health, racial harassment being discussed in workshops, with future ideas for tackling assess/problems etc being the key theme.
If you would like a copy of the report or further information on the project please contact PREC on 01733 554630 or prec@btconnect.com.

Gypsy & Traveller Community Development

Over the past year, through the efforts of Peterborough Racial Equality Council, Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership, Community Regeneration and the East Anglian Gypsy Council, two forums have been established to try to strengthen engagement with the local Gypsy/Traveller community. The first is a multi-agency strategy group, which aims to establish coherent strategies, cross-agency support and service development. It has representation from the Gypsy & Traveller community and has been successful in bringing public and voluntary sector agencies together. The second is a practitioner network that brings together field workers from play, youth work, health, early years and allied agencies to share good practice and ensure a co-ordinated approach. Consultation and development work with the Gypsy/Traveller Community is still at a very early stage.

To help improve and build upon this, a dedicated Community Development Worker has been appointed from June 2005. It is hoped this will lead the way to better identification, focus & resolution of issues raised/identified by Travellers, structured links and access with service providers and a strengthened, more empowered community.

For more information contact 34 Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough, PE1 2RX or Telephone: 01733 554630 or Email: prec@btconnect.com

CRISP Project

CRISP aims to challenge racial harassment and provide support and assistance to those suffering racial harassment.

The objectives of the project are to :

• Support victims of Racial Harassment
• Ensure that information, support, counselling, advice and assistance isavailable to them.
• Encourage individuals to report incidents
• Listen to the needs of local communities and assist them in reducing racial harassment/violence.
• Recruit volunteers to assist in all areas of work.
• Work with people of all backgrounds to raise awareness of the effect of racial harassment violence.
• To work in partnership and liase with all groups and individuals.
• To work at a local and national level with groups who have the same remit and support services

For more information contact Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, 62-64 Victoria Road, Cambridge CB4 3DU or Tel: 01223 315877 or Email: info@cecf.co.uk

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Local Equality Activity Project (LEAP)

The LEAP Project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

The Project will provide life & employment skills training to disadvantaged black and minority ethnic people in Cambridge. 

The Project aims to increase awareness within a wider community of ethnic diversity in Cambridge, and to increase the civic contribution that ethnic minorities bring to the life of Cambridge.

For more information contact Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, 62-64 Victoria Road, Cambridge CB4 3DU or Tel: 01223 315877 or Email: crisp@cecf.co.uk

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Healthy Homes

The service aims to improve the health and living conditions of older people by making adaptations to their homes and giving information on personal safety and well being. The service is about prevention rather than cure and the aim is to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Improvements might include:

• Nailing down carpets
• Securing training wires
• Installing grab rails and banisters
• Installing smoke alarms

These would be undertaken as a result of an assessment. The information provided could be about avoiding falls, nutrition, exercise, security and keeping warm. Some clients as a result of the assessment maybe offered free minor hazard modifications or assistance to access grants in order to make the work possible.

For more information contact Age Concern, The Town Hall, March, Cambs PE15 9JF or Tel: 01354 659815 or Email: march@accambs.org

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Worklink

A Supported Employment Programme for people with a learning disability developed by the Papworth Trust.

People with learning disabilities want to work, they often have a lot to offer an employer and with a little support from Worklink soon become valued members of the workforce.

Worklink helps people find and retain work. It ensures success by carefully matching the applicant and their skills to a suitable job and by providing support to employers, work colleagues and the individual in the workplace. Employment Advisers help employers to recruit people with learning disabilities into their organisations, and provide on-going support for both employer and employee to help overcome issues which may arise.

The Worklink programme provides:

• Assessment & profiling for individuals
• Help with application forms, CV's & interview techniques
• Job searching
• Job matching
• Job coaching
• Ongoing support once people are recruited
• Advice & guidance
• Referral to other related services
• Benefits advice

For more information contact The Employment Team, Papworth Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB3 8RG or Telephone: 0800 1832050 or Email: worklink@papworth.org.uk

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