Drugs Action Aberdeen & Multi-Ethnic Aberdeen Ltd /Aberdeen City Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Drugs Action (DA) and Multi-Ethnic Aberdeen Ltd (MEAL) have formed a partnership project approach with the support of Aberdeen City Alcohol & Drug Partnership (ADP).
The project will specifically cover geographic boundaries of Aberdeen City, but will also importantly link and share information where appropriate, with similar projects across the Grampian area (Aberdeenshire & Moray respectively). Project activity will consist of street-level outreach work being developed through successful access and integration with MEAL BME networks. In Aberdeen City there are currently 200 nationalities and 70 languages spoken, with MEAL having access to around 100 volunteers, including translators, available to be utilised by the project as appropriate.
Outreach work will be based in drop-in facilities, taken forward through focus groups, network meetings and any other community areas designated appropriate to task. For example, advice would be sought through links with local agencies such as the Polish Society, Chinese Association and Romanian Association. From the availability of 5 MEAL network events a target minimum of 75 interviews would provide essential baseline information.
Both organisations will utilise their extensive existing networks and forum memberships and will identify other links as appropriate. Through this partnership approach, links will be utilised through the International Centre, Grampian Racial Equality Council, Aberdeen University (Health Equalities research), Grampian Police (Diversity Liaison Officer), Aberdeen City Council (including Environmental, Housing & Leisure departments), Public Health (GUM Clinic, Blood-borne Virus Forum and clinical networks) and other Adult Learning channels (such as ESOL). The partnership will also be able to use its knowledge and networks around wider issues such as domestic abuse and the sex industry (through membership of associated Forums).
OVERALL OUTCOMES AND LEARNING OF THE PROJECT:
To assess, understand and prioritise the specific needs of BME groups within Aberdeen City utilising an evidence-led approach that harnesses the specific knowledge and expertise of a range of agencies engaging and/or supporting equality and diversity.
To embed the outcomes and learning of the project within the ADP local recovery strategy. This could be seen to have potentially significant impact for BME communities, because as the strategy develops, it will be multi-agency, multi-disciplinary and comprehensive (covering the full spectrum of interventions, from education, prevention through to rehabilitation). Furthermore this is a city-wide approach built upon recommendations taken from the SG publication ‘Road to Recovery’.
Increased knowledge about how BME communities are affected by drugs, the nature of the problems they experience and the types of help they would like to receive.
Increased awareness by members of the BME communities of the nature of drugs, their effects and how to seek help for drug problems including the nature and existence of mainstream drug services.
Increase in knowledge about how to effect increased take up by BME communities of mainstream drug services, including how to access help for family member and how to maintain support for family member in treatment.
Increased understanding of the possibility of recovery, and recovery ‘opportunities’ by those with a drug problem from within the BME community.
Mind Your Language!
A Holyrood committee has agreed to investigate the merits of lobbying for improvements to translation services within the NHS. The public petitions committee decided yesterday to take forward a request lodged by Multi-ethnic Aberdeen Ltd (MeAL) which says the health board in Grampian must do more to cater for people who speak less common languages such as Romanian to ensure they gain access to speedy treatment. Project co-ordinator Godfrey Joseph would like to see staff at hospitals using video conferencing and the internet to communicate with workers at hospitals who speak a patient’s language. He said the service does not have to be restricted to the UK and a global database could be set up for interpreters from patients’ home countries. Mr Joseph, who addressed the committee, said the move would be a faster and more efficient method of communicating and would help alleviate anxiety and stress for patients. More than 7,000 migrant workers were registered in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in 2008/2009. Some 4% of the city’s working age population does not use English as a first language and in Aberdeenshire, Polish and Lithuanian are the second and third most widely spoken languages. The committee decided to gather further information on the Belmont Street-based charity’s proposals for more visual interpretation services. NHS Grampian has a pool of 120 translators after it completed a £20,000 recruitment drive in April this year. The translators can cater for 60 languages, although research has found there are more than 80 languages spoken in Grampian. NHS Grampian also provides Language Line, a phone service which gives access to interpreters and is available in 502 locations through the region’s GP practices. North-east SNP MSP Nigel Don, a committee member who is backing the campaign, applauded the decision to explore the issue further. “I welcome the steps taken by NHS Grampian to increases the number of interpreters and the introduction of Language Line,” he added. “However, we have heard evidence today from MeAL that suggests a visual link is very important when it comes to interpretation services for patients. “The committee will be looking into the proposals for more visual interpretation services.”
Peer Support
We were delighted to receive a fact finding visit from the Labour Peer, Lord Bassam of Brighton. Lord Bassam broke off his visit to Edinburgh to attend a Cultural Diversity Awareness Training Day in Aberdeen.
Malcolm McCarthy of MeAL said " Lord Bassam is a keen advocate of equality issues in the House of Lords and has been a consistent supporter of all the work we do. We are very grateful in the interest and support he gives and were delighted that he took the opportunity to see our Cultural Diversity Awareness Training in action". If you would like more information on Cultural Diversity Awareness Training please contact Zakia at zakia@multiethnic.co.uk
Busy with Employment and Equalities
What a busy first few months it has been for MeAL’s Employment and Equalities Advisor Liz Howarth. Since starting her new job, Liz has been involved in a number of outreach projects within the local area, including an information giving event for the Polish community at St Marys Cathedral in the City. This event was organised by Grampian Police and Tenants First Housing Association. Grampian Racial Equality Council (GREC) were also in attendance at the event to provide information to the congregation. Liz has also been working hard to provide the employment service in Aberdeenshire and attended an open day at the Learning House in Peterhead in November 2009. During the day, Liz was on hand to provide employment support and advice to people from the local area. Liz was also delighted to be involved in the much anticipated ‘Rock out Against Racism’ gig in October featuring top rockers Athlete. Liz attended the event at The Warehouse in Aberdeen along with a group of MeAL volunteers. Along with enjoying the great performance given by front-man Joel Pott and his band, Liz and the volunteers were able to interact with the large crowd of music lovers about the projects that MeAL are currently working on.
Mondays’ Job Club in conjunction with HSEE has run successfully throughout the past three months and has provided support to over thirty people seeking employment within the Oil and Gas sector. Anyone interested in attending the Job Club should contact Liz at liz@multiethnic.co.uk for further information. Liz is also currently working on MeAL’s annual Employment and Business Fair which will be held at the Music Hall in Aberdeen on 8th March 2010. Local employers and businesses will be available at the event to give advice about employment opportunities in the area. Further details of this event will be advertised on this website closer to the time so watch this space.
Helping the Police...with YOUR Enquiries!
We are pleased to be associated with efforts by Grampian Police to encourage more and improved communication with the Ethnic Communities of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Diversity Liason Officers are appointed by Grampian Police to “enable equal access to Grampian Police, partners, resources and services, raise awareness, public confidence and provide support when victimised.”
“With the introduction of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) , cross-strand working has very much become a focus for government and others but while many of us fit into one of these strands, few of us fit only into one strand.”
What can you do? Are you interested in Equalities? Do you believe in fairness? Do you respect difference? Do you want to make a difference ? If you care, or have experience, about age, disability, gender, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation or transgender issues we want to hear from you. Maybe you are a group, a sports team, a school, an employer or an individual looking at Equalities. Contact us to find out more. PS. Do it now!
MeAL welcomes partnership with Scottish Parliament
MeAL are delighted to be working with the Scottish Parliament on a unique initiative in the North East of Scotland.
Together, we are enabling individuals and communities to make a positive contribution to the work of the Scottish Parliament.
