Question time ‘part 2’ - For African Caribbean men

Question time ‘part 2’ arrived in Leamington Spa last night

with a real panoramic sense of passion, drive and purpose.

The numbers had doubled from the last event in April and the

mix of erudite men coupled with the debate proved to be an

enriching cocktail.

The group of men fused and gelled, the debate was polemical

and gritty, smothered with the brutality of the contemporary

and how communities had been ripped to pieces by ever more

alienation - aspects of modernity - aspects of how segregated

people feel in contemporary times; Race, culture, gender,

inclusion, exclusion, inequality, hope and desire were only a few

themes that were thrashed out with an over arching concern

regarding ‘Education, education, education’ - an ever receding

horizon of a pedagogic system in disarray.

This was not ‘third way’ muddled politics – but more so passionate,

hard working men from the community who feel robbed of their

communities and a ‘collective identity’ that all communities seem

so deprived of. Were communities and families failing black men?

Or are society and the systems in situ baron of the diverse frameworks

that are critical to a healthy community? These were just a few of the

debates as the ideas poured through sweat and grime of minds colliding.

This second event proved to be a huge success on many different

levels - the most salient being that the group was here to solve

these issues constructively with the aid of the BME team and the

local council - the next event is scheduled for the 28th of January

2009 at the African Caribbean Project Leamington spa (7-9pm) -

where a prime focus will be on setting goals and agenda’s for

some real community solutions.

‘OPEN UP’ event.

I’m really happy to introduce a fantastic event that
the BME team has helped to introduce to the county.
It can only be best described as ‘real effective joint
working’, with people, communities and professionals.

I’ve heard it has been a very emotionally moving event
which does not surprise me – but what we want here is
people to emotionally move us! How was it? What do this
sort of community project mean to all of us and how do
we go forward as people and instigating change? Please
leave your expressions on the comments section. Below
is a copy of the press release for your interest!


Press Release:

2 October 2008

‘Open Up’ show to mark World Mental Health Day A
new arts exhibition opening next month will display work
created by ordinary people around Coventry and Warwickshire.

The theme of the exhibition is that it is creative work by people
with experience of ‘mental health problems’. The aim of the show
is to raise awareness of the stigma that attaches to mental health
and mental health services, in order to try and improve care, and
to show how social enterprises can improve the lives of people in
our communities.

The event has been organised and designed by
Community Arts Workshop (CAW) of Leamington, and funded by
Social Enterprise West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands, and the
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. The show will
be officially opened on Friday 10 October, which is World Mental
Health Day, and runs through to the end of the month at The Old
Art Gallery in Avenue Road, Leamington, open Monday-Saturday
10am-5pm.

It is hoped the exhibition will go on show around the
Coventry and Warwickshire area after that. A series of workshops
have also been arranged throughout October to enable people to
represent and express themselves through art. For more information
about the workshops, contact CAW on 01926 888333, mail:
mail@communityartsworkshop.org.

Said Fran Godwin, of CAW:
“We already have a wide range of submissions from all kinds of
artists, professional and amateur, experienced and beginners, old
and young. This exhibition really is for everyone. “Art is an important
way for people to express themselves, particularly those whose
interests and views are too often sidelined or ignored. Anyone
who has experienced mental distress knows how isolating and
disempowering that can be. This exhibition will try and give those
feelings a voice.” Added Sandy Taylor, chief executive of Coventry
and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust: "We were keen to support
this event as part of ourwork to help reduce the silence which
surrounds mental illness.I know the exhibition will be a success,
and we hope it creates real opportunities for people who have
suffered some form of mental distress to speak out and describe
how that feels." Graeme Betts, Strategic Director for Warwickshire
County Council's Adult, Health and Community Services, said:

"This is a fantastic exhibition and as well as raising awareness of
mental health and mental health issues it will help to dispel the
stigma that still is attached to mental illness. Bringing these issues
into the public domain in such a positive way is good for people
experiencing mental ill health and their families and for the wider
public as mental ill health affects a large proportion of the population.

" Media queries: Ian Andrew, Head of Communications, Coventry
and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, tel: 02476 967893, emai

A PORTUGUESE POST EVENT REVIEW

I would like to firstly thank everybody for sending in
there comments. I would also like to acknowledge the
dissatisfaction that certain people feel – this is why we
are here… to help improve!

I appreciate it is not acceptable for tax paying citizens
to have to go abroad for health care – it defeats the whole
objective of being an active citizen and the adult health
directorate certainly regards everybody from all minorities
to be active citizens.

The action points that I shall take from this event will be:

· The lack of use of interpreters at the local GP services –
and with psychological interventions, resulting to the inability
for Portuguese users to articulate and express themselves

· The feeling of being excluded from services

· Extra support to support Mario and the Portuguese project.

These comments and points will be passed onto the BME
service user representative who will express these concerns
at the next mental health service user meeting which is eminent
in the middle of October. Equally so I would like to inform
all the participants of this event that a BME ‘Service
Delivery Group’, will be reforming in January 2009, which
will include commissioners, managers and stakeholders to
the mental health services. These issues will be raised at this
meeting which in the past has been very successful in rectifying
and problem solving BME issues in mental health.

I will feed back the comments from the BME service user
representative onto this page and onto a separate event
to keep all parties informed of the actions that will be
further taken to these issues.

I would just like to remind people that this service is here
to enforce change as a result of many government consultations
and inquiries – hence the ‘Real Voices’ document (2003) –
Department of health, and the ‘Inside Outside’ report.
The BME team has had many successes in raising the profile
of BME issues and hopes to continue to do so as long as people
keep us informed and are not afraid to come forward
to instigate change.

BME Service User Meeting

Welcome to the latest online event. ‘Surinder’ who has become
our new BME rep at the South Warwickshire User Forum,
(SWUF) would like to invite local mental health service users from
BME communities to come forward and leave some comments
regarding local services and what people think or would like to
evolve/ devolve, or if there are any general issues that users may
be facing that need to be expressed.

Surinder will attend the next user rep meeting with SWUF which
will take place on September 16th. He is very keen to represent
the local BME community ‘Voice’ – so please feel free to comment.
All entries will be relayed to Surinder who will be feeding back
online shortly after the date mentioned above.

We look forward to your entries!

'A Portuguese Debate'

Welcome to the ‘Health and Diversity’ Blogsite for south
Warwickshire where you will be able to participate in a special
online event specifically designated for the Portuguese
community.

This is an ideal opportunity for you to voice your experiences,
opinions and concerns of mental health provision in South
Warwickshire with regards to the Portuguese community. We
want to know what is working, and what is not? What needs
to change? How can services deliver a service that is culturally
more competent?

This is a great opportunity to communicate with the BME Health
and Diversity team with regards to what you think is lacking or
working in the area of mental health provision. We need you to
come forward and to share either the good or really bad
experiences. This way you can shape the services you receive.
Share your thoughts through stories, or anecdotes, or however
you feel appropriate. Please be creative – it could be through
art, poetry, animation or even creative writing. You choose!

The Blog will is open now for postings and will remain open for
a period of just over three months; the deadline – September
30th. Please get your thoughts to us quick and we shall have a
post event review shortly following the closing date.
We look forward to hearing from you!

‘A Polish Debate’

Welcome to the ‘Health and Diversity’ Blogsite for south
Warwickshire where you will be able to participate in a special
online event specifically designated for the polish community.

This is an ideal opportunity for you to voice your experiences,
opinions and concerns of mental health provision in South
Warwickshire with regards to the polish community. We want
to know what is working, and what is not? What needs to
change? How can services deliver a service that is culturally
more competent?

This is a great opportunity to communicate with the BME Health and

Diversity team with regards to what you think is lacking or
working in the area of mental health provision. We need you to
come forward and to share either the good or really bad
experiences. This way you can shape the services you receive.
Share your thoughts through stories, or anecdotes, or however
you feel appropriate. Please be creative – it could be through
art, poetry, animation or even creative writing. You choose!

The Blog is open now for postings and will remain open for a
period of just over two months; the deadline - August 31st.
Please get your thoughts to us quick and we shall have a post
event review shortly following the closing date.
We look forward to hearing from you!

‘Insight’… A new project coming soon!

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

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And we sat eloquently beside the Stratford River; a pre-stage buzz
hummed in the quintessential Shakespearean town.
The BME 'Satellite' user group warmed to each others company.

Basking in the early spring heat, some sipped a light beer whilst others
refreshed with a sweet Malibu and soft drinks.
Diversity, ethnicity and culture was having its finest hour as it was

about to interlock with the nostalgic folly; poetic genius and power of

the genius kind. 'Why Shakespeare?' we asked, and what emotional

resonance could it afford to a British- Indian sensibility?
'Power... Choice and experience. A re-enactment
of the human drive and its powers and limitations'

And as the conversation flowed regarding power, identity and a

sense of place and who we all were in the collapsing modern age; we

turned our attention to the moon that was hanging in the blue sky

like a lost pearl. We felt eclipsed in its presence, a mythic air of fantasy

and adventure was roaming amongst the pre -performance chatter

in the bustling beer garden of the ‘Dirty Duck’
Shakespeare was roaming! Like the suspended moon that was pulling

our emotions in a mythic charm of fantasy awaiting.
... And thus we entered the courtyard as a bewitching nocturnal light

ushered us inside like artisans of old.

…Excited chatter, illuminated faces; the crowds were embracing

themselves in a pre- euphoric trance; and we were guilty of this sinful

excitement. Shakespeare and diversity, welcome to a true sense of

modernity.


... The moon from the outside had wandered in as if by enchantment.

The stage sets were fantastical and the focus group along with the crowds

at large were gripped even before the show was unleashed…The lights soon

faded...The crowds began to murmur...And a trance like narcotic ambiance

prevailed.The show burst onto the stage, with venomous awe, with an

audacity of power, history and poetic grace... what one would expect

from a Shakespeare play.

The enchantment of the tale with its roots cleverly embedded in a mindset

of mythical fantasy and human love and tyranny enchanted and star struck

the audience; with a dynasty of dance and performance!

... And as the night ended, and the crowds drifted away in starlit wonder

of the residue that was sprinkled on the hundreds like fairy dust; we

wandered over the river, contemplating as a group how such things can

empower and transcend human experience.

The BME initial group event was a huge success. The group left the event
inspired, empowered and elevated to a new sense of understanding.

Various new projects were discussed with the group as it fruited

that a real critical understanding of culture and ethnicity was needed

across the services. Various members of the group were proposing to

write recovery stories in the context of a compilation

book that could then be distributed to stakeholders and practitioners;

allowing a qualitative and emotional perspective on how to engage

with BME communities.

It was felt that the current understanding of BME issues was dire;

the constant crossing of wires and misrepresented

information and poor judgement by practitioners was very problematic;

coupled with uninspiring interventions.Two book proposals were

‘The Lennon Tree’ and ‘Fairy Tales and Dreams’. I hope

(CDW) to work closely with the ‘Satellite’ group on these two initial projects.

It was hard to peel away from the enchanted energy and the provocation that

had been induced by the play; the group will be meeting very soon to initialise how

to take these projects further.

If anyone out their has any really important narratives, experiences,

or stories of recovery and being involved with the

mental health services; focusing on improving services for the ethnic

minority community then please do drop us a mail; if anyone wants more

information on how to join the ‘Satellite’ focus group then likewise, don’t

be afraid to get in touch by sending us a few comments. The BME diversity
team is here to listen, to help, and improve services regarding people’s

emotional well being!

Question Time -post event review.

The project was a success; due not to the colossal crowds

that were bursting to have a say on the stage with the trembling

sweat soaked microphone that was awaiting lip murmuring intimacies;
but more so to the fact that the men who had attended were of a broad age
range (Young and old) and spoke of the real issues that
were facing local communities; the undercurrent of so
called modernity and a crippling infrastructure that is
falling from beneath us.

So what were the burning issues with regards to ‘Black
men’ accessing services on offer within the community?
What were the concerns of the ‘male’ African
Communityregarding community provision and
promoting a sense of emotional well-being?

For the older generation access to NHS dental healthcare
was a primary concern; but this was coupled with a general
nihilism of cultural services on offer. It was felt from the
older generation (40 +) that there were no creative spaces
available for social histories of the local African Community
to be shared with the younger generation.

It was evidently expressed through bails of laughter, amongst
feasting on the delightful Caribbean dish that had been prepared by the
ever so charming project manager. And there was a poignant sense

of the vitality and importance of the commune happening

before our eyes which gave resonance to the voice of the younger

generation who appealed to the group parties and professional agencies
that there was nothing on offer within the community for
young people. Youth centres and projects were out of
touch if not completely off the radar with what was being
offered. The young had nowhere to turn to apart from
the streets, where contemplation would so often turn
to confusion.

A desperate plea was in the air of the small hum drum
room of the centre, that had suddenly become
transformed and had permeated time, like a time
machine voyaging across Harlem nights, over the seas
of immigration, over the hardships and the struggles of
African predecessors; from the youthful, creative and
graceful young men who had proudly bothered to turn
up because they cared; ‘how do we connect?’, ‘What do
we connect to?’, were the issues of the day that
resonated the undercurrent that communities were
breaking without much recognition.

Was there any mental health prevention strategy for Afro- Caribbean men?

What about the 'Breaking the Cirlces of fear' initiative and guidelines?

Had Mental Health and younger BME people been forgotten locally?

The community felt concerned and very sidelined!

And thus a new solution was required. Where local
services needed to acknowledge the importance of
sustaining old and new communities and building the
bridges between them to safe guard the past and future.

Since the event it has fruited by my communication with
some of the attendees of the event and the project manager
that a creative group for men is vital; that it could withhold
and nurture the need for a sense of community and place
for the young and the old. A project will soon be proposed
and is in the pipeline involving key members of the African
Caribbean community. More information will be provided
when the blueprints have been set!

Question time has arrived in Warwickshire. A new creative

approach at looking to engage with people who have some crucial

things to say. The event will be hosted at the

'African Caribbean Project' (Next to Bath place), and already it

has created a pre- event buzz amongst the community.

It's an ideal opportunity to say what you think about local services,

and how they should change for your benefit.

Keep watching the blog as a post event write up will shortly be posted!