I am very much looking forward to working closely with the Black and Minority communities in the Borough to help build an effective partnership between them and the Health and Social Care services; to ensure that the Black and Minority communities receive appropriate information about services, to help and advise on the development of specific projects for the benefit of the Black and Minority communities, devise and hold training sessions with the staff of KREC for service providers, professionals and community representatives.

I will also be helping to publicise and promote KREC's Health and Social Care Needs Report which made recommendations regarding, for example, the provisions of interpreting and translation, acceptable food, and issues specific to the needs of ethnic minority women.

I bring to KREC my experience of both having worked in Kingston and with Black and Minority communities.  Many of you will, for example know me from my previous work at Kingston Advocacy Group where I developed and helped to set up an Advocacy Service responsive to the needs of people with special needs within Black and Ethnic Minority communities.  I am also a founding member of the South Asian Social Researchers' Forum and part-time lecturer in Psychology and Women's Cultural Studies. 

This is certainly an exciting time to be joining KREC with the Government pledging a commitment to ensure that Health Authorities develop policies which meet the needs of members of Black and Minority Communities.  The Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson, speaking at an International conference last year on "Health Gains for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities", highlighted the need, for example for greater representation of Black Minority groups on NHS governing bodies and in senior management positions.  The Minister of Public Health, Tessa Jowell, also spoke of the need to work closely with Black and Minority Communities - to listen and engage with them to achieve health improvements.  The "health of our black and minority ethnic communities", she states, "is a crucial 'tracer' for our success in achieving health for all".  Last month, the government launched its consultative paper called Our Healthier Nation.  It proposes a "contract for health" between the Government and the people, and asks the Health Authorities to lead alliances - to work in partnership with Local Authorities, businesses, voluntary groups and local people/communities to reduce health inequalities.

This post, working in collaboration with local Black and Minority communities and Health and Social Care professionals, will help to develop a better understanding of the needs of the communities, so that these needs can be adequately addressed and met.

For more information, please ring me at:

KREC (Ethnic Health Action), 0208 541 3668, Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-5.00pm, or Wednesday 9.30am-2.30pm.