Community Development Workers(CDWs) were a concrete commitment in the delivering race equality national policy initiative with a target for 500 to be appointed across the country.

CDWs are having a positive impact on services' ability to reach all of their local population. The CDWs role may vary according to local community need, but four key functions define it:

• Change agent - by identifying gaps in services and developing innovative practice
• Service developer - by promoting joint working, education and training
• Capacity builder in BME communities
• Access facilitator - to services through community resources and by overcoming language and cultural barriers

You can find out more on the following pages about what Community Development Workers are doing nationally

The National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) is the agency charged with supporting the implementation of mental health policy in England by the Department of Health in collaboration with the NHS, Local Authorities and other major stakeholders.