Curtis Henry’s Story

“As a BME CDW it’s crucial to understand your target audience. With this knowledge, you can ensure that people with mental health difficulties from BME communities are signposted to culturally appropriate services and complex needs are met,” says Curtis Henry, who is a CDW based at Doncaster PCT

James Holland`s Story

In 2007 the Healthcare Commission invited the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to take part in a race equality review to share good practice across the NHS. The invitation recognised the Trust’s work to implement DRE.

Chris Rowland`s Story

Chris Rowlands is the Equality & Diversity Lead for Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust. He explains how the Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care (DRE) programme is having an impact on the work they do with black and minority ethnic communities.

Simon Newitt`s story

Simon Newitt, a CDW based in Bristol PCT, has developed community based mental health pathways for children from BME communities in Plymouth. Simon joined the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services team to raise awareness of child mental health issues in the area and develop links with local agencies to provide users with a fully integrated mental health service

David George`s story

David George is a CDW in Birmingham. His work with a local radio station is going from strength to strength

“If somebody has a new, innovative way of communicating mental health issues then I’m interested in talking to them”, says David

EPIC, Sheffield Care Trust

Rashna Hackett, Consultant Nurse for Acute Care at Sheffield Care Trust, is spearheading an initiative to enable health professionals to engage with the needs of the Pakistani community in Sheffield.

Anissa Hussain’s story

My job is so varied that no two days are the same. Currently, I spend a lot of time working with young people – in the Muslim community, people go to the imam and ask for help. But I find that young people are a lot more receptive to the work that I’m doing in raising awareness of what mental health problems are and where you can go for help and in trying to reduce the stigma.

Harbinder Sind’s story

Harbinder Sind, a British-born Sikh whose family hail from India, discusses his experiences of the mental health system over the last 15 years.

‘I’m thinking of going to college in January,’ says Harbinder Sind, who’s 40 and from Bradford. ‘There’s a catering course I really want to do.’

There’s been a sharp turnaround in recent years for Harbinder to reach this stage

Karen Shukla

Community Development Workers (CDWs) in Slough are working on an innovative scheme to make best use of the direct payments initiative for members of the local South Asian community.