Author
SINGH Becca.
Title
Improving support for black disabled people: lessons from community organisations on making change happen.
Publisher
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2005
Summary
This study reviews the JRF's Making Change Happen programme, which provided a year's funding to four grassroots development organisations with a track record in providing support to black disabled people.
Context
Over the past decade the JRF has supported several research projects about the lives and experiences of black disabled people, children and their families in the UK . The most salient responses were that most research tended to focus on poor practice rather than good practice (researchers reported difficulties finding enough good-practice examples); and there was a demand for action rather than yet more research. These views were commonly held by black disabled people wanting support as well as professionals from statutory and voluntary organisations providing services for this client group. Black communities were said to be tired of taking part in research that asks them what the want from services, only to find nothing happens until five years later when they are asked the same questions again. On this basis the JRF set up Making Change Happen, a time-limited programme that provided 12 months' funding to four grass roots development organisations, and a small additional project, Learning the Lessons, to make this learning available to a wider audience. It is this project which forms the basis for this report.
Contents
The report sets out the lessons that emerged from the four development projects. It begins with an introduction explaining the context, describing the programme of research and development, asking what research tells us about the experiences of black disabled people, and describing the legislative and policy context, including recent developments, ending with a summary. There follows an overview of the four projects, Helping Each Other, Helping Ourselves, run by Tassibee in Rotherham; ROOOTS, run by People In Action in Leeds; Service Plus, run by International Somali Community Trust, London Borough of Hackney; and Waltham Forest Disabled People's and Carers' Partnership, run by EQUALITIES, London Borough of Waltham Forest, describing for each the aims, background, process and outcomes. Emerging lessons from the projects are described under the headings: recognising and celebrating multiple identities, faith and religion, language, challenging myths and prejudices, shared and separate spaces for disabled people and carers, building individual and organisational capacities through increasing the number of skilled volunteers and workers, training, networking, and data collection and monitoring, paying project participants and volunteers, meeting people's basic needs, working under difficult circumstances, supportive allies, and funding. Case studies of ROOOTS and Helping Each Other, Helping Ourselves are described, each with an introduction, aims, timetable, process, outcomes and learning from the project. A summary and pointers for practical action and an appendix describing methods end the report.
Conclusion
Evidence from research suggests inappropriate, under-resourced services, resulting in high levels of unmet need among black disabled people in Britain . Much still needs to change. Recent and forthcoming legislative and policy developments will provide a much-needed supportive framework within which such changes could take place but, as always, the question will be: what enforceable steps (with appropriate resources) will be taken to ensure that black disabled people benefit from such changes as much as white ones. All projects were the product of voluntary sector organisations, and it is worth noting that many of the dynamics described are familiar to organisations in this sector, particularly those from minority ethnic communities. It is important to recognise that projects supporting black disabled people experience these issues in addition to any problems arising from the complexity of discrimination felt by their service users. Often these pressures, particularly financial constraints, are more challenging than pressures specific to the support work itself. Recommendations include: play to the strengths of the organisation; ensure organisational structures and procedures are clear; work with and learn from other organisations; seek funds that appropriately address the need of the community or organisation; recognise the importance and complexity of identity: all people straddle simplistic classifications of ethnicity, heritage, disability, mental health, gender, faith, age, generation, class, family and citizenship status; acknowledge multiple oppression; challenge your own and others' assumptions about the needs, abilities and capabilities of black disabled people; be prepared for changes and development; different tasks involved in project management and community work need particular skills; explore ways to 'fuse' different traditions and techniques, and ways to make the most of available opportunities; and be realistic with yourselves, beneficiaries and funders about what can be achieved.
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