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By Sadia Ali, Managing Director, Minority Matters
Minority Matters is a small grassroots organisation based in Islington. We aim to reduce the impact of inequalities on black ethnic minority migrant communities, offering support services, advice, advocacy, and a safe trusted space.
We seek to reduce gaps between statutory care and less heard communities, building trust on both sides and better access to services, to bring about positive changes.
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Partnership in practice
In partnership with Healthwatch Islington and the Islington Mental Health Core Team Philippa Russell, the Mental Health Partnership Co-ordinator liaised with NHS and voluntary sector colleagues to deliver workshops for our Somali parent champions to raise awareness around mental health issues and how to access help when needed.
We hosted three sessions with our trained parent champions on “Mental health awareness and the effects of substance abuse” (this ran twice, once for women and once for men separately) and on “how to look after our mental health and support each other.” We train parents to focus on their agency to have an impact: “solutions lie within us – share, reflect, solve.”
The workshop around addiction issues was delivered by Better Lives, who support adults and families around drug and alcohol abuse. They were so informative about addiction and how it can impact on mental health and wellbeing. We talked about where to get help and how it can be tailored for the needs of the person.
Our champions have concerns about their young children and how to talk to them, as it is a big taboo in the Somali community and children have different cultural influences at home and at school. Better Lives is keen to help with these conversations - we discussed finding a role model who may be willing to talk about their own experience. It was agreed that clear, honest information can help young people to make better decisions.
Tailored sessions for the local community
For the session around women’s mental health, we welcomed three members of the Mental Health Core Team including Beatriz a Population Health Nurse, a psychologist, and Hinda from the Maya Centre Women’s Hub. We talked about the different support that is available in Islington, such as mother tongue counselling at The Maya Centre. Some parents raised issues such as pressures at home and supporting children with learning disabilities.
The Core Team shared details about support for welfare, respite, counselling, and social support available through the NHS and within the community. For each session, we received information around mental health support for young people, men, and women to share with our groups.
Assia who works with Minority Matters thanked the Core Team after the sessions: “The pleasure was all ours. The workshop was very interactive and informative! Thank you so much for organising and bringing an amazing team!”
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It was great to meet up with Claire Beaman, Team Manager for the Kentish Town Core Team to catch up on progress. There’s lots going on, as with all of our core teams in the programme, as work continues to develop.
In September 2021 the team moved into Regis Road; a newly refurbished facility. The centre has five consulting rooms, three clinic/treatment rooms and breakout spaces for staff. There are also computer hubs for service users, a training/conference room, two meeting rooms and a range of other facilities to support those who work and access services.
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After a tour of the building, with busy, buzzing meeting areas and bright, large open staff spaces, Claire sat down to chat about how much has progressed and the daily routine.
“My main daily task is managing the team's inbox for referrals, query's, safeguarding concerns; referrals - as expected continue to increase in what has become an ever-growing team. Having this oversight of the inbox enables timely responses to query's and referrals ensuring we offer assessment sin a timely manner and early intervention.
A support and connect approach
“I’m really proud of our integrated care in Camden; it’s working well with a support and connect approach including our voluntary sector colleagues alongside traditional mental health care professionals. There are lots of options for service users with a range of interventions available via a number of professionals in attempts to move away from the medical model and focus more on a whole system, community approach.
“Peer Coaching is a really positive and successful new initiative we offer here. We have a fairly new DBT programme too, which teaches individuals skills and techniques on managing and coping with difficult emotions and dysregulation.
"Our population health nurses are leading on the Primrose A Project, which is focused on managing physical health and wellbeing for people with serious mental health conditions; something we’re recognising service users needing more support with.
Time to settle into routine
"Our peer coaches and community development workers have initiated weekly coffee mornings at Kentish Town Community centre where all service users in Camden are welcome to attend to join in activities ranging from board games, creative writing groups or to just simply be around others.
“It’s taken a while for the team to feel established, as with any introduction of new systems and ways of working; it has taken time to grow and develop and has been very challenging at times but we have built the right relationships with agencies and organisations across the borough to be able to provide what’s being offered under the community transformation programme. But at the heart of it, is offering our services users the best possible care and treatment, specific to their needs.”
Dance Fitness - Tuesdays (weekly) 3 - 4pm
Jean Stokes Community Hall, Carnoustie Drive, N1
Healthy Generations and Age UK Islington are partnering to bring a Dance Fitness class to this recently refurbished community centre in Islington. This Dance Fitness class with a mix of latin, disco and pop music, will include strength, balance and functional exercises. Take part seated or standing. Find out more and how to book here. |
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Unpaid carers support in Islington Did you know unpaid carers in Islington can get help and support from the Islington Carers Hub. You can refer for advice and guidance with money worries, getting a break from caring, signing up for training courses or even if you just need a listening ear. Please call the Islington Carers Hub Helpline on 020 7281 3319 (Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm) or email info@islingtoncarershub.org (using Egress to send securely).
Islington Working For information about local job opportunities, help to find the best role for you or someone you know when making applications including one-to-one employment coaching, contact iWork on iwork@islington.gov.uk or call 020 7527 2651.
As the lead provider for the Barnet Wellbeing Hub, in partnership with the local council, Meridian Wellbeing continues to run new wellbeing workshops. Here’s the round up of their online wellbeing resources, open to all across the borough. |
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Meridian Wellbeing Podcast - 18 episodes available with a variety of interesting guests to discuss the topical issues affecting mental health, wellbeing and current affairs. To listen click here
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Guided Self Help Videos - guiding you through a range of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools to help support those with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
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Wellbeing Bites - these provide a short three minute introduction to a technique or tool that you can use to help improve your wellbeing.
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Wellbeing Resources - these include breathing techniques, coping mechanisms and a progressive muscle relaxation meditation.
These are all available on the Resources page of the Meridian Wellbeing website. To access this directly click here.
Meridian Wellbeing produces a monthly newsletter – if you’d like to register to receive this, please email: donna.chan@meridianwellbeing.com.
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