Update: Taking Action Reducing System Inequalities with The R.E.A.C.H. Network

On Thursday 27th March, Community Southwark relaunched Southwark’s Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (R.E.A.C.H) Alliance Network. 18  BAME Leaders joined the session focusing on ‘Taking Action Reducing System Inequalities’ as a Network.

Current Initiatives

• We are Not Going Back to Normal
• Health Inequalities Participatory Grant Making panel
• Journey to Better Health Outcomes. 

First Group Discussion

1. Identifying our shared purpose for the network -what brings us together.
2. What experiences do you have in common with facing inequalities?

“The first step towards achieving this vision of working as a collective to demand change and action was coming together and getting to know one another a lot better. This was the foundation stone upon which to build. Once you know one another, you could link up services, you could support each other, and you could work as a collective to demand change and action” (Comment taken from recorded notes).

Proposal

Use the cycle as its working model to start building the new foundations of the R.E.A.C.H. network.

Second Group Discussion

1. Provide one good example of work they have been involved with others/or by yourself that has successfully helped reduce Inequalities for your community.
2. Share their thoughts on their experience of Inequalities still faced community is facing.

Highlights

• Healthcare Access & Employment:
  Identified barriers for BAME individuals accessing healthcare and jobs in the sector; established a service to improve job access.
• HIV/AIDS Advocacy:
  One organisation promoted the inclusion of voices with lived experience of HIV/AIDS, leading to increased public health awareness of isolation, fear, and depression.
• Food Poverty:
  60% of BAME individuals use food banks; an organisation was set up to combat food poverty in these communities.
• Traveller Community Support:
  Organisation co-creates health solutions with Travellers, building trust and encouraging proactive healthcare engagement.
• Latin American Health Access:
  A Health Ambassador from the Latin American community influenced Southwark Council to provide health information in Spanish and Portuguese for the first time.
• Mental Health Support:
  BAME communities are overrepresented in the mental health system; the organisation is increasing BAME volunteer involvement to raise awareness and improve access to mental health support.
• Older BAME Adults Advocacy:
  Collaboration with AGE UK to highlight economic and social inequalities among older BAME adults, advocating for:
  • Better access to transport
  • More affordable housing
  • Greater independence and social inclusion

Next Steps:

• Network meetings to be quarterly. Next meeting to be organised as soon as possible after the Easter Holidays
• David to offer opportunities for leaders to join and participate in the 3 Initiatives mentioned during the event. “Journey to Better Health Outcomes” We are not going back to normal” and Health Inequalities panel
• Leaders to get in touch with David by email david@communitysouthwark.org if interested in any of the opportunities.