EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE CULTURAL AUDIT FOR TEIGNBRIDGE AND SOUTH HAMS DISTRICT COUNCIL AREAS

Dennis L Willoughby

Description

Listening to our black and minority ethnic communities PUBLIC SUMMARY Eden District Council Impact Housing Copeland BC Cumbria Constabulary 1 We are concerned that you might not be getting the best out of the services available perhaps because you: do not know about the services on offer, do not know how to access the services, or you think that the service is not suitable. We decided that the best way to find out what you thought of the services was to get an independent company that specialises in talking to communities to ask you. They asked for views in the following areas: public services you receive; quality of life education living in the local community health and social care housing willingness to be involved in future consultation. We talked to four hundred and ninety five adults. These people came from twenty-seven different black and minority ethnic groups. The main groups were as follows: ChineseWho we talked toMuslim (mixedPakistani, Indian,60137 Turkish, Bangladeshiand Kosovan)98Mixed group (Caribbean,black, Indian and other)Travellers73 127 Thirty-nine people from different black and minority ethnic groups said they would be willing to take part in something else like this again, or to be available to organise events and give advice. Thank you for your interest. What did you say? Generally you think the services are okay. ...

Informations

• Publié par: Mafor
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copeland BC

Cumbria Constabulary

Listening to our black and minority ethnic communities

PUBLIC SUMMARY

1

Eden District Council

Impact Housing

We are concerned that you might not be getting the best out of the services available perhaps because you: do not know about the services on offer, do not know how to access the services, or you think that the service is not suitable. We decided that the best way to find out what you thought of the services was to get an independent company that specialises in talking to communities to ask you. They asked for views in the following areas: public services you receive; quality of life education living in the local community health and social care housing willingness to be involved in future consultation. We talked to four hundred and ninety five adults. These people came from twentyseven different black and minority ethnic groups. The main groups were as follows:

98

73

60

Chinese Who we talked to

127

Muslim (mixed Pakistani, Indian, 137 Turkish, Bangladeshi and Kosovan) Mixed group (Caribbean, black, Indian and other)

Travellers

Thirtynine people from different black and minority ethnic groups said they would be willing to take part in something else like this again, or to be available to organise events and give advice. Thank you for your interest. What did you say? Generally you think the services are okay. There are some areas we can improve and we have listened to some suggestions. We are concerned that quite a large number of people thought that things, we believe are unacceptable, such as being called racist names, are just a normal part of life. One person said ‘Itis a part of life you just get on with it, you can’t report all of it otherwise it would depress you’. We would like to talk more about how to overcome these problems. Some people of you said it was not part of your culture to complain and when you have issues of concern, you try to sort them out yourself.  2

1. Accessing our services More than half of you felt you had been treated fairly by public services but a quarter of you said they had been treated unfairly.We believe this level of concern needs to be addressed and will be looking at your concerns in more detail. Language and cultural communication barriers were highlighted as one of the biggest problems faced by people we talked to. English is not the first language of over 60% of you. This has led to communication difficulties for people and/or their families when dealing with any public services.For some of you it is a reason to avoid contact with these services. For some women in the Bangladeshi, Chinese, Turkish, Kosovar and Indian communities, these communication problems lead to feeling isolated and being unable to gain information about the services on offer, facilities available, or even their rights on various issues. This is a particular problem in relation to healthcare. Some of you said you didn’t understand the information you were being given. Many of you feel there is no point in complaining about not being able to use services, as nothing will be done. You would like more leaflets and information in your own language, particularly on key services such as health care, housing, planning, education and road works. You also believe that if more people from black and minority ethnic groups were working in public services it might help to get rid of racism or unfair practices towards different groups. 2. Experiences of racism Most of you had suffered some form of racism, mainly namecalling. Many of you, particularly those in the restaurant business, view this type of language as part ‘of the norm’ and as ‘going with the territory’.Nearly a quarter of you, mainly Travellers, feel that people in the community do not want to associate with you and that you are often made to feel a nuisance. You had little fear of crime, but some fear of dealing with drunken, loutish behaviour and the vandalism and abuse often attached to drunken behaviour. Some of you feel that you would not be taken seriously if you applied for a job. Some of you have been refused entry into shops and pubs and feel that you are assumed to be the guilty party in a dispute.Some of you feel that you have not received fair treatment from the police, or education services. 21 people from the Chinese and British Bangladeshi, Turkish, Pakistani, Indian, Traveller, Entertainer, communities, in particular cited experiences of physical attack or bullying. Note: these responses did not include bullying at school. Many of those questioned want the police and councils to deal more effectively with drunken behaviour, as for many drinking is not part of their culture and is considered offensive. You would like schools to help to reduce misunderstandings, by providing more education about different cultures. Some of you believe that the police should be involved in work in schools to help reduce racism, particularly, but not exclusively, officers from black and minority ethnic groups. You would like more foot patrol officers in their area though you do recognise that police staffing problems could impact on this request. You would also like the police force to reflect the community it serves.You would like the police to engage in more partnership working with the community to tackle issues the community is concerned with, not just issues that the police feel are of concern in the community. 3. Being involved Many of you are not actively involved in the community due to your working patterns.Some of the reasons you did not feeling included were;  3

language barriers and cultural differences. too busy. not knowing how to go about it. needing help from the council. needing funding. You would like better representation of Black and Minority Ethnic people in the public sector, for public services to be more open and to have more contact with them, You believe we should have more translators and more leaflets in different languages, prayer facilities in hospitals and other public buildings and make learning about different cultures part of the school curriculum. You think this might be easier if we create networks of people from different cultures and countries to provide support and use local people who are prepared to share their culture. You would like better refuse collections for businesses. 4. Issues affecting women A substantial number of women interviewed of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Turkish origin, predominantly from Allerdale, Barrow and South Lakeland, expressed some concerns about healthcare information: difficulty understanding the information if English is not your first language. This was reinforced by a number of men who said that women known to them do not visit their GP, because of language difficulties. You would like more translators available. You believe that even for those who understand English, it would help people to feel more at ease.Information should be printed in different languages; people suggested that this might also encourage the elderly to feel more confident in visiting their GP. Some local views In all District Council areas you told us that: single men have difficulty in getting social housing; food takeaway businesses see rubbish collection as a problem; better representation from all parts of the community is needed in all services, particularly the police, council and hospitals; more and better communication from all the public services, more information should be available in different languages; racism is seen as an everyday part of life and generally not something worth complaining about 97% of those questioned had experienced racism in some form; drunken behaviour and racism were of particular concern. Most of you (over 80%) saw this review as a positive step.You were also pleased that many of the researchers were from your own own ethnic group. After reading this summary, you may feel that you would like to get involved in working with the services mentioned on some of the issues mentioned. You can do this by contacting, the Equality Officer Cumbria County Council, The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8NA.Tel: [phone] Email: equality@cumbria cc.gov.uk Acopy of the full report is also available from the same address.

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You told us that complaints are dealt with appropriately. there is a lack of awareness of different cultures and religions. more English classes should be provided for minoritygroups. there are not enough facilities for Chinese people in the area. we needed better representation from the Chinese community in all Services, particularly the police, council and hospitals. where bullying occurs, people generally deal with it themselves.

You told us that the library/internet facility is a wellused resource. you would like help for people who do not have English as their first language e.g. opening a bank account. more translation services are needed, particularly in hospitals, and more leaflets in different languages. more Asian and Chinese workers are needed in the council andolice service.

You told us that most of you are satisfied, or happy, with the way in which complaints are handled; police are doing their best but could deal better with racism and racist incidents.The police and council should deal with racism and drunken behaviour better; many of you feel your needs are not taken into account when planning services; Most people who practice a nonChristian religion, feel there is a lack of facilities; a Mosque is needed, and more prayer rooms in public buildings. education is generally okay, but bullying in schools is not dealt with appropriately. Schools/parent communication is not good.The MultiCultural Centre, funded by the County Council, was seen as a positive and useful resource. Morechildcare facilities are required. bigger houses are needed for extended and large families. more information in different languages, interpreters, and books in libraries for people from Minority Ethnic groups.

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You told us that public transport is very poor, particularly at the weekends and in the evenings; police do not treat all of you equally; Travellers feel actively excluded from the community. many Chinese and Bangladeshis do not go to the GP because they cannot understand what they are saying

You told us that The council takes too long to deal with issues, including complaints; The police are ‘great’. The relationship with the police has improved and everyone was keen for this to continue; The police should take the matter of drunken behaviour seriously.

You told us that more than half of you do not think the council care what you think; Travellers feel excluded from aspects of everyday life, are ignored and(duplication) are called names in shops, pubs and on the streets. access to council housing is a problem for single men.Some of you said your families lived elsewhere in Britain and there was no real prospect of being able to bring them to Cumbria to join them.  Muslimsneed to have a Mosque and more prayer facilities in public buildings. They would like to work with the council to achieve this.