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Hardly Hard to Reach: We Are Having Our Say – was the title of a major consultation event which took place on 12 June 2018 at CAIA’s Hayashen Centre.  Attended by over 50 people to express their views on the development and updating of Equality Objectives (EO) and Equality Delivery System (EDS), a statutory obligation designed to help CCGs commission and deliver the right services and reduce health inequalities.

The event was organised as a grass root community response to the eight NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCG) in North West London (Ealing, Harrow, Hounslow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon, Brent, Kensington & Chelsea, City of Westminster) who are producing equality objectives and commissioning plans for the next four years.

The 4 hour long event provided a safe space and platform for people to voice their concerns about mental health access and share their needs and ideas to improve BAMER mental health in North West London. Speakers and groups sessions highlighted the need of those whose first language is not English and other aspects like poverty, stigma and culture leading often to exclusion from services.

The event was the latest initiative by the Mental Health Equality Campaign members composed of various Black, Asian and Minority, Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) groups such as CAIA, ILAYS, Council of Somali Organisations, the Tamil Community centre, Network of Eritrean Women, HEAR and ROTA (Race on the Agenda).

Speakers included:

  • Andy Gregg, Chief Executive of ROTA
  • Dipen Rajyaguru Assistant Director for Equalities & Patient Experience
  • CWHHE CCG’s Commissioning Collaborative