Manchester's Services for Minority Communities Report 2016

MANCHESTER’S SERVICES FOR MINORITIES:

Understanding Needs and Improving Services for

Minority Communities in Manchester

Jonny Wineberg

May 2016

1 | M a n c h e s t e r ’ s S e r v i c e s f o r M i n o r i t i e s



CONTENTS

Introduction

Aims of Research 2

Methodology 2

Findings

Demographics 3

Worries and Needs 4

Demographic Change 10

Racism 13

Barriers to Accessing Services 14

Recommendations 18




Introduction This report is based on the responses of 312 people in 2015 to a questionnaire produced by a partnership of the Faith Network for Manchester (FN4M), Women’s Solidarity Forum (WSF) and Saheli. The Office of National Statistics 2011 figures showed that the number of non-white British people in Manchester nearly doubled since the previous census of 2001 (ONS 2011). Manchester, known for being a diverse and cosmopolitan city, has undergone massive changes in its demographics and environment, however it had yet to be understood how these changes were impacting on society. With this in mind, the Faith Network 4 Manchester and WSF with Saheli had included research as part of their separate bids to Manchester City Council’s Equalities Fund. Following funding being granted, the groups recognised the synergy in their proposals and agreed to work together as a research partnership. The research looked to build up a picture of needs of different communities in Manchester; views on the City's changing demographic make-up; an understanding of the issues that impact on different groups and why BME women do or do not access specialist services. The latter issue is covered in more detail in a separate report being developed by the Women’s Solidarity Forum (WSF) with Saheli. Aims of Research

1. To research the perception and views of people on the changing demographics and diversity in Manchester.

2. To identify people’s issues, concerns, needs and gaps. 3. To make recommendations on improving community relations as well as

influencing service design and delivery in Manchester City Council.

Methodology An initial scoping exercise was undertaken between the partners and several draft questions developed. These were then consulted on with two user groups, one of women only, to inform the final design of the research questionnaire. It was agreed to have both an online questionnaire utilising Survey Monkey as well as hard copy surveys, which would be implemented with user groups to facilitate participation in the research. The partners then set to work promoting, distributing and assisting people to complete the questionnaire. Whilst faith groups were mainly targeted, with visits to Churches, Mosques and Synagogues as well as emails to all places of worship in the City, the survey was also promoted to others via social media to get the views of as wide a cross section of people as possible. This Report is the product of this work


Findings

Demographics

Just over two-thirds, 221 of the 312 respondents, indicated their faith. The majority of respondents were Christians (33.9%) with Muslims (29.4%), Jews (5.9%), Hindus (3.2%) and Sikhs (1.8%) the next most significant groups. 20.4% indicated that they did not follow a faith, the majority of these being atheists, and 3.2% followed a minor faith.

The size of the faith groups means that the only minority faith available for reliable analysis is Muslim.

Whilst this does not perfectly match the make-up of religions reported in the 2011 census, it has enough similarity to give confidence in its validity. 63.3% of people indicated that they were Christian or Muslim compared to 64.5% in the census. The larger number of Muslims, and of other faiths, is mainly to do with the targeting of minority ethnic groups for the research.

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Respondents by Faith

Christian Muslim Jewish Hindu Buddhist Sikh

None Atheist Agnostoc Humanist Wiccan/Pagan Other


Worries and Needs

Just under three-quarters of the respondents (231) made comment on the open question: ‘What worries you’. The range of concerns was extremely wide, covering health, career, finances, abuse, crime, drugs, racism, discrimination and much more. Several people did respond that they had few, or no, worries but most did share specific concerns.

The main type of response, probably due to the nature of the survey, was around discrimination in many different forms. Several people commented on the need to have better understanding between faiths. There were also several responses that expressed concern about extremism, both from racists and also from Islamic extremism. The following gives a flavour of the responses.

When I came here to the UK from Morocco I wanted to be a translator (French/Morocco to English) but my age (19) made it difficult to study. People didn't understand me. Language is a barrier.

I'm a university graduate who is not working and yet I have to tell my children to study in order to get a better job and be productive members of the country. Institutionalised racism especially when applying for professional jobs even during job interviews.

Guns & shootings. Need more youth clubs + people to talk to.

I am single, disabled female. I have been unable to work due to my many health problems. There is a very worrying discrimination culture against people like me. I will not be able to survive if my benefits are cut. I will die.

I can't speak English, also I don't know the English culture and I feel that some staff and agencies will judge me.

Immigration and immigrants not mixing with the indigenous population. Immigrants blatantly ignoring local bylaws & customs, not to mention the country's laws.

Increasing homophobia in public spaces that is going completely unchallenged by the community.

A society that is driven by measuring everything in economic terms and has no vision of humanity beyond this, resulting in inhuman policies and treatment of people.

Islamphobia and tension between different communities in Greater Manchester

Lack of communication between Islamic community and rest of community

Lack of Police presence on the streets (not just PCSO's)

Local and national governments pandering to Muslim communities who refuse point blank to integrate into society. There is no excuse for someone being in this country for 40 plus years not being able to understand English. I'm fed up of my taxes being wasted.

Loneliness, stress, my health and my situation

Raging political correctness against Christianity when the faith of this land is Christian

The amount of crime happening against foreign people and those by foreign people in retaliation


The increasing incidents of anti-Semitism and its connection with the far left and Islamic fundamentalism.

The Treatment of LGBT Asylum seekers, hate crime and discrimination against minorities

Communities living separately and not mixing or not wanting to mix; deeply held prejudice about the 'other' amongst the different communities.

That many people in the community are only interested in themselves and their needs and there is little tolerance

The strength of these responses indicates the need for a coherent response to a range of issues around discrimination. Key to this would seem to be better awareness of different groups, creating opportunities to engage for those who might not have previously. This could be faith groups engaging with LGBT groups, English-born people engaging with recent immigrants or Christians engaging with Muslims. Creative ways should be found to enable this, both with young and adult groups.

The learning of English is also identified as an issue and is highlighted in other responses.

The quantitative question on worries showed over two-thirds expressing high levels of concern about Unemployment, Financial Security, Racism and Mental Health. Marginally under two-thirds expressed high levels of concern about Physical Health and Personal Safety. Such high levels of worry clearly reflect the high level of need for diverse services in the City.

What is most concerning is the higher level of worry amongst Muslim respondents across most of the issues raised. Similar analysis could not be done for other faith groups due to the small numbers but the extremely higher levels of worry over financial security and unemployment, with 61.9% and 56.7% respectively worrying a lot about these issues, shows a need for better targeted provision, such as jobs clubs and financial advice surgeries.

In a different vein, the significantly higher levels of concern on personal safety and racism, with 48.4% and 54.0% respectively worrying a lot about these issues, shows a

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How much issues concern you (all respondents)

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need for better targeted provision, such as more police engagement in areas where Muslims live, more engagement with Muslim youth groups and increased recruitment of Muslim police officers and PCSOs. One contrasting feature is the lower level of concern over anti-social behaviour in the Muslim community. This reflects the qualitative feedback with far more concern amongst Muslims over Islamophobia and fear of being attacked than local nuisance.

Whilst targeted support for the growing Muslim community is clearly necessary, this does not mean that it should be at the expense of wider support. Indeed, the high level of concern expressed over the whole population regarding discrimination, and reflected in the qualitative responses, shows that the more provision that can bring different communities together, the better. This may mean some gender-specific services, but open to all, rather than Muslim-only services. Indeed, all services should be designed with both the intention of meeting the specific needs of different faith and ethnic communities, as well as maximising opportunities for different communities to come together and understand each other more. This is relevant for Jobs Clubs, in youth groups, neighbourhood meetings or any other services and should be looked at by the Council, Police, Housing Associations and others providing services in communities.

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How much issues concern you (Muslim respondents)

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The follow-up, open question on how these issues affected people elicited responses from 217 people, over two-thirds of respondents. A key theme, which backs up the high level of worry about mental health, was how much different issues affect people’s mental health. Anxiety, stress and depression were all mentioned in different answers and, even for those who are not worried for themselves, there was concern over what is happening in the wider community.

This link between jobs, crime, getting older and other issues with mental health should be taken on board by all services. Reducing anxiety and stress when people engage with statutory services should be a key principle and staff should be trained in how to ensure they minimise people’s concerns and certainly do not exacerbate them. The development of such a training programme should be a priority to reduce the high level of worry about mental health and improve outcomes across many issues.

What is also clear is the need for the development of more robust mental health services across the community. Faith groups have historically played a leading role in this area and there are opportunities resulting from the Greater Manchester devolution agenda that could help address this.

Those who worry a lot or sometimes about issues

ISSUE OF CONCERN All respondents

%

Muslim respondents

% Unemployment 70.95 78.33 Financial security 67.81 80.95 Racism 67.34 74.60 Mental health 67.80 72.13 Physical health 65.98 72.88 Domestic Abuse 57.29 66.67 Housing 55.52 60.32 Crime 59.52 68.25 Anti-social behaviour 54.92 50.79 Personal safety 66.32 82.26 Your career 52.41 70.97 Bullying 58.76 65.57 Possible benefit changes 44.40 49.18 Disability discrimination 55.56 53.45 Environmental issues 56.40 50.00 Looking after elderly parents 48.13 63.49 Homophobia 46.37 36.07 Loneliness 44.83 65.00 Looking after children 47.93 58.06 Gangs 48.29 50.82 Sexual/relationship issues 39.59 49.18 Drug related Problems 43.54 53.23 Gaining qualifications 41.52 59.68 Sexual health 39.65 50.00 Alcohol 42.71 45.90 Appearance/body image 39.21 55.17 Teenage Pregnancies 32.42 33.87 Gambling 28.62 18.03


As a family person I have a teenager and I worry about him a lot i.e. crime, drugs etc., as there is lack of activities for children.

As I'm getting older I am more worried about my physical health and career opportunities

Being a survivor of sexual violence means this affects me every day. I have problems with mental health. I give up a lot of my time to help other women fight for justice and I fight for children having the education they need to protect themselves and stand up to perpetrators.

Don't go out late at night and even avoid evenings now it is darker earlier.

I am disabled and worry about all the cuts to disability benefits. I think young single parents get too much and pensioners get too little money and services.

I am generally happy with my life and blessed with good health, a fabulous family, a job I love etc. My worries tend to be for future generations ie my children and groups within society who are discriminated against.

I get very worried and slip into depression. Sometimes I get tired of fighting back and fed up

Constant worry making me unable to feel safe walking home on my own without being judged, drugged or attacked.

Constantly thinking of new ways and approaches to tackle the issues that my community faces. This can cause a build-up of stress, frustration and fear.

I think a lot about these issues and it makes me stressed, shoulder pains, loss of appetite.

It is heartbreaking to hear people’s stories and then be delighted by the improvement of those overtime with the support from services.

Immigration is increasing unemployment and causing crime.

Living in Manchester is not always a nice experience. I don't feel appreciated or seen as a member of the community as a person of colour.

Mentally play on my mind. They affect my mental state and sometimes I feel very low.

Not a lot of support available. Too many cuts in services. Not being able to speak up without being judged.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to access health and support services for me and husband in our 50s with chronic/long term health issues, and for my ailing 90 year old father in law. I am active in my community as a volunteer in many fields, and am concerned that people of all ages experience bullying (at work, school, home).

Personally, very little but sometimes it bothers me how it affects others.

Stress. Mentally draining. Makes me want to cry. I felt suicidal at one point and had to physically slap myself to stop my thoughts. Exhausting. I feel overwhelmed with these issues so I eat but I need to lose weight because I'm really overweight which is depressing too.

The serious ones keep me awake at night and worrying about them prevents me from getting everything else done too.

There’s too much discrimination in work places about people with body modifications and also a lot of abuse towards them in anti-social ways.

These issues affect me as I have 2 sons one with drug induced psychosis which leads to many other issues. One who was a victim in a gang issue and now suffers with having to look over his shoulders and becoming a victim of society.

They make me afraid and scared to go out, especially during the night.


The open question on needs, “What are the main needs you have, which if addressed would improve your quality of life?” elicited 175 responses that covered a litany of issues. Improving job or job prospects was mentioned 38 times (21.7%), often linked to financial security, reflecting the results from the quantitative analysis. Health was mentioned 31 times (17.7%), which also reflects the quantitative analysis. These findings should direct faith groups towards considering more activities around work and health in their community work.

The possibility for faith groups pursuing social enterprise around housing projects could certainly be considered. This reflects concerns from both qualitative and quantitative responses, with over a third of respondents, and 47% of Muslim respondents, worrying a lot about it. Provision of housing to asylum seekers or others in need could be self-financing or undertaken in conjunction with Housing Associations.

Some examples of responses on this question include:

Able to practice my faith freely, comfortably and peacefully

More affordable childcare before and after school and in holidays. Flexible working.

Better finance management and a realistic healthy eating plan that is affordable

BME carers fail to access support because they are often unaware that such support exists. I often feel very isolated and cut off as I am caught up in caring. If I had some support my quality of life would improve greatly.

Feeling safe, when I left home being in the refuge has saved my life. My quality of life is so much better. I feel that I am able to live without fear.

Better access to GP's for non emergency matters. Getting a sick note is not an emergency, but I cannot wait 4 weeks for an appointment for this.

Finding work, finding personal / tailored coach or mentor

Have a better change to change jobs and have access to employment and training for older people.

Housing for me and my children

Housing, support with my drinking problem

I am an ayslum seeker. If they give my papers and work I can have a normal life which would make me feel safe.

I need to earn more money but it has been very hard to find a well paid job. I get lot of jobs in care work, cooking, etc but it is hard to find office job. I have to work very long hours to make ends meet. BME people find it very hard to get decent jobs

I want to find better paid job and more part time hours. Because I can’t speak the language English very well it has been very hard. More help should be given to people to find good jobs and good rate of pay.

Learning more skills. Education, so I can get a better job.

Less racism and sexism on a personal, cultural and structural level.

Local ladies only gym would be nice and affordable in price.

More day centres for older people with physical or mental disability

More services around sexual health, mental health and healthy eating, either free or low cost. Using more creative and innovative ways to reach out and raise awareness.

Support as a carer for someone with severe Mental Health needs and elderly parents.


Demographic Change

The open question, “How do think the demography and diversity has changed over the last decade in Manchester?” elicited responses from over 80% of respondents with nearly all recognising the increased diversity. There were different views given here on how positive or negative these changes are, which are reflected in the quantitative responses. What was interesting from both positive and negative responses was that there needed to be far more done to enable understanding between communities. This included those who saw minority communities as being too insular and those who saw more need for the majority community to embrace diversity.

It is great to see people of different cultures and faiths living together.

It seems that everyone is a Moslem and wears Moslem dress. I don't feel Manchester is a place for me anymore and want to live somewhere else

It’s changed a lot in a good way. Manchester mixes nicely between races and religions - one of the best in the world I’d say.

It is now harder to express and live out your faith than it was 10-30 years ago - the world has gone pc mad.

It has changed over the years but people don’t mix with each other. They live in their own communities and they won’t want outside people going in to their communities. There is a lack of trust in some communities.

It's getting even more vibrant and exciting as it diversifies

Not a lot in fact. We are pitted against each other by government and media. Poverty exacerbates this.

Over the last decade the balance has shifted a little, with the arrival of quite a few eastern Europeans and particularly Roma. We've also seen the Muslim community grow in confidence and engagement, which is great, but not always straightforward.

Quite a lot. It was so quiet and everyone was happy. But now everyone’s scared of gangs and violence and shootings.

The increase in Muslim places of worship and culture is disturbing, as is the promotion of Manchester as a centre of sexual "anything goes" as being acceptable.

The rich have got richer and the poor have got poorer. More males are committing serious crimes but are getting away with it as the rape conviction rates are terrible.

We have been enriched by so many cultures coming together in our city and neighbourhood. However some of the extreme opinions expressed regarding newcomers are very worrying

There have been positives and negatives within both. My own community is rich because of its diverse nature. However I know that this is not the case everywhere. The vast majority of respondents were not indifferent to the changes occurring in the community.

Whilst 50% saw them as good for the community in general, 21% saw them as bad. This becomes more starkly into focus when 35% say that these changes cause social


tension, even though 42% say they improve social cohesion. This dichotomy of views reflects those demonstrated in the qualitative responses.

This polarisation of perspectives should be of concern to all involved in public life as it clearly threatens community cohesion. More honest, open debate on the changing nature of our communities should be encouraged. This could include schools devoting as much time as can be allowed within PSCHE as well as finding other opportunities, perhaps using Heritage Lottery Fund or other sources, to fund projects investigating different cultures of young people or, indeed, adults.

Over 40% of respondents also say that these changes are draining resources available to deliver services against 23% saying that it is adding resources.

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What do you think of the demographic change

for the community in general?

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46% say that this is worsening the quality of services delivered to the community in Manchester with only 17% saying it is improving them.

There is a responsibility here for public services – Police, Local Authorities, Health and Fire Services – to produce some clear responses addressing these findings. Whilst it is clear that some people, from their other responses, are conflating cuts with demographic change, there is enough evidence of fear of change for some redesign of services and, in particular, improved community engagement. Public services should consider positive messages they wish to promote. Again, the Greater Manchester devolution agenda may help here with opportunities for collaboration across the County to produce strong messaging. However, this should be backed up by improved engagement with, and between, communities as previously highlighted.

All of this also points to the need to take into account the increasing diversity of the community, their cultural, faith and other differences, in the planning of services. To enable this, those responsible for delivering and planning services need increased awareness of the issues involved, with FN4M and other needing to plan provision to meet this need. The engagement agenda therefore needs to be followed up by one that gives different communities real input and involvement in planning with maximum

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How do you think this is affecting resources

available to deliver services?

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opportunity, as appropriate, to deliver services instead of, or in partnership with, statutory agencies.

Racism

5% of respondents reported that other ethnic groups were less intelligent compared to theirs with 16.7%, 1 in 6, saying they were less friendly. This starkly shows the need to increase work bringing people from different faiths and backgrounds together. It also speaks to the need for more education to reduce fear and disavow myths.

Such work must take place in schools but faith and other groups should look for other opportunities to engage adults. The We Stand Together initiative and the Greater Manchester BME Network could look to be part of this, along with interfaith groups, and should design and pilot with new ideas for inter-community engagement.

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Barriers to Accessing Services

The key barriers to accessing services were Time, Location, Work life, Transport and Family Life. However, over a quarter of respondents also reported significant barriers because of Staff within services, Service Culture and lack of Understanding of Services. This requires a specific response as, with Manchester being so diverse, staff should have a good knowledge of how to respond to minorities and services should be designed to maximise accessibility.

More than one in five had significant barriers because of Mental Health, Physical Health, their own Culture, lack of English or Education. This has a wide range of implications for services, echoing the need for increased awareness of cultural issues as well as finding other ways to increase accessibility.

Prevents my access completely or sometimes %

Time 41.51 Location 38.36 Work life 36.48 Transport 30.57 Service Culture 22.73 Understanding of Services 20.00 Mental Health 20.25 Family life 25.95 My Culture 18.35 Spoken Language 15.72 Physical Health 19.62 Spouse/Family 16.03 My level of Education 16.35 Staff within services 25.64 Personal Safety 15.48 Childcare 15.82 General (not specialist) service 12.84

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Caring for relatives/others 18.35 Physical Disability 10.83 Learning Disability 7.01 Sensory Disability 8.39

Just over a third of those who answered the qualitative question “What barriers do you face to accessing services?” wrote in that they faced none, or words to that effect. However, several respondents cited funding and service cuts, which has been a reality for the last several years.

Other themes emerging from the qualitative answers included discrimination on the grounds of race religion, gender and disability; distance of services; time – including opening hours and lack of time to travel to and engage; lack of childcare; language and lack of expertise/knowledge of workers.

Specific quotes include:

A lack of language-based information for BME carers. Services are no longer publicized as they used to be, due to lack of funding. I was attending Asian Carer project, but their funding has been cut and people like me are losing out.

Accessing them outside of my working hours

Assumptions are made about my disabilities when I am the expert on me. Tolerance and empathy can be in short supply and sometimes because the service provider is over worked and not appreciated.

Cost of Transport, times opening. Will it be over crowded? Will I get seen on time? Is the service going to close down due to funding cuts?

Distance from home, opening hours, not knowing of their existence or not finding services that I need.

Due to my immigration status I had to go to so many services seeking help. As soon as they found out that I had no recourse to public funds they said they could not help me. They did not even try to find out about the DV concession.

I find not many services are willing to support Asian women who has drinking problems and mental health issues.

There are very few support services available to me and the stigma of attending them is much higher. When I attempted to find parenting support some years ago there was nothing available to me because I am white, financially secure and have a degree. I feel my family suffered as a result of this. We all need support.

Sometimes some service providers have pre conceived ideas about people from different cultures. Secondly, I feel there are no specific services for African people- the so called black African and Caribbean services are not specific for me. I'm black but my culture is completely different from the black Caribbean and therefore I do not accesses such services. I went once but did not feel I was understood. Thirdly, there are some organisations which paint a good image that they provide a service for BME and yet they are there to have and protect their jobs rather than creating activities and services that support their clients. Such services are more interested in the numbers that attend the service rather than what services they provide.


I find it easier to access service where the staff are from different cultures. It makes me more comfortable. I was asked to attend an event that was organised and food was not marked vegetarian or halal. I ended up not eating anything. Services not thinking about these things gives a strong message that they don't care about the needs of people from different culture and religion.

I work and am a single parent. This presents the main barrier for me.

Knowledge and awareness I think is the biggest barrier. No good having services if no one is aware of them

Lack of availability. This doesn't have anything to do with migration. It has everything to do with cuts.

Lack of knowledge and language

Travel is an issue cost and distance.

Language mainly and lack of confidence

Language, due to funding cuts lots of support that used to be given is no longer available.

Location, sometimes these services can be far from where I live. The main barrier is time, often services are during the daytime, making the assumptions that those who access them don't work. This frustrates me greatly.

Lots of barriers, many services don't want to help young Asian women who has drinking problem.

Many of the local services have lost funding. The benefits system is changing and I find it difficult to get help. The carers project used to help but they only help women for six weeks. The library used to have lot of help available but it is being run by volunteers. Lack of support and help is a big barrier to accessing services.

My physical disability and lack of money so I can't afford taxi's to get anywhere but often I am physically unable to use public transport, or afford it!

None as a 56 year old Gay Woman I would and do access what I need.

None except for the cost of leisure and fitness services.

None, except that I have once run up against the issue of medical treatments the NHS will not fund - My wife and I experienced very poor care service from personal care contractors appointed by the City Council (a detailed complaint was upheld - after being 'lost in the post' twice)

Council officers rushing assessments and not briefing/de-briefing interpreters before and after assignments. Council officers being culturally unaware and thus unprepared when dealing with clients from specific communities.

Overt/ covert racism and sexism. Cost/ economic implications. A structural bureaucracy and red tape.

Social worker completely believed my husband. She was not ready to listen to my story and like everyone else she blamed me for my situation. It took them ages to get an interpreter. They then got a male interpreter who also did not fully understand what I was going through.


Sometimes my disability can impact on accessing services because of my location. By this I mean not having to travel across Manchester to speak to someone about my health issues.

Sometimes services are non-existent or not easily accessible, i.e. need to travel out of area. Other times I would prefer to use a service not in the area due confidential reasons

The group work that I used to attend is no longer running as they had lost the funding. Even the advice centre is closed near my house. I have to change two buses and come to this group that someone told me about at Hosla Project. In other services I find it difficult to make them understand my language, and other groups don’t provide childcare.

Waiting time for NHS service.

When I access services, specialist or other stereotyping takes place, which I believe is a lack of quality training to service providers/ employees. Stereotyping causes the need for me to explain myself to reverse their beliefs in order for me to gain access to the right services.

Without the knowledge of the availability of those services.

Work commitment, childcare, looking after family especially elderly parents.

There is a clear need to improve equality and cultural diversity training for workers in the public sector and those in voluntary organisations delivering both public, and other, services. There should be no excuse with the very diverse Manchester community for any worker not trying to overcome such barriers.

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Recommendations

1. Statutory Services

1.1. All statutory services should look to increase and improve engagement with minority communities, including disabled, LGBT and faith communities, and create opportunities for these groups to meet, possibly working with the We Stand Together initiative.

1.2. Police should look to increase and improve engagement in areas where Muslims live, including with Muslim youth groups, and increase recruitment of Muslim police officers and PCSOs.

1.3. Statutory services should explore redesign to maximise access for minority communities including how they promote and market themselves. Greater Manchester collaboration for marketing and promotion should be considered.

1.4. Reducing anxiety and stress when people engage with statutory services should be a key principle.

2. Training and Development

2.1. A new staff mental health training programme should be developed as a priority to address issues ranging from understanding anxiety and stress to depressions and dementia. This should include clear referral routes and procedures.

2.2. Improved equality and cultural diversity training should be developed for workers in the public sector and those in voluntary organisations delivering both public, and other, services.

3. Faith and other Voluntary Sector Innovation

3.1. Faith groups should look to undertake more work to support people with both their physical and mental health, possibly eliciting the support of local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.

3.2. Faith groups should be encouraged to develop befriending, mentoring and counselling projects to address mental health and the new Greater Manchester Mayoralty should look to allocate funds to such work as part of health budget devolution.

3.3. Faith groups should look to develop community work that includes specific provision to support people in skills development, accessing work and supporting people into employment. Opportunities such as running Jobs Clubs, possibly eliciting the support of local Housing Associations.

3.4. Better targeted provision of jobs clubs and financial advice surgeries for Muslims, possibly using the example of JCom from the Jewish community. This could be followed up by Manchester Council of Mosques.

3.5. Creative responses to childcare needs should be investigated with the possibility of running social enterprises within establishments that have both whole day care and short term care to cover one or two hours where needed.

3.6. Faith groups should explore social enterprise opportunities in housing projects for asylum seekers or others in need, possibly in conjunction with Housing Associations.


3.7. English courses and groups for non-speakers or writers should be a priority for colleges and community groups and funding should be made available to enable this.

3.8. Key to this would seem to be better awareness of different groups, creating opportunities to engage for those who might not have previously. This could be faith groups engaging with LGBT groups, English-born people engaging with recent immigrants or Christians engaging with Muslims. Creative ways should be found to enable this, both with young and adult groups.

3.9. Local Jobs Clubs, youth groups and other services should explore running single gender services both for the benefit of faith groups but also for others who may find them more accessible and safe.

3.10. Schools, youth and community groups should be encouraged and supported, including by FN4M, to develop heritage projects investigating different cultures within their local communities.

3.11. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) publication How Well Do You Know Your Neighbours? (Dec 2015) that celebrates the multitude of faiths and cultures, should be promoted to groups across Manchester as a methodology of improving engagement. It is part of the JRF’s programme on ‘Risk, Trust and Relationships’ – see www.jrf.org.uk.

4. Faith Network 4 Manchester

4.1. Faith Network 4 Manchester should look to develop infrastructure support for faith groups to develop their community work.

4.2. Faith Network 4 Manchester should seek to work in partnership with Near Neighbours on their funding initiative as well as fundraise for micro-grants that can be made to local communities to deliver their own interfaith and intercultural projects.

4.3. FN4M and other equality groups should work alongside statutory services to maximise the input and involvement of minority communities in planning and delivery of services. This may include developing partnerships or using collaborative, rather than competitive, commissioning.

4.4. FN4M should continue and, if possible, expand its In Your Faith work in schools and youth groups. Schools should devote as much time as possible within PSCHE and take other opportunities to increase awareness of cultural and faith diversity.

4.5. FN4M should look to design and pilot new ideas for adult inter-community engagement in partnership with interfaith groups, the We Stand Together initiative and the BME Network.

5. Further Research

5.1. A feasibility study of creating a city-wide (or Greater Manchester wide) interpreter service, with a partnership of providers, should be undertaken.

5.2. A piece of work looking at travel to key services, especially with the closure of police stations, hospitals and health centres, should be undertaken to ensure that public transport is available, improved or supplemented by community transport if necessary.

May 2016

Documents

Manchester's Services for Minority Communities Report 2016