BME Communities are heard
North Somerset Council and North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are to work with local voluntary organisation the Multi-cultural Friendship Association (MFA) to engage with individuals and organisations in the BME communities.
Following a robust competitive tendering process, the council and CCG have awarded a 12-month contract to the MFA, working together with the Carlton Centre and 1 in 4, to start in June.
The aim of the year-long project is to empower the BME communities, giving them the opportunity to make their views known and enabling them to participate in the development of public services in North Somerset. It will include:
- completing an annual health and community safety survey
- developing clear, articulate routes to engage the community in the development of services
- supporting members of the community to help with the evaluation of local health services.
oth the council and CCG are committed to seeking the views of individuals and organisations in North Somerset to help them provide and develop services in the most effective and efficient way.
Cllr David Pasley, the council's executive member for equality and diversity said
“We continue to recognise the importance of engaging with the BME communities. When it came to awarding a new contract to help us do this we were particularly impressed with the partnership approach put forward by the MFA and the wide range of new ideas they have to engage with a community that can sometimes be viewed as being hard to reach.”
Commenting on the contract award North Somerset Chief Clinical Officer Dr Mary Backhouse said:
“We are pleased to announce the Multi-cultural Friendship Association as the successful bidder to provide engagement with individuals and organisations in North Somerset BME communities.
The contract award follows a comprehensive consultation and tendering process and we look forward to working with MFA to ensure the voice of the BME communities in North Somerset continues to be heard.”
