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1.2 The Chinese Welfare Association (CWA) The CWA, established in 1986, is the main support and representation organisation for the Chinese community in Northern Ireland. Its legal structure is that of a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The CWA's mission statement is: 'The Chinese Welfare Association will work to enhance diversity and good relations in Northern Ireland and to develop the participation of Chinese people in all aspects of social, cultural, economic and public life.' The CWA runs a range of projects in Belfast: dealing with community development, community relations, services for older people, youth clubs, after-school clubs, interpreting and translation services, welfare and immigration advice, health advocacy, information and communication technology (ICT) training and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teaching. Since January 2000, the CWA has been running the Sai Pak Chinese Community Project in Derry/Londonderry, promoting community capacity building and community relations as well as providing interpreting and advocacy services for Chinese people. 1.3 Rationale Many first generation Chinese who came here in the 1960s have reached or are nearing retirement age. Some of them also brought their parents from Hong Kong to live with them in Northern Ireland. Due to language difficulties, many older Chinese people have experienced problems with moving into local supported housing schemes. There are several supported housing 6
schemes in England and Wales for older Chinese people and in the 1990s a number of Chinese people left Northern Ireland to avail of these facilities. The CWA consequently carried out two pieces of research (1995, 1997), to identify the housing needs of older Chinese people in greater Belfast, and lobbied the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). BIH Housing Association subsequently built a 41-unit sheltered housing scheme, Hong Ling Gardens, in McAuley Street in South Belfast. Hong Ling Gardens has been a success, with almost full occupancy within the first year. Recently the Sai Pak Project received enquiries from Chinese residents in Derry/Londonderry about the possibility of a similar scheme in the North West and CWA approached NIHE in respect of the local interest for supported accommodation. Subsequently, this study was co-funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Western Investing for Health. 1.4 Research Objectives The main aim of the survey was to conduct a housing needs assessment of older Chinese people in the Greater Derry/Londonderry area. Findings will determine the housing, health and support needs of the older Chinese population and any social issues to be tackled. The survey will also provide a socio-economic profile and inform future planning of supported accommodation for older Chinese people in the Derry/Londonderry area. 1.5 Methodology In June 2006, following a selection procedure carried out in conjunction with NIHE, the CWA appointed four trained bilingual interviewers to undertake the fieldwork for the Older Chinese People Housing Needs Assessment. 7
Page 1 and 2: Home from Home Older Chinese People
Page 3 and 4: Home from Home Older Chinese People
Page 5 and 6: Contents Foreword 4 1. Background t
Page 7: 1. Background to the Research 1.1 I
Page 11 and 12: Due to the nature of the survey, th
Page 13: 2. Executive Summary 2.1 Profile of
Page 16 and 17: • The majority of older responden
Page 18 and 19: 16 The majority (78%) of HRPs had b
Page 20 and 21: 3.2 Employment Status of HRP More t
Page 22 and 23: Small family represented the larges
Page 24: Figure 3: Age of Household Members
Page 27: 4.0 Current Accommodation 4.1 Tenur
Page 30 and 31: 28 Around one in three respondents
Page 32 and 33: 30 Half of older respondents (17) s
Page 34 and 35: their GP or consultant and a small
Page 36 and 37: The majority of older respondents (
Page 38 and 39: In order to live safely and comfort
Page 40: 38 Almost three-quarters of older r
Page 43 and 44: 7. Conclusions and Recommendations
Page 46 and 47: 44 The majority of respondents (79%
Page 48 and 49: 46 Appendices
Page 50 and 51: The HRP is the household member who
Page 52 and 53: Table 3: Employment status (Househo
Page 54 and 55: Table 7: Competency in Spoken Engli
Page 56 and 57: Table 11: Household Types Definitio
Page 58 and 59:
Table 14: Tenure Number Percentage
Page 60 and 61:
Table 18: Overall satisfaction with
Page 62 and 63:
Table 21: Household members who hav
Page 64 and 65:
Table 23: Do you suffer from any of
Page 66 and 67:
Table 27: What mode of transport do
Page 68 and 69:
Table 29: Do you or any older membe
Page 70 and 71:
Table 32: If you or any older membe
Page 72 and 73:
Table 34: How important do you cons
Page 74 and 75:
Table 37: What type of accommodatio
Page 79:
www.nihe.gov.uk November 2007 CS/21
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