2b) BME young people at particular risk - refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekersGood practice example 14 -Save <strong>the</strong> Childrenyoung separatedrefugee projectThis started as a national research initiative,looking at <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> young unaccompaniedminors, which described <strong>the</strong>ir needs for support.The young people were asked what <strong>the</strong>y wouldfind useful <strong>and</strong> highlighted that a safe place to goto for advice <strong>and</strong> information would be helpful.As a result <strong>of</strong> this finding, space was madeavailable for Save <strong>the</strong> Children to run a Saturdaydrop-in by <strong>the</strong> ‘City Centre Project’, a voluntarysector agency that supports young people whoare homeless or who have problems withsubstance misuse.When Save <strong>the</strong> Children drop-in first started, itattracted around 10-12 young people; however,word spread <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Saturday sessions becamevery popular with a regular attendance <strong>of</strong>between 30 <strong>and</strong> 50 young people. Issuesidentified at <strong>the</strong> drop-in were <strong>the</strong>n worked onby project staff during <strong>the</strong> week, with <strong>the</strong> nature<strong>of</strong> support being issue-led <strong>and</strong> individualised to<strong>the</strong> young person.The project also <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong> following:signposting/referring young people to o<strong>the</strong>rservices, including accompanying <strong>the</strong>m toappointments; one-to-one support; groupwork;outings <strong>and</strong> trips, residential weekends <strong>and</strong> asummer programme <strong>of</strong> activities. Outsideagencies/pr<strong>of</strong>essionals were also involved inrunning drop-in sessions.The initiative aimed to inform o<strong>the</strong>r agencies <strong>and</strong>pr<strong>of</strong>essionals about <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> this group <strong>of</strong>young people <strong>and</strong>, where relevant, coordinate<strong>the</strong> support provided to clients. The Save <strong>the</strong>Children initiative has informed various o<strong>the</strong>rpilots <strong>and</strong> programmes <strong>of</strong> work around <strong>the</strong>country, ei<strong>the</strong>r through <strong>the</strong> research undertakenor <strong>the</strong> subsequent initiative developed toprovide direct support to clients.The provision <strong>of</strong> support in an environmentconsidered as a ‘safe place’ by <strong>the</strong> young peoplewas an important aspect.Good practice example 15 -Haven Project: working with young refugees<strong>and</strong> asylum seekers in <strong>the</strong> UKThe Haven Project was started in 1995 byAction for Children in Conflict (AfCiC), anorganisation that works to break cycles <strong>of</strong>violence, hatred <strong>and</strong> despair by providingpsychological, emotional <strong>and</strong> educational supportto <strong>the</strong> survivors <strong>of</strong> conflict. Haven provides aschool-based mental health service for asylumseeking/refugee children in schools in NorthLondon, Oxford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leicester,Rochdale, Hull, Liverpool <strong>and</strong> Manchester. Thetarget age range is 5-18 years <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> future,<strong>the</strong> project will increasingly focus on workingwith unaccompanied minors.The main aims <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project are: To improve <strong>the</strong> <strong>access</strong>ibility <strong>of</strong> mental healthservices for asylum seeker/refugee families. The provision <strong>of</strong> mental health services forchildren in schools by experienced child <strong>and</strong>adolescent psychiatrists.Interpreters are available <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>reis close consultation with families,with Haven <strong>of</strong>fering: Group, family <strong>and</strong> individual <strong>the</strong>rapies. The training <strong>of</strong> teachers to carry out initialassessments using st<strong>and</strong>ard instrumentswithin schools in partnership with specialeducational needs coordinators (SENCOs)<strong>and</strong> school-based <strong>the</strong>rapists.Manchester/Salford Haven ProjectThis was set up in November 2002 <strong>and</strong> wascommissioned <strong>and</strong> resourced by AfCiC inpartnership with <strong>the</strong> CAMHS Directorate <strong>of</strong>C<strong>MMC</strong> University Hospitals NHS Trust.Features <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service are: Work in schools - this is focused in two highschools, those with among <strong>the</strong> highest number<strong>of</strong> refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekers in each authority(Manchester <strong>and</strong> Salford) <strong>and</strong> takes <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong>both consultation with staff <strong>and</strong> direct workwith young people <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families. Within<strong>the</strong>se schools target age groups are 11-16 years.Twenty-eight referrals were received in<strong>the</strong> first year. Consultation <strong>and</strong> liaison services – regularmultiagency consultation meetings attended byrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> Emotional Trauma SupportProject, Youth Access Team, EducationalPsychology Services; consultation toEMTAS (ethnic minority <strong>and</strong> travellersachievement service). Direct work - this takes place with youngpeople referred through o<strong>the</strong>r routes, forexample, GPs <strong>and</strong> EMTAS. Referrals from o<strong>the</strong>rsources are usually seen at <strong>the</strong> hospital baseswhere interpreters are more easily available. Training - workshops are delivered to staffworking with refugee <strong>and</strong> asylum seeking children<strong>and</strong> young people in a variety <strong>of</strong> settings, forexample, Social Services, City College, Save <strong>the</strong>Children, Diversity <strong>and</strong> Inclusion Team. Trainingpackages are also delivered on an ad hoc basis<strong>and</strong> address various issues.The project has a number <strong>of</strong> significant plans for<strong>the</strong> future including <strong>the</strong> extension <strong>of</strong> provision toprimary schools; <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> work with14-16 year olds who have not yet been allocatedschool places <strong>and</strong> 16-18 year olds attending CityCollege, <strong>and</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>r development <strong>of</strong>consultation/training services through trainingneeds analysis in relevant services, in order todevelop <strong>and</strong> deliver structured, training packages.Good practice example 16 -Refugee Therapy CentreBased in Islington, <strong>the</strong> Refugee Therapy Centreprovides psycho<strong>the</strong>rapy, counselling, help <strong>and</strong>support to children, young people <strong>and</strong> familieswho are refugees or asylum seekers.The service aims to give priority to those withless than ten years in <strong>the</strong> UK at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> firstcontact. Referrals from pr<strong>of</strong>essional groups <strong>and</strong>self-referrals are accepted. Children, youngpeople <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families are a priority <strong>and</strong> areseen as quickly as possible. Numbers <strong>of</strong> referralsto <strong>the</strong> service show an upward trend <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>service may be re-locating to larger premises in<strong>the</strong> near future.Individual, couple, family <strong>and</strong> group <strong>the</strong>rapy,based on an assessment <strong>of</strong> needs, are <strong>of</strong>fered bycounsellors, <strong>the</strong>rapists or support workers in avariety <strong>of</strong> languages (or if preferred, by anEnglish <strong>the</strong>rapist experienced in working withrefugees). A variety <strong>of</strong> clinical groups (child <strong>and</strong>adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists,psychoanalysts, educational psychologists <strong>and</strong>psycho<strong>the</strong>rapists) provide advice <strong>and</strong> support on<strong>the</strong> clinical work undertaken by <strong>the</strong> Centre. By2002, a total <strong>of</strong> 87 psycho<strong>the</strong>rapists, counsellors<strong>and</strong> support workers had volunteered to workat <strong>the</strong> Centre. In addition, <strong>the</strong> Centre <strong>of</strong>ferstraining, supervision <strong>and</strong> consultation to o<strong>the</strong>rorganisations <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals workingwith refugees.A recent addition is an Outreach Project tosupport families at home <strong>and</strong> to assist in16
3) Particular mental health problemshome/school negotiations (mainly problems ingetting children registered for a schoolplace/eligibility issues/lack <strong>of</strong> provision for<strong>the</strong>14-19 year age group). This has been fundedby a grant from a charitable trust.Good practice example 17 -121 Youth BefriendingService, includingZero Project121 Youth Befriending Service works with youngpeople aged 6-16, <strong>of</strong>fering befriending <strong>and</strong>mentoring. Access is by self-referral as well asreferral from <strong>the</strong> main statutory agencies, with<strong>the</strong> project <strong>of</strong>ten taking referrals from CAMHSfor on-going support. A range <strong>of</strong> activities is<strong>of</strong>fered, with a music project as a recent addition.The project works with all young people butrecent Home Office funding for <strong>the</strong> Zero Projectis to work with young asylum seekers <strong>and</strong> BMEgroups <strong>and</strong> to promote zero tolerance <strong>of</strong>discrimination faced by ethnic minorities in <strong>the</strong>Thames Gateway area <strong>of</strong> Kent.Elements <strong>of</strong> good practice1True partnershipworking between localorganisations that havewon high leveldecisions for support<strong>and</strong> funding.2 The services are needsdriven <strong>and</strong> based uponin-depth underst<strong>and</strong>ing<strong>of</strong> what is required.3 Accepting self-referral<strong>and</strong> communityreferrals, thus enabling<strong>the</strong> project to keep indirect contact with <strong>the</strong>issues that have animpact on people’s livesin Black <strong>and</strong> minorityethnic communities,ra<strong>the</strong>r than beingfiltered through aformal referral system.This both increases<strong>access</strong>ibility <strong>and</strong>reduces stigma forpeople requestingpsychological help.4A focus on activitiesallows young people toget to know staff <strong>and</strong> totrust <strong>the</strong>m – trust <strong>and</strong>confidentiality aremajor issues for thisgroup who <strong>of</strong>ten do notwant <strong>the</strong>ir parents toknow <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir worries(which may be parentalpressure to do wellin education).5 Informal drop-inservice, which <strong>of</strong>fershelp with many kinds <strong>of</strong>problem <strong>and</strong> can workwith <strong>the</strong> whole family,on an outreach basis ifnecessary, <strong>and</strong> is basedin universal servicessuch as schoolsGood practice example 18 -The MellowCampaign (TMC)This project was established in 2000 to reduce<strong>the</strong> over-representation <strong>of</strong> young African <strong>and</strong>Caribbean men in mental health services <strong>and</strong> todevelop alternative responses to mental distressamong this target group. The Mellow Campaignis part <strong>of</strong> East London <strong>and</strong> City Mental HealthTrust <strong>and</strong> undertakes a wide range <strong>of</strong> work witho<strong>the</strong>r agencies aiming to empower users,improve services, influence policy <strong>and</strong> involve<strong>the</strong> wider community.Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> campaign’sactivities include: Mellowship - which <strong>of</strong>fers a range <strong>of</strong> creativeexpression workshops to promote emotionalresilience <strong>and</strong> challenge stigma. The Akaba Programme - a four-waypartnership involving a local housing association,an employment <strong>and</strong> training service, <strong>the</strong>Sainsbury Centre <strong>and</strong> Mellow that providesspecialist employment support to Mellow’starget group. Two community engagement programmes –one <strong>of</strong> which has developed sport <strong>and</strong>community radio as a way <strong>of</strong> reaching <strong>and</strong>engaging with young Somali males, vulnerable todistress <strong>and</strong> isolation. Training <strong>and</strong> information through workshopsfor pr<strong>of</strong>essionals.<strong>and</strong> colleges.6 Close liaison <strong>of</strong>voluntary sectorprovider with specialistCAMHS, <strong>and</strong> close linkswith o<strong>the</strong>r local serviceproviders <strong>and</strong> agenciesin order to meetmultifaceted needs <strong>and</strong>effectively promotemental health.7 The capacity <strong>and</strong>capability to <strong>of</strong>ferdiverse approachesflexibly to matchindividual needs, <strong>and</strong>to undertake intensivework, <strong>of</strong>ten over <strong>the</strong>long term.8Training <strong>of</strong> Tier 1pr<strong>of</strong>essionals on <strong>the</strong>needs <strong>of</strong> young peoplefrom particular BMEcommunities.Good practice example 19 -Building Bridgesin LiverpoolThis is a three-year Health Action Zone project,based on an assessment <strong>of</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Black<strong>and</strong> minority ethnic communities in Liverpool.One aspect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project grew out <strong>of</strong> concernabout <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> suicides <strong>of</strong> Somali youngmen, expressed by members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Somalicommunity to <strong>the</strong> Toxteth Health <strong>and</strong>Community Care Forum. A series <strong>of</strong> meetingswith key people from <strong>the</strong> Somali communityfollowed, culminating in Somali Young Men’s Day– an event that provided an opportunity to hear<strong>the</strong> views <strong>and</strong> experiences <strong>of</strong> young men as wellas to place <strong>the</strong>se within a context <strong>of</strong>discrimination <strong>and</strong> disadvantage. Issues such asharassment by <strong>the</strong> police <strong>and</strong> security guards orbus drivers, racism in school, <strong>and</strong> limitedopportunities for employment <strong>and</strong> leisure wereidentified as some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> major causes <strong>of</strong>distress. As a result, a number <strong>of</strong> initiatives with<strong>the</strong> police, education <strong>and</strong> mental health serviceshave been instigated.Social <strong>and</strong> economic issues are addressed in allwork with families <strong>and</strong> individuals. People do notneed to have a mental health problem in orderto <strong>access</strong> <strong>the</strong> project, <strong>and</strong> helping people <strong>access</strong>services such as child care, immigration, housing,education <strong>and</strong> employment is seen as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>preventative ethos. The project does not seeitself as expert in <strong>the</strong>se issues, but as part <strong>of</strong> itswork <strong>of</strong>fers support in getting <strong>the</strong>m resolvedbecause <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> negative impact <strong>the</strong>y have onpeople’s mental health.Issues <strong>of</strong> concern1Major problems in young people’sunderst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> mental health<strong>and</strong> fears <strong>of</strong> stigma.2Targeted projects <strong>of</strong>ten dependupon <strong>the</strong> energy <strong>and</strong> skill <strong>of</strong>(usually) charismatic individuals<strong>and</strong> on short-term funding.Hard won trust between BMEcommunities <strong>and</strong> serviceproviders is lost – <strong>and</strong> isdifficult to regain – wheneverprojects close.3 There is a shortage <strong>of</strong> staff wh<strong>of</strong>eel fully competent in workingwith many BME groups.17