Ethnic minorities equality research revealed

A Ballymena community organisation, which has assisted over 3000 people from a range of ethnic backgrounds, has helped launch a report on equality which has been hailed “an important piece of work” by the borough’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Beth Adger.

Mrs Adger’s comment came at the launch last Tuesday in The Braid of a report considering alleged gaps in public sector service provision for minority groups. Funded by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s VOICES Programme, the report was launched by Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum.

Supported by VMS Consults, the research assessed the experience of minority communities when accessing health and education services and the report makes a number of recommendations for the service providers to consider as they continue to enhance service delivery to ethnic minorities. Recommendations include a continued and developing focus on training, including interpretation and translation needs, greater awareness on religious observances and recognition of dietary requirements for those coming from abroad.

Schools, GP and dentist surgeries are highlighted as “important areas of concern” in the research report findings which found support from local political representatives who attended the launch event.

Jude McCann, Policy Officer at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: “These are not pie in the sky recommendations; they are realistic and can be implemented to make a real difference in the lives of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

“Our organisation became aware of voices in Ballymena struggling to be heard and this project allows us to help them get the recognition they deserve,” Jude stated. David McIlveen, DUP MLA for North Antrim, spoke at the event and heralded the research report as: “A timely and thorough piece of work”.

Mr McIlveen reassured those present by saying; “I’ll be using any influence I have to ensure this research has the impact it needs to. The cost of implementing aspects of this report may be high but I believe it will be worth it in the long run. “I look forward to seeing this report implemented into government policy as soon as possible.” Ivy Ridge, Ethnic Minorities Project Manager at Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum, thanked the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland for funding the research report and also the input and help given by Jude McCann.

DUP Cllr Beth Adger, Ballymena’s first female Deputy Mayor, also thanked the Community Foundation for commissioning what she called; “An important piece of work”, adding; “We all have a vision for a shared community and initiatives like this help us develop a society of fairness, equality and opportunity for all.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the research can gogonline at www.communityfoundationni.org/Programmes/The-VOICES-Programme