By Sayanti Banerjee, BME Community Development Worker.
Community Roots is a network of 16 organisations providing services and resources to support mental health across Brighton & Hove. The services are all person-centred, responsive and flexible and are designed to meet people’s needs, help them manage their mental health and realise their full potential. TDC is one of the partners delivering the work within the black and minority ethnic community in Brighton. TDC will be working together with the Hangleton & Knoll project to deliver and facilitate services that improve the mental health and wellbeing of people from local BAME communities. Here are some examples of the work we have delivered since the service began in October 2019.
Iranian Older People’s Group:
As a part of the Community Roots project, the Iranian Older People’s Group was set up in Dec 2019. The group aims to bring together people from the Iranian community to share a space and socialise. In my role as TDC’s BME Community Development Worker I will support the group to engage with citywide services, and with the wider community thereby improving wellbeing. The group is excited to get together and start something on their own and have a space for all older Iranians in Brighton to meet.
The Community Roots Iranian Group
Tarner Multicultural Group:
Tarner Multicultural Group meets at the Unemployed Centre once a month. The group is open to all. A guest speaker is invited every session to talk about improving mental health and wellbeing and raise awareness about various local services. The group engages in Bollywood dancing at the end of each session. The members have enjoyed the sessions and think it is a good opportunity to discuss issues, socialise and have some fun whilst they engage in exercise through dance. One participant said “I have never done Bollywood dancing before. I don’t exercise because I don’t enjoy it. This is a great way to enjoy some music, learn something new and burn calories! I have also found the energy advice quite useful. I now know that there are options to save on my electricity bill.”
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The Community Roots service offers Mental Health & Wellbeing Support in Brighton & Hove via a network of local services.
If you need support, or know somebody that does, please ring 0808 196 1768 (freephone) Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm and the Community Roots team will help you navigate and access the appropriate services.
Community Roots on the TDC website.
