Our Projects
Policy And Communication
Over the past few years there have been a huge policy changes in a wide range of public areas including government re-structuring and the provisions for service delivery. The driving force behind the changes is an attempt by the government to modernise the state managed provisions for achieving economic prudence and improving quality of service delivery. Unfortunately this modernisation has left some South Asian Communities experiencing disadvantages and social exclusion. CIO wishes to address this by improving the level of community involvement in information provision and community policy .
By providing capacity building services to the local South Asian Voluntary Sector we have helped give them a voice within the public arena. Further to this CIO has extensively lobbied government for inclusion of Black and Minority Group issues on to social agendas and policy. We work in partnership with a number of BME networks including Voice4Change, BTEC, Minet and ROTA.
Throughout this year CIO has been asked to act as a consultants on a number of policy development committees on a local and national level (including the government's third sector policy development). We have organised and presented at conferences aimed at developing cohesive policy throughout the South Asian Community, formed extensive networks to support the work of the South Asian Community (with a quarterly newsletter 'Namaste') and provided tailored training courses on policy development.
Further to this work we have been asked to comment on a number of governmental policy issues including, 'Community Participation', 'Private Sector Development', 'Race Equality Scheme' and 'the Race Equality Impact Assessment', 'Social Inclusion', 'Access to Public Transport' and 'Safer Communities'. We would like to thank City Parochial for supporting us in this work.
Capacity Building
Project: ChangeUp
Purpose: Create a successful 'ChangeUp' network of South Asian Organisations in the Greater Manchester Region and pan London in order for them to have a better voice for themselves and better access to infra structure support already available in this sector. Partnerships: Greater Manchester Network and the pan London network will eventually consist of over 400 South Asian Voluntary Service Organisations (200 in each area).
Funder: Capacity Builders
Duration: December 2006 - March 2008
Here at CIO, capacity building has always been one of our core aims. Developing this further we are attempting to bring all South Asian groups in the Greater Manchester area, and in a separate but linked project pan London, on a single platform in order for them to have a better voice for themselves better access to infra structure support already available in the sector to them.
In December 2006 CIO was commissioned to carry out work on behalf of Capacity Builders in two regions of England : Greater Manchester and pan London . A successful network of organisations is currently being formed in the Greater Manchester Region, which includes Manchester , Trafford, Stockport, Salford, Tameside, Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Rochdale and Wigan and all the major boroughs of London . As CIO was already working in these regions we were uniquely placed to ensure the success of this project. Our aim is that this network will eventually represent South Asian VCS groups at a national level.
A core aim of this project includes the creation of ALS (Action Learning Sets), which will benefit first hand its members from individual experiences of its participants. Three Learning Sets will be formed: Monitoring and Evaluation, Funding and Policies & Procedures/Good Governance.
During the network building process we have come across organisations that are currently part of networks or manage networks on a citywide perspective. These organisations have agreed to work with CIO and have offered their support to us when required. On the same note CIO has been able to do the same. We wish to sincerely thank all of those organisations involved in this project.
To view our ChangeUp network simply go to www.cio.org.uk/changeup
Addressing Health Inequalities
Project: Health Promotion Project
Purpose: To improve health and tackle health inequalities in the South Asian Community. Partnerships: Cardio Well Charity, Naz project, Hillingdon Age Concern, Wandsworth Carers
Funder: City Bridge Trust
Duration: May 2006 - December 2008
Local and national health policies have for years systematically failed those with culturally distinct needs such and BME groups and within that, the South Asian Community. Language barriers and lack of cultural understanding resulting from the 'one size fits all approach' have meant that black and minority ethnic groups are significantly less healthy than their white counterparts. Thanks to the City Bridge Trust, we at CIO are attempting to address some of theses issues in this most complex of problems.
The overarching aim of the project is to improve health and tackle health inequalities through promoting and supporting individuals to make lifestyle changes and ensuring the environment in which we live is conducive to healthier choices. To develop and build links with the health agencies and develop initiatives to empower the South Asian Elders to lead a longer healthier life through better health promotion.
Working with local health service providers the health project can meet the huge challenges that affect health and wellbeing needs of the South Asian community as well as opportunities for local health service providers. It acknowledges that services for the South Asians community has to achieve a truly responsive health service the views of South Asian patients, their carers and the wider community must be actively sought, listened to and taken account of, and be part of 'mainstream' health care provision.
At CIO we feel the best way of achieving this is by working closely with the leaders of local health care services, supporting innovative ideas and developing new evidence for better patient care.
Mental Health
Project: Vishvas Mental Health Project
Purpose: Developing a positive approach to mental health within the South Asian Community
Partnerships: Drug and Alcohol Action programme, Newham Asian Women's Group, Jagruti Asian Women's Project, Asian Women's Resource Centre, Barnet Asian Women's Association, Amardeep, Hindu Society, Destigmatize UK, Naz Project, LGBT Consortium, Hillingdon Mind, Age Concern - Lambeth
Funder: Big Lottery
Duration: June 2005 - June 2008
Local and national health policies have for years systematically failed those with culturally distinct needs such as BME groups and within that, the South Asian Community. Language barriers and lack of cultural understanding have meant that black and minority ethnic groups are significantly less healthy than their white counterparts. This applies not only to physical but also psychological wellbeing.
The primary objective of the Vishvas Mental Health Project is to empower the South Asian community. In recognition of the diversity of the South Asian community, services offered through the Vishvas Mental Health Project are culturally sensitive. This means that advice, information and counselling are delivered in major South Asian languages by professionals who are fully trained to assess the needs of those accessing the services and to offer services that are appropriate. Clients are then able to make more informed choices and reach their potential.
With the help of our partners we have brought a number of significant 'hidden' issues to light including cultural isolation, sexuality and alcoholism. Aiming to promote open discussions around these issues, we wish to develop an open forum for individuals to broach subjects that may cause much shame and stigma within their communities.
At the other end of the spectrum, CIO's aim is to inform the statutory sector of the needs of the South Asian community and how these can be reflected in policy and practice. Close link is maintained with Department of Health, Mental Health Trusts and Primary Care Trusts to aid their planning, delivery and monitoring of culturally appropriate services as required by the 'Delivering Race Equality' programme rolled out by the government.
