Background to the Research

• The Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, national or ethnic origin. The report aims to give a voice to individual ethnic minority experiences of using health and social services, social security, education and training, accommodation and policing. The report also seeks to contribute to setting an agenda for the recently established Commission for Racial Equality (NI) Office and for anti-discrimination work.
  

Research Approach

• Focus groups were established using convenience sampling. In total 39 focus groups were carried out with 90 people - 9 meeting with the Pakistani community, 6 with the Indian community, 10 with the Chinese community and 14 with the Traveller community in those geographical areas with the highest numbers of ethnic minorities. Participants were mothers, young men and women.
  

Main Findings

Health and Social Services

• Many women experience language and communication barriers, they rely on family, friends and children to interpret for them.
• Ethnic communities create informal support structures where there is no statutory provision.
• Health workers play an important role in establishing links between women and statutory agencies.
• There is little knowledge of preventative healthcare or post natal depression support services due to a lack of accessible information.
• There was little knowledge of the social services.
• Many ethnic minority women were unaware of their right to choose the gender of their GP.
• The absence of clean drinking water and poor sanitation continues to have serious health implications for those living on Traveller sites.

Social Security

• Women have difficulties in findings out about benefits and gain information through informal networks. There is much confusion about the claims process and entitlement to benefits. These difficulties are made worse for those unable to read or write English.
• Many minority women seek the help of health workers or family/friends to assist them through the interview process. This leads to difficulties with regard to confidentiality and making sure the information is translated properly.

Education & Training

• There is no provision for the teaching of mother tongue languages in secondary schools. Young people have experienced racism in schools from pupils and teachers.
• Some ethnic minority children leave school without having been taught how to read or write.
• Educational Welfare Officers need to make greater efforts to support pupils.
• There is little knowledge of the training courses available in adult education.

Accommodation

• Traveller families in Belfast and Derry live in squalid conditions which lack appropriate support from statutory agencies.
• Units designed to DOE specifications are lacking in bedrooms, in a bleak environment, with no workspace to allow residents to pursue income regeneration.
• Rents are abnormally high when compared with those in the private sector. Heating costs rise sharply in winter when residents try to keep caravans and units warm.
• The 80 residents on the Monagh Road share thirteen toilets and thirteen standpipes.
• Residents lack knowledge of the support services provided by the NIHE.
• Racial harassment of some families has been severe.

Policing

• Contact between ethnic minorities and the police was usually in relation to racial attack and harassment. The effects of these attacks are frequently hidden.
• Many women felt that the police did not take racial attacks/harassment seriously.
• Young people from ethnic minorities felt let down and disillusioned by the police.
• Contact between Travellers in West Belfast and the police is very poor and only ever happens in a negative context.

Recommendations

Policy & Planning

• Policies geared towards ethnic minorities need to be mainstreamed at the policy initiation stages.
• The PAFT guidelines and the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 need to be applied to existing and future policy initiatives.
• The development of anti-racist and anti-discriminatory policy and practice needs to be guaranteed.
• There is a need to incorporate policy strategies for challenging racism.
• Disciplinary guidelines for staff found to have acted in an discriminatory manner need to be developed. If codes of practice exist for a particular statutory agency, they need to be adopted.

Consultation with Ethnic Minority Groups

• Ethnic minority community organisations need to be included in the earliest stages of the decision making process in order to encourage inclusion and democracy.
• Local consultation should take place between representatives of ethnic minority groups and regional consultation between statutory agencies and campaigning groups such as NICEM and NICTP. The CRENI will have a vital role to play in this process.
• Strategies need to be developed to keep ethnic minority communities informed of the availability of services, where to obtain them and who to contact for information. A strategy needs to be developed to ensure that target populations are being reached.

Key Personnel

• Key named people within statutory agencies with responsibility for anti-racism and minority ethnic provision need to be identified.

Monitoring

• It is essential that policies and services targeted at ethnic minority groups are monitored for their uptake and effectiveness. Regular reviews should take place to ensure ineffective policy and practice are changed.

Research

• Research should adopt a pro-active stance and should focus on both local and regional levels. Research could include community development strategies.

Interpretation

• The provision of interpretation through identification of language needs of service users should be ensured.

Training

• All staff, practitioners and policy planners of service provision should undergo anti-racism and anti-discrimination training.

Resourcing

• Anti-racist and ethnic minority strategies need to be properly resourced.