Rocio Cifuentes Director of Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST), Swansea Understanding how to reach ethnic minority youth - patients now and increasingly in the future

Understanding how to reach ethnic minority youth Rocio Cifuentes, EYST Director

Set up in 2005 by and for young BME (11- 25) in Swansea A voluntary constituted organisation Thanks to a range of funders - now employ 14 members of staff Provide mentoring, advice, guidance & counselling Culturally sensitive approach Range of Services (Education, Employment, Community Safety, Health etc) Deliver information workshops, training & educational opportunities Deliver Lunch-time Drop In Sessions within 5 schools & 2 Colleges every week About EYST Urban Youth Centre, St Helens Road, Swansea Regular visits from 250 young people each week

The Need for EYST? Evidence of Social Disadvantage: Educational Underachievement Poverty Over-represented in Criminal Justice System Specific Health Issues – Diabetes; FGM/ HBV, etc Increase in BME Population in Swansea: - nearly 10% of Swansea School Age Population is non-white, non-British -Biggest group is Asian or Asian British, but increasingly diverse -Increase in Asylum Seeker & Refugee population as well as Eastern European Migrants Barriers to Accessing Mainstream Services: Lack of Cultural Understanding (Perceived or Actual) Specific Cultural Barriers (e.g. gender constraints) Community Cohesion Issues: Negative Public Attitudes Increase in Hate Crime/ Far Right Activity in Swansea

Issues Affecting BME young People: The Same.... but different? Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do Unemployment Street Issues (Drugs, Alcohol, Crime) Racism/ Ignorance/ Stereotyping Lack of Cultural Understanding Services not culturally sensitive Need someone to talk to Sometimes need extra help Parental language & experience barriers limit ability to support Islamophobia “ After 9/11 no-one came to explain to the school what Islam really said about suicide bombing and all that and everyone thought we were murderers…”

Specific Health Issues Cultural Definitions of Honour & Shame Domestic Violence Honour Based Violence Female Genital Mutilation Forced Marriage Self Harm Depression Isolation Health Inequalities Interlinked with Poverty Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Angina; Stroke Cancer Mental Health Suicide Barriers to Mainstream Health Services Economic Barriers Language Barriers Lack of knowledge Lack of confidence Racism Services’ Lack of Understanding

How can Services Engage with BME young people? Be AWARE of Specific Issues : Female Genital Mutilation; Honour Based Violence; Self-harm, Suicide; Depression; Isolation; Asylum-specific issues e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress…. Ensure CONFIDENTIALITY: do not discuss young people’s issues with family members; do not ask family members to translate; do not contact via family home phone or by post… SEEK SUPPORT from BME or Culturally Sensitive Organisations: Increases Trust, Facilitates Access, Reassure about confidentiality  Best outcome for young person….

Thank You Rocio Cifuentes Ethnic Youth Support Team Units B & C, 11 St Helens Road, Swansea Thank You Rocio Cifuentes Ethnic Youth Support Team Units B & C, 11 St Helens Road, Swansea