1. Community View Visual Impairment & Black & Minority Ethnic People

2. Background Research – 2005 ‘Our Vision Too’ by Thomas Pocklington Trust & De Montfort University Few people from Black & Minority Ethnic Communities access eye care services Few eye health/sight loss providers know about needs of BME communities

3. Community View Service July 2006 start – 3 Year project Partnership with RNIB, Action for Blind People, Thomas Pocklington Trust, City Council & local health trusts Raises awareness within BME communities of sight loss and services Raise competencies within sight loss services to meet needs of BME users

4. Project Community based ‘Sight Loss Information Fairs’ Sight Loss training for BME organisations Forum of BME & Sight Loss organisations Training for Forum Members Steering Group Community Language Leaflets Promotion at community events & festivals

5. Benefits Year 1 – increase in BME people using services – 2.4% 25 Community organisations in Forum 900+ people have received information

6. Lessons BME organisations welcome our involvement Go to people in the community Language – community or plain English Community based – schools, festivals, events, etc Community Champions Long term involvement Awareness within wider family is important Don’t judge, inform

7. Year 2 Attending more events. Use champions from the ‘Forum' for the future events. Involving the local opticians in the events Promoting events on higher scale. Targeting specific communities that have higher incidents of eye problems

8. Future 2 further years Expanding current services – E.g., Cookery events Specific groups for BME groups Expand representation in Health & Social Care Final research findings and report to be published – including lessons learned for the whole country

9. Contact Details: Jasbir K Behal BME Project Coordinator Birmingham Focus on Blindness Email: jasbir@birminghamfocus.org.ukjasbir@birminghamfocus.org.uk Web site : www.birminghamfocus.org.ukwww.birminghamfocus.org.uk