Black Thrive comes to Birmingham (new chapter for Catalyst4Change)

source : Black Thrive Global

published : 15 October 2021 (updated, 5 February 2024)

Due to structural inequalities, the experiences and outcomes for Black people in White-majority countries are on average significantly worse than those of their White counterparts in every sphere of life.

Black people in the UK have been more likely to die from Covid-19 than White people. Black people are 4 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act (or “sectioned”); and Black men are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with a psychotic disorder than White men.

These shocking disparities have their roots in decades of inequality and discrimination in most aspects of life.

Since 2016 Black Thrive Lambeth has been working with statutory and community partners to address the roots of systemic inequalities facing Black communities which negatively impact their mental health and wellbeing.

Last year Black Thrive Global Black Thrive Global received a significant grant from The National Lottery to expand into Birmingham and Haringey, London.

Black Thrive will be working closely with partners in Birmingham to:

• Dismantle systemic inequalities facing Black communities through solutions led by and embedded in Black communities
• Develop and deliver community led research to better inform policy
• Invest in Black leadership by supporting Black people in leadership roles and investing in future generations of Black leaders

The expansion of Black Thrive will enable the key learnings from these projects to support the outstanding work of existing organisations in Birmingham, and help foster an environment in which Black communities are able to thrive.

Councillor Paulette Hamiliton, Chair of Birmingham’s Health and Wellbeing Board says;

“The roots of the health inequalities affecting our Black communities are complex and multi-layered.

“We are currently consulting on our health and wellbeing strategy, which recognises that health inequalities cannot be tackled by any single agency and must be rooted in people's lived experience and be shaped by local communities. This exciting announcement comes at a perfect time to help shape and deliver our ambition for a bolder, healthier city.”

Deborah Cadman, Interim Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council says:

“We know that Black people in Birmingham currently have negative experiences and outcomes in too many areas of life.

“That’s why I am so happy that the funding from the Lottery will help us to make progress on the Council’s equality objectives, including working with Black communities to make sure that we really understand and respond to their needs, developing leadership to shape the decisions we make and ensuring that the services we provide are inclusive and address the needs of Black people.”

Roisin Fallon- Williams, CEO of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust says;

“We are already a pilot site for the NHS Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF). The community engagement work that Catalyst4Change has supported us with, such as addressing the alarming disparities for Black women in perinatal mental health, has shown the real value of centering community voices in redesigning what we do and how we do it”.

Catalyst 4 Change CIC is the lead organisation for Birmingham and their Co-Director, Sandra Griffiths, says;

“We have been working with community organisations, social enterprises, faith groups, statutory services and businesses across the West Midlands for six years to address the mental health needs of people from African and Caribbean communities.

"Last year we secured 2-year funding from the National Lottery Leaders with Lived Experience programme to support emerging Black entrepreneurs and grassroots organisations to create innovative approaches to mental health support and community role models. I am absolutely delighted that this new funding will build on what we are doing and enable us to drive forward solutions so that Black Communities in Birmingham move from just surviving to thriving".

Read full Press Release here >

Other reports:

Black Thrive Global Growing Great Ideas >

(National Lottery)

Black Thrive joins the TNL Growing Great Ideas programme >

(Black Thrive Global)