Creature
Comforts: Focus on London and SE Ethnic Minorities
Three years ago, Tower Hamlets Council hit the headlines of
national newspapers for taking the decision to build a care
home catering largely, but not exclusively, for the
cultural needs of the large Muslim community in the
borough. The story was covered aggressively and negatively
by the tabloid press who said the move ran counter to
multi-culturalism.
"We
put up a sign at the site saying this is a new centre
that's being built to meet the needs of Bangladeshi older
people," explains Ian Wilson, Director of Social Services
at Tower Hamlets Council. "A local person then complained
to the local paper saying it excluded other groups. The
story then appeared in the Evening Standard and was picked
up by a number of nationals and by the time the Daily Star
reported it the story had been distorted to 'council to
build housing block for Bangladeshis only'."
The scandal left the council feeling battered but adamant
it was doing the right thing with its Sonali Gardens
project. Most people are receptive to the idea of
culturally sensitive services if you explain the benefits
it offers to the service user.
"You have to take the view of the person that would benefit
from spending some of their time at an older people's day
centre. If you're a person that grew up in England, ate
English food and grew up in the culture when you go to your
day centre you'd expect it to be similar to the rest of the
life you'd led. If Buddhists ran it and it served
vegetarian brown rice people would say it's not what you'd
expect. It should continue on from their earlier life," he
says.
He explains that culturally sensitive services need to
evolve like any other service to keep pace with the
changing needs of clients.
TOP
TIPS
Do:
Be creative. If you can't afford to meet the needs of a
small minority group through traditional means, then try
and meet them through other creative ways.
Don't:
Be fazed
by hostile or racist interpretation of what you're doing.
Hold your ground and keep explaining. ❏
Community
Care - 11-17 May 2006
www.communitycare.co.uk
