COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
RECLAIMING THE NARRATIVE
Michael Kemp / Alamy
In October this year , Black History Month reflected on the theme of ‘ reclaiming narratives ’. For me , that means more than just acknowledging the past . It ’ s about breaking down the barriers that still exist today and increasing understanding , particularly around substance misuse and how it ’ s seen in Black and minority ethnic communities .
There ’ s a misconception that substance use is a moral failing , but it ’ s much more complex than that . It ’ s often tied to things like structural racism , economic inequality , and a lack of access to mental health support . For many Black individuals , these factors make it harder to seek help . Our role isn ’ t just to treat people but to understand the barriers they face and to work with them to overcome those challenges .
In Coventry , only around 3.5 per cent of our service users
It ’ s time to change the narrative around substance treatment for Black and minority ethnic communities , says Kevin Ruddock
come from Black communities . That ’ s a huge disparity given the diversity of the city . We know that we ’ re not reaching everyone who needs our services , and that ’ s a problem we need to address . People from these communities often face stigma and cultural barriers that make it harder for them to engage with services like ours . There ’ s also a lack of trust in institutions – particularly health services – which makes it even harder for them to come forward .
BUILDING TRUST This isn ’ t an issue with one simple solution . We can help to build trust by ensuring our own organisation is as diverse and representative as possible , but we also need to be reaching out to underserved communities . One of the key ways we ’ re looking to tackle this issue is through ‘ community champions ’, an initiative that grew directly from our work with Byron Taylor from the organisation Settlement Support . Byron was concerned that the health needs of the Black African community in Coventry weren ’ t being met , and he also highlighted that many people were uncomfortable advocating for themselves – particularly when it comes to sensitive issues like substances .
We knew we needed to approach this carefully , so we spent time building relationships and listening to what communities wanted . We attended community events , often in partnership with Byron , and through those conversations we identified people who were interested in becoming champions . We spoke at church services and other community gatherings , making sure that people felt comfortable asking questions and offering feedback . As Molly Cox , who is leading the project , says , ‘ The key to this approach has been asking what they need , rather than telling them what we think they need .’
The champions are people from within the community who we train to act as advocates . They understand both the community ’ s needs and what we can offer , which helps bridge the gap . ‘ They ’ re essentially advocates for both their community and for Change Grow Live ,’ states Molly . ‘ They can have those initial conversations with people who might otherwise avoid treatment and make them feel more comfortable .’
In Coventry , only around 3.5 per cent of our service users come from Black communities . That ’ s a huge disparity given the diversity of the city .
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