We introduced the AFRIDAC Community Advocacy and Mentoring programme (CAMP) in recognition of the yearning in the community to have increased capacity to advocate for social change in local policies and service delivery. CAMP have been training an army of Community Advocates in the UK. Community Advocates are local to their community, passionate about local issues and able to make a change with the right skills. Recruited beneficiaries will be trained to identify issues in their community and develop strategies to influence change. Be able to scope stakeholders and understand how to communicate key messages to diverse audiences. Be able to monitor and evaluate advocacy activities in their community. As a Black Community Advocate, they will have the skill to share their story and give voice to their community or group. CAMP helps to amplify the voice of the African and Caribbean community to influence social change, tackle poverty and inequality. This project has been supported through grants from Trust for London, The National Lottery Community Fund and Mayor of London.

The Black Women Safe Space (BWSS) was created in November 2022 in London, as a safe space where Black African and Caribbean women can meet to network, share stories and support each other. Working with a qualified coach, the women are able to identify areas of personal development, skills deficit and capacity building.

 

The BWSS was created with grants from MIND City, Hackney and Waltham Forest and Hackney Giving

Mental health illness within the Black African and Caribbean heritage community in the UK is becoming a growing concern. Though, a lot of similarities exists within the Black African and Caribbean community there are significant differences around health needs and outcomes especially mental health. Even within the Black African community there is a distinction between the 3rd and 4th generation families and the African migrant and refugee community.

There is very little study of mental health within the Black African migrant community in the UK. This community has grown considerably in the last 30 years, as refugee families from sub-Saharan Africa who have been displaced by war and civil unrest settle in the country. The 2011 census estimates suggest that Black African people total 1.8% of the population of England and Wales compared to 1.1% of Black Caribbean people.

AMSS has been supported with grant from Local Connections Fund – The National Lottery Community;  MIND City, Hackney and Waltham Forest and Hackney Giving

Our youth coaching and mentoring session READY Minds (Resilience, Energy, Aspiration, Discovery, Yearning) focuses on supporting young people in health, wellbeing and discovering their potentials as a Black person. The project at inception has impacted 5 young people – 100% retention on coaching programme, 100% will recommend the services, 80% said they have experienced significant improvement in their mental health and wellbeing. 40% progressed into Higher Education and employment; 60% need additional support to lead to positive outcome and will be tracked.

 

READY Minds was created through BTEG – Covid-19 BAME Resilience grants.

To celebrate our ten years as an organisation (2011 – 2021), we started the AFRIDAC Advocacy and Leadership series, an annual retreat to identify and empower advocacy leaders within the Black community in the UK and internationally. The first event took place in Crete, Greece with the theme Advocacy and Appreciative Leadership.