Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Ethnicity Day to be held in Dudley

Archived news release from 29 September 2005

Ethnicity Day to be held in Dudley
An important workshop is being held in Stourbridge to share ideas on how people with learning disabilities from ethnic communities can get involved in planning future services.

Staff from local authorities across the West Midlands will be among 60 guests visiting Stourbridge Town Hall to mark Ethnicity Day on October 4. The day-long workshop will share good practice in engaging ethnic communities with services.

Dudley Council is hosting the second Ethnicity Day after Coventry successfully staged a similar event in March. Social services assistant director Richard Carter will speak at the event while many of the services on offer to minority groups in the borough will also be showcased.

Dudley is also taking part in a national scheme called Valuing all People which aims to improve the support given to people with learning disabilities and family carers from minority ethnic communities.

Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for social services, said:

"I am sure the day will prove to be a big success and that we can not only offer advice but also pick up tips from other councils."

Dudley has established a multi-agency Learning Disability Partnership Board which is multi-agency which allows service users, parents, carers, councillors and health staff to have their say. The council also has an ethnicity sub-committee which looks specifically at engaging minority groups.

Among the services on offer in Dudley are The Apna Group, which translates as our group, and support black and ethnic community groups with learning disabilities. It has 13 members who are able to have their say and make their own decisions on what services they need. The Dudley Advocacy also offers help to people with learning disabilities on a one to one basis and has a specialist group which co-ordinates projects for black and ethnic communities.

Release Date: 29 September 2005
Directorate: Social Services

Contact: Phil Parker, Marketing and communications
Phone: 01384 815219
Email: phil.parker@dudley.gov.uk