Health and Wellbeing

Building Bridges to Better Health

SMEF's Health and Wellbeing Project Tackling Ethnic Minority Health Disparities with Community-Centric Initiatives

SMEF’s Health and Race Project aims to empower BME Communities in Surrey for a healthier tomorrow through the three key lenses of equity, equality and safety by enabling them to take charge of their health by providing education, resources, and support tailored to their specific needs and cultural contexts.

Our vision is that every individual, regardless of background, has equitable access to healthcare resources, knowledge, and prevention measures, thereby fostering healthier, more resilient communities.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic shed light on inequalities and highlighted the urgent need to strengthen action to prevent and manage ill health in deprived and ethnic minority communities. As a result, the Health and Race project initiated, funded by Public Health Surrey and Surrey Heartland ICS, to look at the wider determinants of health and address health disparities prevalent in the BME communities. The project focuses on proactive engagement and understanding the unique challenges faced by diverse communities.

Collaboration is pivotal to our work. We actively engage with local services and communities to create impactful events and engagements with the Ethnic Minority communities. Some of our projects include:

  • Liver Health Awareness with the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, partnering with NIHR for Health Research

  • Mental Health with the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People,

  • Perinatal Equity with NHS Surrey Heartlands

  • Autism Awareness with Surrey County Council

  • Information events for Surrey Adult Wellbeing and Health Partnership

We have consistently strived to make a meaningful difference alongside esteemed local partners.

We would love to work with partner agencies and health services to create and build trusting relationships, co-designing and coproducing solutions to the challenges, aspiring to community-led interventions. 

To learn more about our ongoing initiatives, participate in our diverse programs, or collaborate with us, please connect with our dedicated Health and Wellbeing Project Manager, Hina Ashraf at Hina.Ashraf@smef.org.uk

Mental Health Support Project

SMEF is dedicated to creating a more inclusive, supportive, and understanding mental health landscape for all.

In response to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Surrey's public health team undertook a comprehensive Community Impact Assessment.

This assessment involved conducting Rapid Needs Assessments among various groups identified as particularly vulnerable to the pandemic's far-reaching effects. The findings highlighted several key areas:

  • The importance of clear and effective communication to ensure community awareness of available mental health support

  • The need for enhanced access to psychological therapies and

  • The critical role of community empowerment in supporting those most at risk.

SMEF is collaborating with the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and The Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) to:

  1. Establish and nurture a stakeholder engagement and co-production group with BAME community members. The group plays a vital role in directly influencing the IMHN Coordinating groups by highlighting concerns and facilitating important discussions with stakeholders across the healthcare system.

  2. Create strategic partnerships with leaders from different faith and community groups. They serve as pivotal advocates for mental health, fostering strategic dialogues with health and social care authorities to enhance community well-being.

The outcomes of SMEF’s MH project are to support in laying the groundwork for improved co-production and fostering dynamic, responsive relationships between BAME communities and Integrated Care System partners regarding mental health.

Our efforts are aimed at ensuring service providers recognise and address the need for culturally sensitive services, thereby improving outcomes and enriching the experiences of individuals from BAME communities.

We aim to amplify the voices of BAME communities within mental health services to support with the commissioning process for mental health services but also significantly contributes to the advancement of equality, inclusion, and diversity agendas.

To learn more about our ongoing initiatives, participate in our diverse programs, or collaborate with us, please connect with our dedicated Health and Wellbeing Project Manager, Hina Ashraf at Hina.Ashraf@smef.org.uk