Black & Ethnic Minority Communities

Portsmouth has a diverse ethnic population with around sixty different ethnic groups and nationalities contributing to our cosmopolitan city. Recognising this cultural diversity HIDS works closely with community groups helping to provide the following services and activities.
 
Some years ago we decided to work in partnership with a number of minority ethnic community organisations to ensure that the social welfare needs of these communities were better catered for. We employ workers from the Chinese, Vietnamese and Bangladeshi Communities. Their remit is to develop services for their communities and to work with us to ensure that mainstream services are better able to meet the needs of a diverse population
 
HEALTH IS WEALTH ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME 2007/8
 
Good health is priceless, in Portsmouth people from ethnic minorities are being offered a range of health information and physical activities thanks to funding from the government's Communities for Health. The programme includes a separate "women only" (download PDF doc - 418kb) and "mixed gender" (download PDF doc - 686kb) swimming sessions, male badminton sessions (download PDF doc - 420kb), summer learn to swim courses (download PDF doc - 155kb), information days and health seminars.
 
We launched a pilot project for the local Chinese community in 2005 on health information and exercise, with an overwhelming response. Consultation with Bangladeshi and Vietnamese communities in 2006 also showed that they have very little access to general public services, including exercise.
 
These activities aim to encourage people from ethnic minorities to make positive health choices and lead active lives. The projects also aims to provide a better understanding of health issues and how access information and advice. Many people from ethnic minorities are isolated, particularly women, so we are hope the project will help improve health, as well as moving forward to integrate communities.
 
Fore more information contact
Mabel Fan
Runi Ahmed or
Mai Hoang on 023 9268 8390
 
CHINESE COMMUNITY IN PORTSMOUTH
There are about 2000 Chinese people in this Portsmouth living in diverse areas throughout the City. According to the University of Portsmouth, there are an average of 600 Chinese students studying in Portsmouth. Most of the people come from Hong Kong and Southern China, a small percentage come from Malaysia, Singapore and Mainland China.
 
Today, the majority of the Chinese population work in the catering trade, only a small proportion work in other business sectors. Many elderly people do not speak English, they rely on family assistance heavily; the tradition that children look after their parents when they get old.
 
The language spoken here is principally Cantonese, followed by Hakka (one of the dialects from rural areas and commonly used by elderly people) and Mandarin. The written form of Chinese is the same irrespective of the spoken language, although there is a traditional font and simple font.
 
For more information on HIDS services for the Chinese community, please contact Mabel Fan (023 9268 8390 or mabel.fan@portsmouthcc.gov.uk). Mabel's remit is to develop social welfare services for the Chinese community and help us develop mainstream services that are increasingly sensitive to the needs of the local Chinese community. Her projects include:-
Chinese Enquiry Service
Chinese Lunch Club
Chinese Shopping Club

 
VWe produce a Chinese Community Newsletter twice yearly. Download the latest edition here.
 
PORTSMOUTH VIETNAMESE ASSOCIATION
Vietnamese people started to arrive in England in 1979 and the Portsmouth Vietnamese Association was established in April 1992. Young people found life difficult at first but gradually overcame barriers and they very quickly adapted to Western culture. For older people, coping with a new life, new culture and learning English was much harder, they suffered isolation, faced language barriers, lacked transportation and social activities.
 
The population of Vietnamese people in South East Hampshire is about 300, out of a total in England of about 30,000 the majority of whom live in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
 
For more information on HIDS services for the Vietnamese community, please contact Mai Hoang (023 9268 8390 or mai.hoang@portsmouthcc.gov.uk). Mai's remit is to develop social welfare services for the Vietnamese community and help us develop mainstream services that are increasingly sensitive to the needs of the local Vietnamese community. Her projects include:-
Vietnamese Elders
Vietnamese Enquiry Service
Vietnamese Library Service
 
PORTSMOUTH BANGLADESHI COMMUNITY
Most Bangladeshi people settled in the area come from the rural Sylhet area of North East Bangladesh. The community first settled in the UK in the 1960s, mostly via working in the Merchant Navy.
 
The major occupation of Bangladeshi people has been in the restaurant trade, so-called 'Indian' restaurants and take-aways, but the younger generation is moving away to a wider range of employment and study.
 
The Bangladeshi community identity is very important to maintain language, cultural and religious identity. This is becoming more difficult to maintain as the community disperses across the area.
 
For more information about HIDS services for the Bangladeshi Community, please contact Runi Ahmed (Tel: 023 9268 8390 or Email: runi.ahmed@portsmouthcc.gov.uk). Runi's projects include:-
The Peacock Sewing Group,
The Roshni Group,
The Bangladeshi Enquiry Service,
 

ALSO
Exercise 4 Ethnic Minority Women