Northants Black Communities Together (NBCT) is a collaboration of over 20 Black community organisations in Northamptonshire. It was developed to provide infrastructure support and redress the inequities faced by Black communities as a result of austerity and more recently the COVID pandemic.
Tish Shah, Development Lead for NBCT gives us an insight into the range of support and activities they have been undertaking:
“We are now in our fourth year of operation and have built strong capacity to support organisations on a one-to-one basis. Through our partnership with Voice4Change (A UK-wide Black infrastructure organisation) we have delivered the Catalyst programme, a series of six workshops providing training and supporting organisations in key areas of development. Our further work with Voice4Change and partnership with Aspire NN has enabled us to deliver a secondary stage building tailored support plans with organisations and more specific workshops to meet our members’ needs.
Dementia Education
We have launched the Dementia Campaign in line with the Community Diagnostic Centres opening and Memory Assessment Service to improve education around Dementia and highlight barriers faced by Black communities searching for Dementia diagnosis and care. So far, we have held 3 events, interviewed 11 people with firsthand experience of Dementia and received 17 survey responses. We are launching a social media campaign to promote education around Dementia and the wider project in first languages.
Volunteering For Health
NBCT is a key partner in the Volunteering for Health Programme, a programme design to improve opportunities for Volunteering in Health and Wellbeing settings. Our role is key to highlight barriers to access for Black volunteers and collaborate to ensure there are equal opportunities in Black communities.
Ageing Well
Our Ageing Well programme has been delivering key health and wellbeing outcomes for Asian older people and will be extending into African and Caribbean communities this year.
Future Resources
We will be revamping our website, in co-production with our members to ensure that they have access to the resources they need to continue delivering important services in their communities.”
Tish Shah
Development Lead
NBCT, hosted by Support Northamptonshire
