Charity tackles MPs over ethnic minorities

Jul 11 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

A DELEGATION from a leading Birmingham charity for the blind was heading to Westminster today for top-level talks on improving services for black and Asian communities.

Members of Birmingham Focus On Blindness were explaining work they are doing to obtain more help for ethnic minorities, and making suggestions to MPs.

Will Thorton, the charity's community services manager, and community worker Jasbir Behal were fielding questions from the All Party Parliamentary Group.

Mr Thorton said before leaving for London: "We will be meeting with the parliamentary group to discuss health inequalities and, in particular, the need to reach minority ethnic groups.

"These groups of the population have an increased vulnerability to certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, but are less likely to take up free eye tests or visit an optometrist.

"We will tell MPs about the work we have been doing in Birmingham and the lessons that we think the Government needs to be aware of if they are to succeed in making minority groups more aware of the need for regular eye tests and creating greater awareness of conditions.

The charity has spearheaded projects such as setting up a forum including representatives from Birmingham's Polish, Chinese, Irish, Gujarati, Muslim, Somali, Sikh and African Caribbean communities.

Leaflets and other information booklets have also been produced in minority languages from Bengali and Gujarati to Urdu and Punjabi.

Anyone who needs more information or help from Birmingham Focus on Blindness, based in Woodville Road, Harborne, can log on at www.birminghamfocus.org. uk or call helpline 0121 478 5222.