Behind the scenes at the MCF, Dementia, Grants to charities, Later life
Our outreach in Black communities
During Black History Month, we have taken the opportunity to reflect on our commitment to listening, learning, and honouring the remarkable achievements of the Black community and providing support during challenging times.
At the MCF, we are working towards a society where everyone has the opportunity to lead positive, active, and fulfilling lives, especially for those who are in need, disadvantaged, or marginalised. Our core values of responding to need, making a difference, and striving for excellence encourage us to identify where our support is needed most. It is our hope that by offering support to charities that have greater outreach in these communities, we will help build better lives for everyone.
One charity we have been proud to support with a £15,000 grant is the African Caribbean Care Group (ACCG), which aims to alleviate social isolation and loneliness of older adults of African and Caribbean descent. One poignant aspect of their work is highlighting the lack of early detection and post-diagnostic support for people in these communities who are living with dementia.
Studies show that dementia rates are 22 per cent higher among Black people in the UK compared to White people. Similarly, Alzheimer’s disease research studies show that Black participants were 35 per cent less likely to receive a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s and related dementias than White counterparts.
This is representative of a much broader issue of health disparity in the UK among Black people. Through targeted post-diagnostic information and advice, ACCG significantly enhances the lives of vulnerable older adults through advocating for social reform and adult welfare. People living with dementia are often stripped of their independence, and those within Black communities are more likely to be neglected and left without access to vital health guidance.
This grant from the MCF will help ACCG to support more service users presenting with high levels of need. It will also allow us to develop activities for those people who are isolated at home due to the fear of mixing socially because of Covid 19. We support them on a befriending basis at present through the telephone helpline. This helps support them to live as independently as possible within the community and enables carers to remain in employment and supports their caring role and prevents social isolation and loneliness.
By taking action and increasing our charitable outreach in these communities through organisations like ACCG, it is our goal that we will contribute to alleviating inequalities across the board which may help reduce the risk of dementia in later life.
EDI initiatives in our office
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, our Company Secretary, Brenda, has helped educate the MCF staff this October by displaying several ‘Did you know?’ posters around the office, which provide information about notable Black people across history. Brenda also conducted an informative session about the Windrush generation, focusing on Caribbean culture, and even encouraged staff to try traditional Caribbean foods to learn about her heritage.
We look forward to continuing these important conversations in, and outside of, the office. We strive to be a listening and inclusive organisation which identifies need and provides essential support to the communities with which we work.
If you have any feedback or suggestions on how we could improve our work, please let us know by reaching out communications@mcf.org.uk or visit mcf.org.uk/about-us/ for more information.
