Community Development Workers (CDWs) in Slough are working on an innovative scheme to make best use of the direct payments initiative for members of the local South Asian community.

CDW Karen Shukla is working with a group called ‘Mallaap’ – which means ‘coming together’ in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. Its members, aged between 20 and 65, all receive support from social workers or community psychiatric nurses but were concerned that they didn’t have enough money to engage in the social activities so important to their recovery process. So Karen negotiated with the social workers on the Community Mental Health Team at Slough Borough Council and set up a plan whereby each member of Mallaap would pool their £100 direct payment for a specific project.

So far, the funds have gone towards a visit to the Asian Lifestyle Event at Olympia and a trip to Bournemouth and future plans include a visit to France and a ride on the London Eye. “One particular member of the group is 24, but he’d never seen the sea before we went to Bournemouth,” says Karen. “The trips are giving him a real sense of confidence and he’s recently been able to go out and get himself a new job.”

Karen is also working with the group to improve the care services provided by Slough Borough Council. As a member of the steering group working to develop the main day centre in the area, Karen ran a consultation with Mallaap’s members and has fed back her findings to the council. “It’s about making sure that cultural aspects are taken into account when services are being developed and introducing specific activities which will prove to be meaningful to those from BME communities,” says Karen.