The major objective of Besstel’s outreach work is to reduce the levels of inequalities in the access  of BAME populations in the Greater London Region  who have ,or are at significant risk of having a mental or emotional health condition to primary, early interventionist and preventative support. Key mental and emotional health conditions include acute depression, anxiety, irritability, self-harm, paranoia and psychosis. Additional to these are contextual problems such as  domestic violence, drug and substance misuse among adults and  eating disorders and weight management problems among younger people. In cases, the prevalence of mental and emotional health difficulties in families results in significant dysfunction leading to children being taken into local authority care.

Besstel uses a creative community engagement model anchored around a Community Outreach programme in which a team of trained outreach workers supported by a volunteer corps engages directly with identified service users within BAME communities across the Greater London region.

As part of this model, Besstels utilises the significant social and cultural leverage in BAME communities of churches, social and traditional associations, community radio and TV networks in building a partnership  architecture that supports referrals, education, awareness , community cohesion and  ensures our  engagement is  relevant and sustainable 

. 

Over the last 3 years, we have worked with over 120 vulnerable BAME  households in which there is a member with a mental or emotional health problem or at significant risk of developing a condition. The provision of early   interventionist and preventative support for vulnerable populations within the BAME communities  continues to be our principal focus. The provision of this primary interventionist action has been important in delivering the key outcome of preventing the escalation of conditions which is likely to result in people having to access acute or clinical services. We have used our monthly Group Support Sessions as the key vehicle for engaging with service users. Families, carers and community partners are encouraged to actively participate in these sessions, modelled essentially around the concept of group dynamics which encourages shared lived experiences, ambitions and aspirations as well as  collective ownership of sessions. This inclusivity improves community cohesion; reduces social isolation; creates connective , sustainable and enduring community relationships ; and reduces inequalities in accessing support. 

In March 2024, Besstel, together with its key church partner, the Destiny Apostolic Church in Forest Gate, in East London organised a major community engagement event actively supported  by young people aimed at creating and improving awareness of mental and emotional health problems including coping mechanisms; community impact. The event was attended by 85 young people and their families as well as the  local Community Police who took young people through drug use, the  law and community safety.

Additionally we worked very closely in providing bereavement support for the family of  school girl Elianne Andam following her murder in Croydon  on  September 27, 2023. 

In 2024, we continued to deliver our special Cost of Living (CoL)  support to families who are still vulnerable to the effects of the  rising costs of living and as a result are at risk of developing mental and emotional health difficulties, particularly acute depression and anxiety. A significant number of families remain at risk of destitution.

We have also strengthened our work around advocacy in which we support families at risk of homelessness or losing their tenancy as a result of loss of employment or other socio-economic conditions. In the past year, we have supported 6 of such households. 

Our key service deliverables over the last year have been:

• (i)reducing inequalities in outcomes in  improving access of service users to early interventionist and preventative  primary/community support
• (ii) preventing escalation of conditions that would result in access to expensive acute or clinical services
• (iii) improving community awareness of mental and emotional health, including coping mechanisms
• (iv) improving community cohesion and reducing discrimination and social exclusion  through our Group Support Sessions in which families and carers are active participants
• (vi) creating local  community partnership frameworks that underpin the development of a long-term  sustainable environment for the  support of service users within BAME communities
• (v) validating the effectiveness and efficiency of our Community-based Outreach delivery model as a culturally competent,  relevant and appropriate tool  for supporting service users in BAME communities with mental and emotional health problems.