We have partnered up with various health organisations, local partners and umbrella organisations, to collate a list of NHS approved resources in order to communicate the vital, accurate and safe messages relating to COVID-19 and the vaccination programme to make sure information goes where it is needed.

Communicating COVID-19 messages to communities that are at greater risk of catching COVID-19 is a priority. There is clear evidence to support that these groups are much more likely to suffer prolonged adverse effects and mortality if they test positive for COVID-19. We also know that there is increased anxiety amongst these groups in uptake of the vaccine.

Community Action: MK are working with Healthwatch MK, the Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS), Public Health, Thames Valley Police, Milton Keynes Council, YiS – Young People’s Mental Health and Willen Hospice, to make sure that accurate and appropriate information is reaching these communities in an appropriate way. Together these organisations have formed a Health Inequalities Action Group (formerly Vulnerable People’s Partnership Board) which reports in to the Health and Social Care Alliance.

We need voluntary groups who work with the groups listed below to carry out outreach work to understand how these groups like to be communicated with. We have a small number of approved resources which have been developed by communities or by Voluntary groups in MK which have been approved by the NHS. We want to share these with you and ask that you test this information with the groups you work with, so information gets to where it is needed.

The specific groups we need to reach out to are:

  • Black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups
  • Carers
  • Children and young people
  • COVID-19 shielded groups
  • Domestic abuse survivors
  • Drug and alcohol users
  • Gypsy Traveller and Roma communities
  • Homeless
  • Immunosuppressed communities
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • Older people
  • People with ill mental health
  • People with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities
  • Refugees and Asylum seekers
  • Sensory impairments
  • Sex workers

We are able to offer a small financial contribution to those organisations who can demonstrate they are able to reach out to the specialist groups above and will provide some regular feedback about the progress they are making. We have to report back to the NHS and MKC about the way we have reached out to groups.

If you are interested in helping us undertake this vital piece of outreach work or you simply want to help to distribute the resources to the various communities you work with, please get in touch with us by clicking below, or call 01908 661623 to find out how you can be involved.

susan@communityactionmk.org

Update (June 2021)

We are now in the process of following up with groups questions, analysing the data we have collected from all those who have contributed and will be producing a report for the Health Inequalities Action Group. Watch this space for more information!