Insights from Croydon's BME community about wellness and services to support this

Healthwatch Croydon undertook research on wellness and support services for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Croydon. They received 91 survey responses and gathered views from a further 76 people through community focus groups, giving a total of 167 participants. The research explored how people maintain wellbeing, where they seek support and what services they would like to see available. 

The report found that one in four respondents felt they had nowhere to go when they were struggling. For those who did seek support, friends, family, GPs and churches were the most common sources of help. Participants described wellness as a balance between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and highlighted the importance of social connection, meaningful activities, financial security and feeling in control of their lives. Loneliness and isolation emerged as significant concerns, particularly among older people. 

Many respondents wanted practical advice and training on maintaining wellbeing, alongside access to a listening space where they could talk about problems. Trustworthy and well-trained staff were seen as essential, but people generally preferred support to be delivered outside traditional medical settings. Community venues were favoured, although participants stressed the need for privacy, safety and discretion. While over three-quarters supported the idea of a wellbeing hub in central Croydon, many also wanted services available closer to established community networks and neighbourhoods.

Healthwatch Croydon concluded that there was strong support for creating a wellness centre that people could access without a referral. The report recommended offering a range of services tailored to individual needs, including one-to-one support, group activities, training and wellbeing advice, while ensuring services are delivered by trusted staff in welcoming community settings that help reduce isolation and encourage early support before people reach crisis point.