Welcome to the BAME and Proud! space

INTRO VIDEO

The BAME&PROUD Project came about because Black And Minority Ethnic* (BAME*) Children and young people who are Looked After by the Council have told us that they do not always have carers and workers who know enough about how to manage and care for their hair and skin. They told us that they can also struggle with their identity of being BAME because of this

As a response, Southend Children’s services professionals worked together with local partners, cares and businesses to develop a programme for children and young people, foster carers and practitioners to address these issues by providing practical advice and information and training to children and young people , foster carers and practitioners that will enhance their skills and the support of self-care, health and wellbeing , nutrition and identity of BAME young people.

This co production Project has now extended to include over 150 external professionals, Foster carers , Adopters, carers , parents, business owners and interested individuals across our Eastern Region partners, London and National Local Authorities and international partners.

The project currently includes:

1.The development of ‘A Washday Bag’ containing products for black Hair carers can share their experiences of this in an on line forum on the Your Say Site

2.Hair and skin education : Creating content to provide Information on how to care and support children and young people to care for their hair including ‘how to’ videos

3. Providing books on hair and self esteem for children, young people and Foster carers/carers to support self esteem – carers will share reviews of books for other visitors to the site.

4. Hair and skin education – Quarterly speakers to educate professionals, Foster carers, Adopters parents and carers of BAME children and young people about black hair and skin

5. A Black hair charter developed by Children and Young People for Schools.

6. A Looked After Children cookery book of favourite recopies.

7. Recruiting more foster carers and adaptors from the BAME community

Want to know more?

• if you have any questions about the project
• If you would like to get involved in any of the current projects
• Have ideas about new projects
• If you want to share your talents or idea
• if you need any assistance in participating

Please email: BAME&PROUD@Southend.gov.uk

(External link)(External link)

Do You want to Foster or Adopt a BAME Child or Young Person?

If you have a spare room in your home and space in your heart, please contact us

Southend Borough Council, as do councils nationally, sometimes have to place Black/Mixed Heritage Children and young people with white or mixed heritage carers. We actively seek to place children and young people with carers who reflect their heritage. However, when this is not possible we are actively seeking to educate and support carers to support the identity of black and mixed heritage children and young people. In Southend, as in other Local Authorities, there is a shortage of Foster carers and Adopters from the BAME communities. 

We need more BAME Carers to Foster and Adopt!

Do you want to Foster a BAME child or young person? Contact:

Fostering: 01702 212938 Email: fostering@southend.gov.uk

Do you want to Adopt a BAME child or Young person ? Contact:

Adoption: 01702 212004 Email: Adoption@southend.gov.uk

To read about how the Council handles your data please visit our Privacy notice: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Privacy Notice(External link)(External link).