Global Majority Older People
Although urban areas tend to have the largest number of Global Majority Older People, those living in rural areas can be even more isolated and at risk of experiencing loneliness.
“Many of the older people name loneliness as their biggest issue. ”
Being older and being from an ethnic minority intersect, as both are associated with higher likelihood of loneliness.
Life circumstances - like being widowed or living with disabilities, make older people vulnerable (1).
Older Black and Asian adults are more likely to report having fewer close friends and friends who live locally than people from white backgrounds (2), and 38% of people whose ethnicity is Black, Asian or minority ethnic say that they often feel alone, compared to 28% of people of white ethnicity (3).
Small grassroots groups and organisations play a key role in keeping people connected in this community.
These vary widely, but all provide space for meeting others with shared interests, making friends, catching up on news and what’s going on - and, crucially, preventing loneliness and isolation.
“Being on your own is very bad, you feel depressed, you cannot talk to anybody, you do not know anything. Coming here, I feel happy, I have a good laugh, I make friends. ”
(1) AgeUK, Same as it ever was(2021).
(2) Hayanga, Kneale, and Phoenix, ‘Understanding the friendship networks of older Black and Minority Ethnic people living in the United Kingdom’, Ageing & Society 41.7 (2021) (pp.1521-1540).
(3) British Red Cross and Britainthinks, Lonely and left behind: Tackling loneliness at a time of crisis (2020).
The region
Although there is no publicly available data on how many older people from the Global Majority live in the West of England Combined Authority area, looking at each individual Local Authority population profile, there is an estimated to be a total of 25,688 older people (over 65 years old) from the Global Majority (2021 Census).
(Bristol: 11,834, North Somerset: 2,222, Bath: 6,061, South Gloucestershire: 5,571).
Urban areas tend to have the biggest diversity, but there is more of an ageing population in rural and coastal areas, characteristic of BANES and South Gloucestershire.
Black South West Network (BSWN) is a Black-led organisation with a strong track record in addressing systemic inequalities across the South West, whose model is built on listening to and empowering racially Minoritised communities.
Already engaged with many grassroots organisations, BSWN is the obvious choice for initiating and nurturing the community conversations that lie at the heart of the Enabler role.
A core value of BSWN’s work is collaboration, with activities driven and undertaken by and with the both organizations and their beneficiaries, rather than done to them by external agencies. All of BSWN’s work is research- and evidence-based. This consultation and research provides a flow of information whereby usually silenced and marginalised voices can be heard and be influential.
By being driving force for racial equality, BSWN constructs a more equitable and prosperous society for Black and Minoritised people everywhere.
Black South West Network
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BSWN Community Development Team, courtesy of BSWN
Community development with BSWN