Roxanne Keynajad - Community Development Worker (Mental Health)

Roxanne joined RedbridgeCVS in October 2007.

The post of Community Development Worker is a new one in Redbridge. It represents an acknowledgement that mental health services are not always as accessiblee to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities as they should be. My job is to work between the community and the NHS, finding out what the obstacles are to accessing mental healthcare, what works well and what could be improved, and raising awareness of the services available. I will network within the voluntary and statutory sectors so that there is greater communication and understanding between all organisations of what is available and what the cultural and religious needs of local BME communities are. I spend about half my time at Redbridge CVS in Ilford and the other half at the Early Intervention team at Goodmayes Hospital, when I am not out in the community, and hope to reduce the unnecessary stigma that surrounds mental ill-health.

I have a background working with non-government organisations and voluntary services in the Kenyan city of Kisumu, with a focus on HIV education outreach work. I have both volunteered and project managed there, and I have found that Redbridge's voluntary sector is no less dynamic. I have been a University peer counsellor and enjoy charity fundraising and have a degree in Psychology with Philosophy. I love to travel, always on very low budgets; I have visited India, Pakistan, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Argentina, Brazil, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. My interest in foreign cultures means I love meeting new people and am really enjoying the diversity of Redbridge, from the many languages I overhear on the 123 to the enticing restaurants to choose from for lunch.

I am extremely interested to hear the views of absolutely everyone on mental healthcare, be you a service user, a carer or just taking an interest. Please feel free to get in touch by email: roxanne@redbridgecvs.net or telephone: 020 8514 9616.