Partnership working to reduce health inequalities
In partnership with two local organisations, we won the 'Addressing Health Inequalities in the Community' award from the Asian Fire Service Association.
Along with Coventry charity, Ekta Unity, and the West Midlands Fire Service, we were presented with the award at a recent event in London. Our partnership was one of four shortlisted nationally for the award.
Jagtar Singh, Trust Chair, along with colleagues Sue Eato, Associate Director of Service User and Carer Involvement, and Jaspreet Singh, Involvement Engagement Co-Ordinator, attended the presentation event.
Jagtar said: “This award is recognition of true public and voluntary sector partnership working to reduce health inequalities faced by the elderly Asian community in Coventry. Jitey Samra from Ekta has led on this partnership and has been the driving force, working closely with Jaspreet Singh to access ‘hard to reach’ communities and tackling social issues including community cohesion, health inequality, social isolation and health and wellbeing. Jaspreet works tirelessly to ensure the patient voice is heard and acted upon. We receive feedback from Ekta which informs us about patient and carer experience and where we could make changes to enable us to deliver effective services that are more responsive to local needs. The fire service at Foleshill Fire Station also supports the group and we are really grateful for their help.
“Ekta Unity was recently awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2016, only one of eight in the country to have received this award. This was a great accolade for all the fantastic voluntary work undertaken by the group in the community.”
Jitey Samra, from Ekta-Unity said:”Ekta-Unity is delighted to receive this award and we are very proud of the commitment from all our volunteers and committee members, along with the support we have received from the Partnership Trust.”
Gary Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at West Midlands Fire Service said: “We are really pleased and proud to have received this award as part of a partnership team. Working to address health inequalities is something that underpins all of the work West Midlands Fire Service does and we know that working together is the most effective way to engage with the most vulnerable members of the community.”