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Health and WellBeing

CareAccess: Health Services for Underserved Communities

The CareAccess initiative focuses on expanding healthcare access to underserved Black and Afro-Caribbean communities, especially those facing systemic barriers to quality care.

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Project Description

The CareAccess, a UK‑focused health equity initiative designed to address persistent and documented health inequalities experienced by Black and Afro‑Caribbean communities. Through health advocacy, training, community engagement, navigation support, and culturally relevant education, CareAccess partners with local organisations, NHS allies, and community leaders to improve wellbeing and reduce barriers to support.

The CareAccess initiative is focused on advocacy, training, and local engagement to expand healthcare access and raise health awareness in Black and Afro-Caribbean communities. Our aim is to empower individuals and communities with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to improve their health and well-being.

Instead of building physical clinics, CareAccess focuses on advocacy and support services that address the systemic barriers preventing marginalized communities from accessing quality healthcare. Through community-based health education, mental health advocacy, and training programs, we aim to increase health literacy and ensure equitable access to healthcare resources.

We lead health initiatives, train community health leaders, and provide essential information to enable people to take charge of their health. Our approach will be collaborative, working with local leaders, healthcare professionals, and organizations to create lasting change within the community.

Recent NHS data show that people of Black or Black British ethnicity are detained under the Mental Health Act at rates four times higher than White people (262 vs 66 per 100,000) highlighting structural inequalities in access to early, supportive care rather than crisis interventions. (Care Quality Commission)

  • Black African and Caribbean populations also experience disproportionately high rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease all of which are linked to systemic inequalities in access to care and preventive support. (Northern London ICB)
  • Access to primary care also remains unequal: analyses show ethnic minority groups in the UK often face poorer access to GPs, which is critical for early diagnosis and management of health issues. (Institute of Race Relations)
  • CareAccess aims to close these gaps by empowering communities with knowledge, support and advocacy.
  • Find out what to expect

Frequently Asked Questions

Care Access is an active programme by AfriCARN that focuses on health advocacy, training, local engagement, support, navigation assistance, and culturally informed health education for Black and Afro‑Caribbean communities in the UK,  especially those facing barriers to healthcare access.

CDocumentation from NHS England (2024–25) reveals stark ethnic inequalities in mental health outcomes:

  • People of Black or Black British ethnicity are 4× more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than White people. (CQC)
  • Black people are also significantly more likely than white counterparts to be subjected to community treatment orders, with systemic increases noted over time.

Other UK research indicates that chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes occur at disproportionately high levels in Black African and Caribbean communities — linked to structural health inequalities and barriers to regular care.

Additionally, evidence shows ethnic minorities face poorer access to general practitioners, meaning fewer opportunities for early diagnosis and management of health conditions.

These disparities highlight why tailored health advocacy and community support are urgently needed.

CareAccess operates across six key pillars:

1. Health Advocacy Campaigns
Raising awareness of disparities and influencing policy and local health system responses.

2. Community Training Programmes
Training community health champions to lead workshops and group discussions on preventative care, mental health literacy, and chronic disease awareness.

3. Navigation Support Services
Guiding individuals on how to access NHS and community health services, develop care plans, and understand available resources.

4. Culturally Relevant Health Education Resources
Providing webinars, toolkits, and workshops focused on understanding health conditions, early detection tips, and self‑management strategies.

5. Mental Health Awareness & Support
Challenging stigma and promoting early help‑seeking behaviors through education and trusted community spaces.

6. Partnership Development
Working with NHS trusts, local authorities, charities and grassroots organisations to strengthen health equity infrastructures and systemic accountability.

CareAccess has set clear goals over the next three years:

  • Train 200+ local health advocates equipped to educate and support their communities.
  • Increase health literacy for at least 20,000 individuals through workshops and online resources.
  • Improve early access to health information and supportive services, reducing crisis‑level health interventions.
  • Strengthen community trust with mainstream health services by fostering culturally competent engagement.

Individuals can support or participate in CareAccess by:

  • Volunteering as Community Health Advocates
  • Joining workshops and education sessions
  • Partnering as organisations or local authorities
  • Donating to expand programme reach
    Visit our Get Involved page for current opportunities and sign‑ups.
  • Join Our Team

Want to Get involved?

We invite you to join us in making a lasting impact. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or partner with us, your involvement will help us build a more equitable and sustainable future for Black and Afro-Caribbean communities
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