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In this edition of Research Futures Interdisciplinary Webinar Series, Leïla Choukroune, Professor of International Law and Director of the  Thematic Area in Democratic Citizenship hosts a discussion with Ms Sonia Carr, CEO of the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council (WREC) and Dr Wendy Sim-Schouten, Reader (Associate Professor) in Childhood Studies and Director of Postgraduate Studies in the School of Education & Sociology at the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú.

In this talk, the speakers will discuss inclusive and exclusive practices with members from ethnic minority communities, specifically in relation to wellbeing, safeguarding and social care. Awareness of mental health issues and needs of children and families has increased and many effective interventions are on offer. However, the proportion of those who need mental health support and social care but do not receive adequate support remains high, especially in the midst of the current pandemic.

Existing mental health and social care services fail to meet the particular cultural, social and linguistic needs of ethnic minority service users. For example, mental health problems are often unrecognised in Asian communities and existing services are unsuitable for their (cultural and social) needs. On top of this, mental health and social care staff tend to use more coercive approaches to mental health treatment of African-Caribbean individuals and they are more likely to enter mental health services via the courts/police.

In this webinar the speakers will provide insight into the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, raising areas of concern regarding ethnic inequalities and race relations, social care and well-being.

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Ms Sonia Carr is the CEO of the  (WREC). The WREC caters for a wide range of needs of families from ethnic minority communities, including support with court hearings, safeguarding and training (police and schools). Sonia has a BA and MA and over 15 years of experience working with vulnerable children and families from ethnic minority communities. She has provided expert advice for numerous agencies and organisations, including schools, the police and local council. Sonia has given guest talks as part of Hate Crime events and conferences on inclusive practice.

Dr Wendy Sims-Schouten is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Childhood Studies and Director of Postgraduate Studies in the School of Education & Sociology. Wendy is a BPS Chartered Psychologist, and has researched (and published) in the areas of mental wellbeing of vulnerable children, such as children in care, care leavers and children from disadvantaged and marginalised communities, in local (ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú), national (Scotland, London, Wiltshire) and international (Egypt, Canada, Indonesia) contexts. Her work has been funded by the Wellcome Trust, as well as charities and ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú City Council. Wendy is the coordinator of the Mental Health in Childhood & Education (MICE) Hub (www.micehub.port.ac.uk) at the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú and is Associate Editor for the Journal of Social and Political Psychology, as well as co-editor for the BPS journal Psychology Teaching Review, and an Editorial Board member for the Journal of Psychological Therapies.