Thurrock Racial Unity Support Taskgroup (TRUST)

TRUST is an umbrella organisation for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)community groups, organisations and individuals (including Refugees, Gypsies and Travellers)that are resident or working in Thurrock. It is also the collective voice of the BME community.

TRUST works in partnership with other voluntary organisations and statutory agencies locally, regionally and nationally to promote the interest of Black and Minority Ethnic groups and individuals.

• We enable all Black and Minority Ethnic communities to have a collective voice; encourage good relations between different cultures and racial groups;
• Raise awareness on relevant issues and influence policy makers and service providers to develop better and equal services.
• TRUST works to strengthen Minority Ethnic Communities to enable a collective voice for a just society where everyone has an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination, prejudice and fear of racial harassment and violence.
• We work to promote good inter-community relations and achieve community cohesion and harmony in Thurrock.

Community Issues

• We strengthen existing Black and Minority Ethnic community groups/organisations; assist new groups; support initiatives and develop appropriate projects.
• We encourage involvement and participation of all individuals from BME communities.
• We organise events, seminars, training and information services.
• We provide outreach points at various locations within Thurrock and computers at our office.

• Women's Issues
• We support BME women on specific issues they face.
• We assist in the formation of self-help groups and provide weekly drop-in sessions for women at various centres in Thurrock. (Please phone to find out the nearest one to you).

Men's Issues

• We support BME men on specific issues they face.
• We empower and engage Black and Minority men in Thurrock to achieve their potentials.

Youth Issues

• We work consultatively with youth agencies, youth service providers, young people seeking asylum and refugees, and local young people in setting up, developing and delivering a Peer Mentoring Project for BME children and young people aged 13-19 years in Thurrock.
• We empower young BME people, both as mentors and mentees, through a variety of youth-based and community-based method.
• We respond to personal and social needs of young BME people by listening,advising and referring them to other existing service providers, as appropriate.

Mental Health Issues

• We help to reduce and eliminate ethnic inequality in mental health service experience and outcome, in other to support Black and Minority Ethnic communities in dealing with mental health by; bridging the gap between western models of care and traditional support structures supporting early intervention and access to Primary Care Service with South East Essex Primary Care Trust and South West Essex Primary Care Trust.

Victim of Racial Incident Issues

• We carry out casework; for victims of racial incidents.
• We provide free, independent and impartial services, offering sympathetic listening, support, information and referral to appropriate agencies for victims of racial discrimination. Any Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) individual, community group/organisation who agrees with TRUST's ethos can become a member.

Membership is FREE and will enable you to receive your regular newsletter and be informed of all local, regional and national BME events. Have your community group/organisation represented by nominating a representatative to sit on TRUST's Board. Individuals who wish to bring their expertise can also be coopted onto the Board.