Adira, a Black-led mental health and wellbeing organisation in Sheffield, has long advocated that ‘default’ approaches to wellbeing support such as talking therapy like clinical supervision, while useful for some, do not always align with the cultural, financial, or emotional contexts faced by Black workers. This small grant provided an opportunity for Adira to explore what wellbeing looks like when defined by Black workers themselves. This work was funded by NHS Health Education England and is a part of an expanding workstream at VAS focusing on VCFSE workforce wellbeing.
Black communities in the UK face deep, built-in inequalities in most aspects of everyday life. This is emotionally demanding however access to wellbeing support is often out of reach.
These realities are magnified for Black workers in Black-led grassroots organisations whose roles see them providing wellbeing support for their communities. For these workers, emotional labour is high, resources are low, and standard wellbeing support systems do not meet their needs. Emotional burnout is common.
The risk is that this further worsens the health and wellbeing of Black people and communities for whom Black-led grassroots organisations are a key support mechanism.
Adira knows from experience that talking therapy, the standard wellbeing ‘solution’, does not fit with the realities or cultures of many Black workers. Most workers already engage in therapeutic talking practices outside work through community circles, faith groups, and family networks. Workers find standard talking therapy offers to be culturally unsafe, and time and cost make them inaccessible.
Adira received a grant to undertake a 6-month study to explore what culturally appropriate wellbeing support looks like for Black workers from Adira and several partner organisations.
10 workers took part, receiving £30 every month to spend on their wellbeing as they liked. They reflected on their experiences individually and with other participants.
Key findings from the study included:
- Good wellbeing support is flexible, relational, and community-based
- Simple activities are good for wellbeing
- Focusing on their own wellbeing was a new and radical experience
- Every participant reported work-based improvements
- Focusing on wellbeing had a positive knock-on effect on workers’ lives.
Download the briefing below to read more, and see the recommendations that emerged.
Key Information
Learn more about Adira and their work
Website: https://www.adira.org.uk/
Email: info@adira.org.uk
Further information and enquiries about this study
Please contact Zara Makinta, one of Adira’s directors and social researcher, by email: zaramakinta34@gmail.com
Information and resources
Workforce Wellbeing Workstream
This is an emerging workstream at VAS. The vital role that the wellbeing of the VCFSE workforce plays in the extent, quality and sustainability of vital services.