Forum for Race Equality in Social Care in Health
LIP provide service user representation on the Leeds Better Lives Board.
The Better Lives Board is responsible for leading the long-term strategy for Adult Social Care and support in the city, while FRESH is designed to involve the community in Adult Social Care and health issues. Find out more below.
You can find out more about these groups by clicking on the headings below.
The purpose of the Forum for Race Equality in Social Care & Health (FRESH) is to bring together members of the diverse communities in Leeds. LIP provides administrative support and staff to the Forum, and also continuously promotes it to perspective new members and communities.
FRESH events take place once every two months at the BAME Health and Wellbeing Hub, Reginald Terrace, LS7. Past topics of discussion and presentations have included: Adult Safeguarding, Connect for Health, Leeds Community Foundation and a BME engagement project (delivered by St Gemma’s Hospice and LIP).
This is a vibrant group made up of diverse communities and members working in partnership to influence Leeds City Council Adults and Health Directorate and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The group is co-chaired by Carmel Langstaff, Chief Officer for Transformation and Innovation (Adults and Health), and Annette Morris (Community Chair).
This feeds into the Better Lives Board (Adults and Health) and various networks in the community. The members have been instrumental in guiding the Local Authority and partners in areas like Windrush, the BME Your Health, Your Say Conference, prescription medicine management for NHS England, BME Day Services Redesign, Healthwatch Leeds, NHS CCGs. The members are seen as “Involvement Ready” and can provide a critical friend in Leeds.
You can view our impact report here, showing the impact of the Forum over recent years! Click here: FRESH Impact Report
The Better Lives Board is responsible for leading the long-term strategy for Adults and Health, Leeds City Council and support in the city, including the Leeds Local Account. The Board has a particular remit for joining up strategy to deliver action in the interests of local people.
The Board meets once every two months and Leeds Involving People (LIP) supports community representatives to have a seat on the Board.
This representation allows people to share the views of their community with the Board when matters which affects their lives and local area are being discussed.
Representatives receive representation training from LIP and meet the week before the Board meeting to go through the papers and discuss how community perspectives can contribute to agenda items. LIP’s Chair, Dr Margaret Wilkinson, also co-chairs the Better Lives Board.
"Well done to 30 years! The valuable contribution by yourselves and the community has been immense and valuable. The communication by text, email and in person has been excellent especially the telephone calls to touch base as well as reminders about the meetings. The one thing I love about the meeting is the diversity in all areas of the identities and the learning from all on topics and themes. Keep up the good work."