Strategic Priorities

The ECA aims to be a hub in the community for Caribbean individuals and community groups offering support and guidance. The four strategic areas that we focus on are:

The Caribbean community in Enfield is aware of the educational challenges the community has faced over the last six decades. African Caribbean students for many years were performing lower than the national average, however, more recently the attainment gap has been narrowing. Nevertheless, we continue to face challenges, such as the continuous over representation of African Caribbean pupils being excluded and the underperformance of black boys.

The hub aims to have a positive effect on pupil’s educational attainment, self- esteem and identity, in addition to supporting parents and schools to significantly reduce the number of exclusions and the impact exclusions can have both socially and psychologically on our young people, as they transition into adulthood.

There are particular health conditions which affect us adversely in comparison to other community groups for example high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell, lupus and prostate cancer.

The ECA has formed links with local health care providers and organisations including Public Health, and Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN). We aim to raise community awareness organising health events and by signposting and supporting individuals in need of advice to appropriate local health care providers.

Community, Cultural Esteem and Economic Empowerment

Building community and cultural esteem can lead to an increase in self-esteem. As such, the aim of our community and cultural esteem work stream is to build esteem in our community through social skills training and cultural awareness programmes and initiatives. More specifically, the aim is to increase the confidence and competence among our children, their parents, and the local community.

We are planning to develop inter-generational programmes that will provide our young people, parents and families with access to activities and events that promote self-esteem, resilience and the reduction of isolation, particularly in relation to strengthening our own cultural identity. We also aim to raise awareness and promote understanding of our community, cultures and traditions among service providers and the local community.

We aim to support the different needs in the community by providing a range of services. We run a weekly luncheon club and offer a seated exercise, two course meal and activities. We also run a weekly exercise class. We also set up a befriending service in the past. We want to continue supporting students in schools by running Careers day and other activities which involve the young people.

We understand the need to work for social justice and will do this through being aware of and actively challenging the systems and policies which adversely impact on our community in areas such as Housing, Education, the legal system, and Health are examples of areas that affect us all.

We are members of Enfield Stop and Search Community monitoring group (CMG), with the aim of improving stop and search procedures and reducing disparities.

In order to continue to improve our conditions we need to have a voice in the community and become actively involved in local politics.