Learning from the lived experiences of older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Wales

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, including older people, and pre-existing inequalities have been exacerbated.

The lived experiences of older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities remains mostly un-evidenced and without this evidence older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and the issues affecting their lives are rendered invisible.

In response to this, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales wants to hear from older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities living in Wales about the issues and challenges that are being faced, as well as the positive experiences of grower older.

This research will provide a powerful evidence base to enable the Commissioner to better understand what issues need to be addressed and determine what action is needed to improve the lives of older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

Gathering the lived experiences

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales is commissioning support for older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to be able to tell their stories of their lived experience.

The Commissioner would like to work with established individuals/organisations that have strong community connections with older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to facilitate the engagement and gather the evidence.

Individuals/organisations would therefore be responsible for finding participants who would like to share their experiences, engaging with them to gather their personal experiences in a way that suits the older person, and submit the information gathered in the desired timescale.

This engagement does not have to focus solely on people’s experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic; it is for the participants to determine what they would like to share as part of their lived experience.

However, the Commissioner would particularly like to gather information related to her four strategic priorities:

• Protecting and promoting older people’s rights
• Ending ageism and age discrimination
• Stopping the abuse of older people
• Enabling everyone to age well

Those who are undertaking the engagement will therefore be provided with a series of interview questions to provide a framework around which interviews can be structured.  This will also help enable common themes to be identified from the lived experiences gathered.

How to apply

The Commissioner is inviting individuals/organisations who would like to be part of gathering the lived experiences of older people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to complete an Expression of Interest Form, outlining their plan for gathering the lived experiences, including detailed costings.

There is a dedicated budget for this work of £25,000 and we are therefore asking that each application does not initially exceed £3000.

Completed Expressions of Interest Forms must be submitted by 1 July 2022.

Timescales

1 July 2022: Deadline for applications of expressions of interest

11 – 15 July: Interviews with shortlisted applicants

July to September: Gathering lived experiences and submitting evidence