Smile Foundation’s Dost project to provide support to BAME communities

As part of the Dost project, Smile Foundation are currently recruiting volunteers to join them on a free course (developed by external partners NESTAC) towards becoming a Mental Wellbeing Peer Mentor for our BAME communities. The course will serve as a pathway towards volunteering with the Dost project and helping our BAME communities improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

The course is set to begin in late March. Virtual training sessions will be run twice a week – Tuesday and Thursday, 4pm-6pm – for a total of 5 weeks.

The project is here to provide friendly support and signposting to clinical and non-clinical pathways. The aim is to reduce health and wellbeing inequalities for communities that have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

They are supported by  partner NHS Trusts and are therefore able to signpost beneficiaries to the various clinical services. Some areas of special consideration are:-

• Mental Health
• Emotional Wellbeing
• Perinatal Mental Health Services
• Suicide Prevention

They have set up a BAME helpline number 01482 215929 (option 2) . Simply dial the number and select the correct option, and Bibhash Dash, Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Wellbeing Coordinator, or an appointed Smile Foundation volunteer will be happy to offer information and signposting to  clinical and non-clinical pathways.

Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm

Telephone helpline: 01482 215929 (option 2)

·       Email: dost@heysmilefoundation.org

·       Online referral form: https://forms.office.com/r/xWcgM1Yv9E

Note: If any of your community members require translation or interpretation services, please get in touch and they will be happy to discuss the necessary arrangements.