GRASSROOTS ENTERPRISE FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION AND POVERTY RELIEF-GESIPR

Grassroots Enterprise for Social Inclusion and Poverty Relief (GESIPR) is a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) recognised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales under Charity number1156503, Foundation Registered 02 Apr 2014. Our aim is to bridge the gap in the system of provision of information and services in the society. We do this by enabling social inclusion, of the socially excluded and the vulnerable poor people who by virtue of their family or social background, criminal history, physical and mental health, and socio-economic status do not gain access to information and services for their wellbeing, social and economic emancipation. We provide a comprehensive level of services and support for clients of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities living in the UK.

From April 2019 to present date. We provided food parcels and basic essential goods and one to one telephone contact to over 1000 low-income families, Shielding families, Single parents, The Homeless, Pensioners and people from BAME communities. 

This work has helped reduce food poverty among the communities, mental health problems among shielding families and increased support to struggling families during COVID.

 In the past two years, we also supported 20 elderly individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Kirkstall with iPads and Internet support to help them access further online support and reduce isolation during COVID.   

We also provided 50 disadvantaged young people in Kirkstall iPads with internet support to enable them access and complete their schoolwork during lockdown and to reduce social isolation and mental health problems. This helped a lot of low-income families who are unable to provide access to internet and computers for their children. The young people were able to do their schoolwork and at the same time engage in positive social networks. Through the support of the Home Office Violence Reduction Unit, we were able to increase the number of Ipads provided to the young people thereby supporting and engaging with a total of 70 young people and preventing them from engaging in crime. 

In January 2020 to October 2020, we were supported through the Leeds City Council Community Champions Programme. We conducted 10 online zoom workshops in different languages to share positive health messages around COVID-19, Vaccinations and government guidance and restrictions with people from BAME communities.

Our activity helped promote public health messages for preventing COVID-19 including reducing cultural and religious barriers within the community that prevents participation in the vaccine roll -out, overcome barriers including reducing stigma and increasing people's trust in the health system and empowering individuals to work effectively with ethnic minority individuals and communities. In addition to the online zoom workshops, we printed and distributed flyers with positive health messages around COVID-19, Vaccinations and government guidance in the different languages that are spoken by 90% of beneficiaries.

We engaged with ethnic minority groups as we are aware of the challenges presented among minority groups such as people from BAME background. These comprised of 30% of older people, 50% of younger people, 20% of disabled people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Our activity helped to promote public health messages for preventing COVID-19 including reducing cultural and religious barriers within the community that prevents participation in the vaccine roll -out.

80% of beneficiaries overcame barriers including reducing stigma and increasing people's trust in the health system.