Manchester’s African & Caribbean Sounding Board
Purpose and Structure
The African & Caribbean Sounding Board in Manchester is a key part of the city’s Community Health Equity Manchester (CHEM) infrastructure. Its main role is to bring together representatives, community influencers, and organizations from Black African and Black Caribbean communities to:
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Act as a collective voice for their communities
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Identify and share priority issues and concerns
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Provide insight and feedback on statutory sector initiatives, especially those impacting health and wellbeing
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Build trust between communities and statutory bodies
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Amplify community voices in the development and delivery of health equity programmes
How It Works
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The Sounding Board is made up of community leaders, influencers, and representatives from various organisations, including members of the VCFSE sector
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It operates as both a consultative and advocacy body, ensuring that the lived experiences and needs of African and Caribbean residents are central to local health policy and service design.
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The Board also helps to disseminate public health information and facilitate engagement on issues such as long term conditions, access to healthcare, and wider determinants of health
Impact and Activities
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The Board played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to identify barriers to healthcare, increase vaccine uptake, and address misinformation.
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It promoting health awareness, improving access to services, and engaging community members in citywide consultations on health, housing, and education
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The Board’s feedback is used to shape culturally relevant communications and interventions, ensuring public health messaging is accessible and trusted within the community.
Broader Context
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The African & Caribbean Sounding Board is part of a wider network of community sounding boards (including Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and other minority groups) set up to address health inequalities in Manchester.
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These boards are recognized as a critical part of the city’s approach to tackling racial and health inequalities, and their work is continually reviewed and adapted based on emerging community needs and data