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• Information Access toolkit
  • About the Toolkit
  • Overview of the Toolkit
  • How to use the Toolkit
  • How this Toolkit was developed
  • Information is important
  • Section one: Setting up systems
  • Section two: Providing a named contact
  • Section three: Information about local services
  • Section four: Information on managing a condition
  • Section five: Information about social inclusion
  • Section six: Assessing information needs
  • Resource Pages
• Communication skills project

For information to be “culturally appropriate” it should reflect the needs of the population for whom it is designed. Consideration will need to be given to:

• age
• gender
• ethnicity
• language spoken
• reading ability
• disabilities that affect communication (hearing and sight loss, tremor, cognitive impairment, problems with speaking).

The most effective way to ensure that information is culturally appropriate is to involve local people from the target population in developing the range of information to be used, and in decisions about how the information is to be disseminated. It will be crucial to involve a wide range of organisations in developing a local information resource, as outlined above. There may be important sources of information and advice available within some small communities that are not widely known by mainstream organisations (for instance organisations that can provide information or support in languages other than English, organisations that provide emotional or spiritual support for particular communities).

Local race equality organisations maintain up to date contact addresses for community groups and may also help to make introductions.The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) website provides a list of all local organisations funded by the CRE to promote racial equality and tackle racial discrimination. These include racial equality councils and partnerships (RECs and REPs), as well as law centres, housing partnerships and community organisations.

A local voluntary sector umbrella body (e.g. Council for Voluntary Service – CVS) will have a database of local voluntary organisations, including associations of local minority ethnic communities and disability organisations.The National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service has a facility to search for your local CVS contact details.

Your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (which includes a search device to find your local PALS), may also have information about local health related community groups.

Other sources of contact information include libraries, community development departments in local authorities and community groups themselves.