Our identity shapes how we experience the world, from our culture and background to how comfortable we feel asking for support. For Diverse Cymru, recognising and respecting people's identities is key to creating services where everyone feels welcome, understood and able to thrive.
Diverse Cymru has been championing equality in Wales for many years. Formed through the merger of Awetu (an all-Wales Mental Health Charity for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people) and the Coalition for Disabled People, the organisation was established to challenge discrimination and improve equality. Today, as part of Adferiad, it continues that mission through specialist mental health services and its award-winning Cultural Competence Certification Scheme.
We spoke to Samira Salter, Senior Service Manager for Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs, and Tony Hendrickson, Service Manager for the Cultural Competence Certification Scheme, about the projects work, the barriers some communities continue to face, and why inclusion starts with seeing people for who they are.
For Samira, good support begins with making people feel recognised as individuals.
"When people feel seen, heard and respected for who they are, it helps build trust, safety and a sense of belonging," she says. "They're more likely to engage openly, seek help early and remain connected to the support available to them."
That approach underpins Diverse Cymru's Mental Health Recovery services, which provide tailored one-to-one support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people experiencing mental ill health. By taking a person-centred approach, the team works alongside individuals to help them achieve their goals, while Community Connectors help people access local services and build stronger links within their communities.
Alongside this frontline work, Tony leads the Cultural Competence Certification Scheme, which supports organisations to become more inclusive and better equipped to meet the needs of diverse communities. Since launching in 2018, the award-winning scheme has supported more than 140 organisations across Wales through a structured framework that helps embed equality and inclusion into everyday practice.
"The Certification was initiated as part of our commitment to working with rather than only talking to service providers," Tony explains. "We believe in a collaborative approach to identifying needs and collective approaches to addressing them."
Whether supporting individuals or organisations, Diverse Cymru's aim is the same: removing barriers. People from diverse communities can face challenges such as discrimination, language barriers, mental health stigma or simply not knowing where to turn for help. By offering culturally appropriate support and helping organisations improve their understanding of the communities they serve, Diverse Cymru is working to make services more accessible, responsive and inclusive.
Tony is encouraged by the growing commitment to this work across Wales, with more than 140 organisations signing up to the Certification Scheme despite wider debates around equality and inclusion. For Samira, the message is equally clear: "Inclusion is not just about recognising our differences, it is about ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to access the support they need and to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion."
At its heart, Diverse Cymru's work is about ensuring people can access support without feeling they have to explain or set aside who they are. By recognising identity, challenging inequality and working alongside communities and organisations alike, the team is helping to build a Wales where everyone feels respected, included and able to access the support they need.
