Almost a quarter of people from minority ethnic communities in Perth and Kinross lost their job or seen their hours cut in the last year because of the COVID pandemic.
And nearly three-quarters reported symptoms of poor mental wellbeing since the region went into lockdown.
The shock figures, described as “disheartening”, have been uncovered in a report to be released this week compiled by PKAVS Minority Communities Hub.
‘Picture of a Pandemic’, which will be published on Wednesday, is the result of several months of extensive community engagement. The report paints a picture of the experiences of minority ethnic community members’ pandemic experiences in Perth and Kinross.
Headline findings include:
• 24 per cent of community members had lost work, or had their pay or hours decreased, in the past year.
• 30 per cent had seen their income reduce in 2020/21
• 33 per cent reported that their current housing does not meet their needs
• 50 per cent said they had difficulty accessing healthcare
• 72 per cent reported symptoms of poor mental wellbeing.
Other issues raised included not being able to return home to visit families. It states those who did choose to visit family overseas at Christmas time felt the late change in guidance and the cost of the self-isolation/hotels subsequently introduced has been an “insurmountable barrier to returning to their homes in the UK”.
Minority ethnic communities have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Jenni Keenan, empowering communities team manager at PKAVS, said that although the findings were disappointing, the issues were not insurmountable.
She said: “The findings of this report are disheartening at first look, but have the potential to inform real change for minority ethnic communities in Perth and Kinross.
“The key areas which emerged through this exercise are tough to address, but by no means impossible. We look forward to working with partners in the third and public sectors locally to address these issues and make Perth and Kinross a fairer place for everyone who lives and works here.”
Lori Hughes, partnership and communities manager at PKAVS, added: “This has been an eye-opening exercise, the findings of which will inform the work of the Minority Communities Hub as we enter recovery from the COVID pandemic.
“We are particularly keen to work with services and communities to create space for minority ethnic communities to have ongoing input into the decisions which affect them.”
A community member who participated in the engagement exercise said, “This is the first time I can answer yes [to the question of whether my voice is heard locally]. I would like to be more involved and have more opportunities.”
Digital and hard copies of the report are available by emailing MinoritiesHub@pkavs.org.uk
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