Title

Baseline Survey of the Levels of Social Exclusion Among Black and Minority Ethnic Children in the Southern Area of Northern Ireland

Research Team

Dr Andy Biggart (PI), Dr Liam O’Hare, Professor Paul Connolly

Timescale

July 2007 – December 2007

Funder

Southern Area Children and Young People’s Committee

Aims and Objectives

To provide quality evidence on the social needs of Black and Minority Ethnic children aged 7 to 12 years in the Southern Health Board of Northern Ireland to inform the Southern Area Children and Young People’s Committee in designing new services to support their needs.

Methodology

The main survey involved 12 schools (nine primary and three post-primary) that had above-average numbers of minority ethnic pupils in attendance. Questionnaires were distributed to pupils in years 5 and 6 in the primary schools and year 8 in post-primary. The questionnaires were distributed in class by trained fieldworkers who were accompanied by qualified translators where schools identified a need for such additional services in the classes concerned. The survey covered a number of core outcomes including: self-perceptions of their health and wellbeing; sense of belonging to school; locus of control; experiences of bullying; resilience; engagement in extra-curricular activities; and future educational aspirations.

It was anticipated that insufficient numbers of children in the target age group for some of the Black and Minority Ethnic groups would be collected through school based sampling. In particular children from the Traveller community were likely to be under represented in the school based samples. Therefore, additional community based surveys were conducted. These ‘booster’ surveys were carried out by established professionals who were already working closely with the Black and Minority Ethnic groups. This proved to be an essential component in order to achieve sufficient numbers for meaningful statistical analysis.

In addition to the main survey, qualitative focus group interviews were undertaken with minority ethnic children and also secondary analyses of existing evidence gathered as part of previous consultations were also undertaken.

Outputs

A final report was submitted to the funder in January 2008

Further Information

For further information please contact Dr Andy Biggart