Services

Health

Health & Wellbeing in the Community

At Union Romani Voice, we are committed to improving health access, health literacy, and wellbeing outcomes for Roma families and other vulnerable residents in Ipswich.

Many Roma families face significant barriers when accessing healthcare, including language difficulties, lack of trust in institutions, limited understanding of the health system, and previous experiences of discrimination. Our work aims to remove these barriers by providing practical, culturally sensitive, and community-led health support.

We support individuals and families to access healthcare safely, understand their rights as patients, and engage with health services with confidence, dignity, and respect.

The Health & Wellbeing Open Day is a community-led initiative designed to improve access to health information, prevention services, and direct support in a safe and welcoming environment.

The event brings together Roma families, NHS professionals, local authorities, and community and voluntary organisations, creating opportunities for trusted dialogue, early intervention, and relationship-building between services and the community.

During the Open Day, families can:

• Receive health information in an accessible and culturally appropriate way

• Speak directly with health professionals and support services

• Ask questions without fear or judgment

• Access signposting, advice, and practical guidance

Due to its strong community engagement and positive impact, Union Romani Voice is committed to delivering the Health & Wellbeing Open Day as an annual initiative in Ipswich.

We provide practical, face-to-face health support tailored to the needs of Roma families, including:

• Support with GP registration and changing GP practices

• Guidance on navigating the NHS system

• Help with booking and attending medical appointments

• Support to understand hospital letters, referrals, test results, and medical information

• Basic interpretation and communication support to reduce language barriers

• Information on patient rights, access to healthcare, and how to raise concerns

Our health support is delivered in a culturally sensitive way and is built on trust, lived experience, and long-term relationships within the community.

Health education & prevention

We deliver accessible, community-based health education sessions focused on prevention and early intervention. These sessions are adapted to community needs and delivered in clear, simple language.

Topics include:

• Smoking and alcohol consumption

• Stress, anxiety, and mental wellbeing

• Unhealthy diets and healthier lifestyle choices

• Viruses, bacteria, hygiene, and illness prevention

Our approach supports families to make informed choices, improve their wellbeing, and reduce avoidable health risks.

Working in partnership

We work closely with:

• NHS services and GP practices

• Local authorities

• Community and voluntary sector organisations

Through partnership working, we help improve communication between services and the Roma community, reduce health inequalities, and support more inclusive and responsive healthcare provision.

About

Relieving Poverty in Roma Communities in Suffolk & Essex

Policies

Safeguarding