A NEW DIRECTION
1994 – 2004
Commemorating 60 years of living in the East End of London
Transferring my Youth Work skills to Mental Health work.
This decade outlines my consultancy and development work in Tower Hamlets, focusing on supporting African and Caribbean people diagnosed with a mental disorder.
In 1995 the Tower Hamlets User Development Project recruited me to consult with African and Caribbean communities on their mental health needs. This consultation led to the creation of the Tower Hamlets African and Caribbean Mental Health Organisation (THACMHO).
The West African symbols of TABONO (representing strength, confidence and perseverance) and the SANKOFA bird (representing going forward while looking back) were adopted as THACMHO’s motto. Together they symbolise THACMHOs’ commitment to serving their members and community.
One door closes and another one opens
After a restructuring of the Newham Youth and Community Education Services in 1992/93 I was made surplus to requirements, this provided me with an opportunity to change careers and I took up counselling.
My previous work with Drugs Advisory and MIND Newham in the 80’s had opened my eyes to the challenges of poor mental health in the Black community and so I took up the challenge to do something about it.
After successfully completing a diploma course at CSCT in Counselling, I joined the MIND Tower Hamlets and the Hackney MIND counselling services.
I also began volunteering with the MIND Tower Hamlets African Caribbean Mental Health Project at the MIND Open House Centre Bow E3.
Becoming a Mental Health Act Associate Hospital Manager
Old hospital
New hospital
In 1996 I was encouraged to apply for the position of Associate Hospital Manager due to the underrepresentation of Black mental health managers at the Newham Health Care NHS Trust. Subsequently, I was appointed and based initially at the East Ham Memorial Hospital before relocating to the Newham Centre for Mental Health in 2003.
My primary role involved serving on panels of three members to review applications for discharge from detention or renewal of sections under the Mental Health Act 1983. This voluntary position held statutory powers and responsibilities which allowed me to safeguard the rights of detained patients. In 2000, Newham Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and the City of London NHS Trust merged to form the East London and City Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. I continued my service as an associate manager until my retirement in 2022.
MENTAL illness
The UK Mental Health Act of 2007 defines mental illness as:
“Any disorder or disability of the mind”
Here are some examples of the discriminatory nature of psychiatric diagnosis and their relationship with the African diasporic communities both in the USA and the UK.
In the USA as early as 1851 a famous Louisiana physician Samuel A Cartwright published his essay:
“Report on the disease and physical peculiarities of the Negro race”
Claiming to have discovered the mental disease peculiar to the Negro race, which he believed justified their enslavement. ‘Drapetomania’ caused Africans to have an uncontrollable urge to run away from their “Masters” the treatment was whipping the devil out of them. As well as ‘Dysaesthesia Aethiopis’ which supposedly affected both the mind and body, the diagnosable signs included: Disobedience, answering disrespectfully and refusing to work. The cure was some kind of hard labor which apparently sent “vitalized” blood to the brain to give liberty to the mind!
In the UK the Commission for Racial Equality published an information pamphlet on mental health in September 1995 stating:
“Black people are more likely than white people to be compulsorily detained under the Mental Health Act, diagnosed as ‘schizophrenic’, detained in locked wards of psychiatric hospitals, or arrested by the police under section 136 of the Act. There are claims that this is the result of either: a genetically determined high illness rates, the reactions of Black people to white racism, or the failure of white practitioners to understand Black culture. Others have questioned current methods of diagnosis and assessment, suggesting racism may play a part in the relationship between the psychiatric system and Black people”.
There have been many reports with recommendations on issues surrounding Black mental health in the UK which is worthy of a special report. Sadly, most of the institutions who led campaigns on Black mental health like the Commission for Racial Equality, local Authority race departments, Community Health Councils, progressive Trade Unions, health charities, voluntary mental health organisations and User groups have disappeared mainly due to the lack of funding.
The 1990 Community Care Act significantly altered the delivery of mental health services in England and Wales, providing essential context for my work with Thacmho. During this period, there were concerns regarding the disproportionate detention of African and Caribbean people at the local St Clements Hospital.
The 1990 Community Care Act
The Act had 6 key tasks:
Involving service users
Care management
Strategic commissioning
Provider development
Shifting the balance of care
Involving housing agencies
Community care services determine the quality of people’s lives: whether they can live where they choose, participate in personal relationships, engage in activities which give meaning to life. Such services are necessary to give people access to basic human rights.
Unless service Users are fully involved in every stage – from planning through to service delivery – their human rights will not be protected, nor will their civil rights be promoted.
The community care Act also gives some background to my consultancy work in Tower Hamlets with African and Caribbean mental health service Users.
Background to the consultancy
The withdrawal of funding in 1986 for the Tower Hamlets African Caribbean Association (THACA) marked a turning point for the African/Caribbean community leaving them without a dedicated voice to advocate on their behalf.
Over the years it led to an erosion of trust and a disconnect between the council and the community. This was reflected in the council social services unsuccessful attempts to engage with the community regarding the 1990 Community Care Act
Despite this, I was commissioned by the Tower Hamlets User Development Project to find out the mental health needs of the African and Caribbean users of mental health services as required by the 1990 Community Care Act.
My contract agreement:
- The purpose of the consultation is to provide an opportunity for African/Caribbean users of mental health services in Tower Hamlets to meet, explore and identify common issues and then make those findings available to purchasers and providers of mental health services in the borough.
- To achieve this purpose, the following goals were agreed as the work of the consultant:
- To facilitate a group of users in the planning of a Consultation Conference in the Autumn of 1996.
- Prepare a final report with members of the planning group to present the Conference findings to the purchasers and providers of services.
- To explore the process of the consultation for opportunities i.e. training on Cultural and racial awareness from an African/Caribbean user perspective.
- Tower Hamlets Community Health Council’s Mental Health Users Development Project agreed to arrange funding and provide resources so that the purpose and goals of the consultation could be met.
Beginning the consultancy
My first job was to visit day centres where mental health service users gather in order to recruit a steering group for planning the consultation. Our first meeting highlighted a challenge as some members had never previously attended a conference, much less organise one.
Nonetheless, after bi-monthly meetings over a six-month period the group was well-prepared and we successfully conducted a consultation conference at the MIND Tower Hamlets Open House on November 20th, 1996.
I was able to invite some prominent community leaders and mental health workers to the conference.
Guest speaker, Brother Leader Mbandaka from the Alkebu-lan Revivalist Movement, poured libations to open the conference and also delivered an impactful speech on African Caribbean history and its connection to good mental health.
L-R Pauline Abbot-Butler, Malcolm Phillips, Bro Ldr Mbandaka, Bro Omowale, Harry Cumberbatch.
Pauline Abbot-Butler from Good Practices in Mental Health addressed the topic of Caribbean women and mental health, while Malcolm Philips Director of Ipamo, discussed a community model for African Caribbean individuals with severe mental illness.
I had the privilege of chairing this ground breaking conference.
Conference recommendations
The conference recommends that the providers of services act on the following points:
Hospital
- There should be better Spiritual provision in St. Clements hospital.
- Reduce the levels of violence on the wards from staff and other patients.
- More opportunity for staff to talk to patients.
- Extending the befriending services within the hospitals.
- African/Caribbean meals provided as part of the menu.
- Better ‘culturally appropriate’ personal care on wards i.e. skin and hair care.
- Reduce the turnover of staff and the use of in experienced staff.
- Better information on illnesses, medication and side effects.
- Staff should wear uniforms to be easily identified.
Care in the Community
- More African/Caribbean advocates in the community.
- More help with re-integration back into the community/
- Better training and information for the African-Caribbean community about mental health issues.
- Better community networking as part of care plans/
- Follow the recommendations of the Woodley Report, specifically sections pertaining to African/Caribbean’s.
Long term
- The conference unanimously recommended that the providers and purchasers of mental health services actively work for the development of a mental health centre that meets the needs of African/Caribbean users and community; based on the ‘Sanctuary’ model as illustrated by lPAMO.
Taking forward the conference recommendations.
The planning group continued meeting at least once a month and completed the conference report in January 1997. It made its first presentation at a meeting hosted by the East London & City Health Authority (ELCHA) with the following mental health providers in attendance.
• The Tower Hamlets Mental Health User Development Project
• The St Clements Patients Council.
• East London & City Health Authority – Local voices project.
• Tower Hamlets Health Care N.H.S Trust.
• Tower Hamlets Social Services (Principal Mental Health officer M. Morgan)
• Better Futures (Borough wide mental health voluntary and statutory forum)
The first presentation was well received and it gave us the confidence to carry on.
In June 1997 the conference recommendations relating to St Clements hospital were presented at a meeting with Mavis Colyer, the Adult Mental Health Manager at Tower Hamlets Health Care NHS Trust. She agreed to undertake the following actions as outlined in the below memorandum.
I was pleasantly surprised with the Trust response as it was unusual for NHS hospitals and other institutions to serve West Indian meals or appreciate other communities cultural needs. To me the nine points in the memorandum were a positive response to the conference recommendations.
Our Rastafarian members were also pleased that when hospitalised their way of life would be respected.
Please feel free to view the full report here:
Further promotion of the conference recommendations
The planning Group’ first public event was held during Black History Month of 1997, which at the time was not recognised by the Tower Hamlets Council.
I managed to get Oona King MP for Bethnal Green Tower Hamlets, (now Baroness of Bow) to be our keynote speaker. Ms King spoke of her life as an MP, some of the challenges facing the Black family and highlighted some of the challenges facing Black Women.
Malcolm Philips gave an overview of the mental health challenges facing African people in the UK and the importance of Ipamo centres in the community (see conference report).
Marcia McLeod spoke on the mental health needs of the local community and her role at Mind Tower Hamlets AC development worker.
The meeting was also used as a celebration for Black History Month. Sister Mayokun Lekuwa a community activist spoke on the importance of Black History Month, reminding the attendees that the Month is about reconnecting with our Culture and Heritage and aimed to create self-pride. She also spoke on the campaign to get Black History Month funded by the Council, which our group was also a part of.
There was a call out for volunteers with skills in the areas of the legal profession, medical profession, accountancy, fundraising, spiritual, business planning, management, architecture and community development to join the resource centre steering group.
The long-term conference recommendation for an African and Caribbean Mental Health Resource Centre in Tower Hamlets was launched by the MP Oona King and she was the first signatory on the petition.
MP Oona King delivering her speech.
Promoting the petition for a Mental Health Resource Centre and raising awareness of Mental Health issues of African Caribbean people.
I was honoured to receive a personal invitation from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets to celebrate Windrush 50th anniversary which was a memorable occasion.
Tower Hamlets funded it’s first Black History Month programme in October 1999.
Celebrating the 1st Black History Month in Tower Hamlets.
Kwanzaa Celebrations
The Group celebrated the first of its two Kwanzaa held in partnership with the MIND African Caribbean project and the Asumjwe women’s group at the MIND Open House.
The children of the Alkebulan revivalist movement performance.
The New Millenium 2000
Leading up to the year 2000 was a time of much anxiety relating to what the 21st century was going to bring. For the group, it was about preparing to join the voluntary sector and becoming a constitutional grassroots mental health organisation. In February 2000 the User Group became an Independent voluntary organisation THACMHO with an official launch.
The event provided an opportunity to express gratitude to the mental health workers who supported the group. Chair Gloria Marcano mentioned in her welcome speech that given our objectives this is an opportune time to establish a voluntary organisation and contribute positively to our community using a holistic approach.
Holism brings health, psychology and spirituality together into a united approach to health.
The planning group
THACMHO
The group made a successful application to the MIND Millenium Awards for a grant to launch the organisation and produce an educational/promotional leaflet by our members titled “Out of the Picture”.
Please view the leaflet here:
The leaflet focused on reducing the stigma surrounding Mental Health and Mental Health Awareness. It was launched at a community event in May with talks from Black workers speaking about their work. It was also an opportunity to hear from the consultants carrying out an assessment on the mental health needs of young people in East London.
Our members received a letter from the Millennium Commissioner, the Earl of Dalkeith, acknowledging our achievement in winning a MIND Millennium Award and becoming a member of the Millennium Award Fellowship.
The certificates were co-signed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Chris Smith and we were invited to a reception at the Café Royal in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra.
In June 2000, I bravely organised a 6-week singing course for the group and then they found out I could not sing, not even one note. It was very funny when we were recording 3 little birds, someone would have a little giggle and then the whole group would be laughing, uncontrollably then we had to go back to the beginning which was not funny. I have been told that my voice has improved but the CD we made has gone missing so please enjoy the original by Bob Nesta Marley and the Wailers with a few more of his classics for your enjoyment.
One Love
No Women No Cry
Buffalo Soldier
Three Little Birds
Celebrating Kwanzaa 2000 with Mind Open House and our sister group Asumjwe
Opening Kwanzaa 2000 with a Drum call by the Soul Force Panthers
Our final event for the year, a celebration of creativity on the Sixth day of Kwanzaa, Kuumba.
A photo of the family in our finest West African attire getting ready for the event.
2001
Tower Hamlets social services provided a small grant to help members build their confidence. Each member proposed an idea, which was then supported to bring it to fruition. Visits were organised to museums, art galleries, African and Caribbean restaurants and to Liverpool. Partnerships were established with the Granby Advocacy Project and community activist Dorothy Kuya, who sat on the committee that developed the international Slavery Museum at the Liverpool Maritime Museum. Both later visited Tower Hamlets to support our work.
A guided tour in Liverpool by the late Dorothy Kuya overlooking the Mersey.
Another memorable Out of Hours event was attending a Burning Spear reggae concert organised by former member the late Barrington Johnson. RIP Barry as I remember you and your love for conscious reggae music. Here are a couple of tracks from your favourite singer Burning Spear.
Slavery Days
Marcus Garvey
Live Good
Red, Gold & Green
After a year of activity as an organisation we wanted to make our first annual report special, so we commissioned the distinguished community artist Paul Wolde Amlak Aieken to design the cover. The front cover ‘Sun meets Moon’ is Senegal, West Africa., whilst the back cover showcases ‘Sun blessed plant’ which is across the Atlantic in Negril Jamaica. THACMHO also added their own touch, adding our symbol TABONO to the front cover ‘rising from the darkness into the light of the world’ and the back cover symbolising THACMHO as a small seedling growing into a massive tree / organisation.
Below is the foreword written by Cashain David followed by an inspirational closing quote from the Rt Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
The individual, the race, the nation that helps itself is helped by God. The individual, the race or nation that leaves its destiny to forces completely exterior is doomed and in the destruction there is no remorse, there is no shedding of tears by anyone but the suffer himself.
Rt Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
I met local historian Fabian Tompsett, who was researching his African roots and invited him to a THACMHO meeting. He noted that the Council’s booklet ‘The Hamlets and The Tower: One Thousand Years of Tower Hamlets History,’ only mentioned the first African presence in the area in 1955. After a lengthy discussion the members asked me to contact the Tower Hamlets Libraries and Archives who was responsible for the publication, for a meeting to discuss the matter.
At the meeting they acknowledged the error and suggested if we did the research they would fund the cost of the printing. This led to the formation of the THACMHO Black History Research Committee, which later became the Health Through History initiative.
The committee identified 5 African writers from the book Unchained Voices whom we named ‘Power Writers’ and started preparation for a walking tour and exhibition.
We went on a London Black history Walk led by SI Martin a professional guide who also mentored us, complete a 6-week certificate training course at Tower Hamlets College, where we learned public speaking and basic PowerPoint skills. This gave us the confidence to deliver the Power Writers Walk, design a 10 panel A1 exhibition and produce the Power Writers booklet.
The History Subcommittee met at the Whitechapel Mission, where our research showed that the building was constructed on the site of the 18th-century White Raven Tavern, which served as a meeting place for African people at that time.
This photograph captures the eastern wall basement shortly before a solid concrete floor was installed. This development by the Whitechapel Mission likely eradicated one of the earliest gathering spots for Africans in East London.
Now, a quarter century later some of our research is featured in the July 2025 British Archaeology magazine.
I represented THACMHO on the committee that planned the borough 2001 Black History Month programme.
“All people celebrate the Great Events and People of their History”
THACMHO Black History Month programme for the 6th and 20th October 2001.
On the 12th we held a talk and slide presentation by Dorothy Kuya –
“How the Atlantic Slave Trade made Britian Great focusing on the Liverpool experience.
Here I am introducing the start of the Power Writers Walk outside St Botolph church Aldgate near the site where Phylis Wheatley had her book published.
THACMHO 2002 workplan agreed at the December Management committee meeting.
- That the Black History subcommittee meet to develop the evaluation comments from the 3 events held during the year,
- To raise funds for a full-time project worker who will be able to deliver an expanded programme of events and one to one support.
- To secure funding for our Black History projects (Health through History)
- To enable the publication of the Power Writers book and develop the Powers Writers exhibition.
- To extend its training programme in partnership with Tower Hamlets College.
- To organise events that will assist service providers and THACMHO with information to meet the aspirations and demands of service Users
In the summer THACMHO also received a Footprints award for their contribution to mental health work in their community.
2002 a heavy workload
Due to the success of our advocacy training event in February the participants requested another day training which was held in March. This was run by The Granby Mental Health Group, our friends from Liverpool.
In the summer THACMHO members were delighted to receive a Footprints award for their contribution to mental health work.
We commissioned EMSA consultancy to carry out a structure and service review of the organisation,
Below is the review content and executive summary and the full 45-page report is deposited at the Tower Hamlets Archives.
This is Tower Hamlets Black History month 2002 front cover where I sat on the committee that produced the programme.
THACMHO held Power Writers walking tours for Black History Month on the 5th and the 29th of October
2003 – Another busy year
I successfully negotiated a space at the William Place Centre located on Roman Road in Bow E3, for THACMHO to provide a drop-in service once a week. This service was run by the members and offered a safe and relaxed environment where they enjoyed refreshments and benefited from person-centred health and educational programmes.
Diversity In Mind magazine and the Mellow Newsletters celebrated THACMHO’s contributions to mental health work and community awareness.
THACMHO and Black Star Promotions presented a Black History Month 2003 Seminar
Black Empowerment For Community Regeneration and Neighbourhood Renewal
The Tower Hamlets Black History Month 2003 Programme opened with a seminar organised by THACMHO and Black Star Promotions, entitled “Black Empowerment for Community Regeneration and Neighbourhood Renewal.”
The impressive programme also included Oona King who came straight from the airport after returning from overseas government duties.
POWER WRITERS book launch.
It was satisfying that the history committee completed their task as agreed with the Tower Hamlets Libraries and Archives to publish a booklet on 18th century African in the East End of London. Everyone did their bit to make the publication possible but a special thank you to the late Ruth Riviere for designing the ‘Power Writers’ image—Rising out of the Slave ships to Power—and to the Chair Sidney Millin for his message on the back cover of Power Writers.
A message from the Chair
It is with great pleasure that Tower Hamlets African And Caribbean Mental Health Organisation have produced this publication. This helps to address some of the imbalances left by the failure to properly acknowledge the African presence in East London, however our ‘Power Writers’ also have a worldwide significance.
This publication is also part of a ‘Health Through History’ project which enables African and Caribbean people with mental health support needs to be pivotal in this project. This initiative enhances their own self-esteem and feeling of wellbeing through their work to improve communities’ understanding of the contribution that African people have made to society. We hope you enjoy reading ‘Power Writers’ and that it encourages and inspires you towards further studies.
Sidney Millin
Chairperson, THACMHO
My Very Important Events – VIE’s
Enjoying the gift of a grandson Akinola. Oswald Cumberbatch in 2022.
FEELING THE LOVE
What to look forward to in 2004 – 2014 Decade
- Continuing developing and supporting THACMHO
- Discovering patterns of racism and Imperialism in 18th and 19th century East London
- Being recognised and honored for my community work.
- Forming a Foundation for my friend and comrade the late Tony Cheeseman.