THE district's ethnic community is looking forward to better access to services with the creation of a ground-breaking link.

Wyre Forest Ethnic Elders Minority Club was launched at St George's Church Hall in Kidderminster and will meet fortnightly to improve communications with the public sector.

The forum, a joint venture between the county's Social Services and Age Concern Herefordshire and Worcestershire, will be a meeting place where the elders of ethnic minorities can learn more about the kind of public services the wider community tends to take for granted.

Paul Purnell, of Social Services, told elders at the launch: "We arrange care and support for the elderly and disabled and provide a wide range of services.

"We don't always get things right for people from ethnic minority groups. Sometimes we do not take account of languages and cultures.

"But that is not fair because you have a right to the same services as everybody else."

He added: "One way we can overcome this is to regularly consult so we can better understand what communities want and also talk informally for us to understand the issues."

Also present at the launch were members of the police, fire service, health professionals, Wyre Forest District Council and a number of voluntary organisations.

Dr Mohammed Aslam, chief executive of the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council, urged elders to support the informal get-togethers, where they could raise concerns about any issues, and it was hoped this would improve community integration.

Kidderminster mayor, Siri Hayward, welcomed the opportunity to speak to ethnic elders and described the new partnership as exciting.

Heather Gill, social services locality manager, said after the launch: "The aim of the forum is to provide a meeting place where elders from ethnic minorities can learn about the support that is available to them in Wyre Forest.

"We also hope to increase our knowledge of the needs of the ethnic community in Wyre Forest so that we can provide appropriate services when they are required."

The forum will be held fortnightly on Thursdays from 10.30am until noon at St George's Church Hall and more information is available from co-ordinator, Malik Fayez, at the county's Age Concern office on 01905 726652.