Responding to DementiaInclusion for All

CNHLC Dementia Awareness &

Support Project

Eddie Chan18 July 2014

Can anyone tell me the name of the first Chinese migrant in the UK?

Mr Shen Fu Tsong

In 1686 a young Jesuit convert from Nanking called Shen Fu Tsong arrived at the court of James II and became the first recorded instance of a Chinese person in Britain. The King was so taken with him he had his portrait painted and hung in his bed chamber.

History of Chinese Arrivals

Chinese in the UK are a heterogeneous group Late 19th century Seamen employed on British

merchant ships in the late 1860s, settled in ports such as Limehouse in London and Liverpool.

1950s – 1960s Agricultural workers from Hong Kong and people from the former British colonies, such as Malaysia and Singapore, with specialist skills, such as nursing and accountancy.

1970s – 1980s Ethnic Chinese formed nearly 80% of the Vietnamese refugee community.

1990s – present Mainland Chinese seeking economic freedom in Britain.

Chinese SeamanLeft: Tea getting ready for shipment (1908) / Right: West India Docks (1892)

Lodging TypesLeft: Strangers Home for Asiatic (1911) / Right: Chinese Boarding House Ah Tack (1911)

Limehouse CausewayLeft: Limehouse Causeway (1920‘s) / Right: Owner in front of Chinese Shop (1920‘s)

PennyfieldsLeft: Pennyfields (1910‘s) / Right: Pennyfields & Turner Buildings (1927)

Chinese ShopsLeft: Chinese Grocery (1920‘s) / Right: Chong Shung & Ching Yeu Kee (1920‘s)

Hand LaundryLeft: Lee Chinese Laundry (1920‘s) / Right: Dung Chong Chinese Laundry (1920‘s)

Chinese RestaurantLeft: Chinese Restaurant & English Grill (1932) / Right: owner to pick live chickens (1932)

London Chinatown

Chinese Population Changes

1991 National Population Census – 160,000 2001 National Population Census – 245,000 with

over 80,000 in London 2011 National Population Census – 394,000 with

over 125,000 in London Figures excluding refugees, asylum seekers and

irregular migrants (estimated 100,000) Overseas Chinese students in UK now – 100,000+ Estimated Chinese population is at 600,000+

(including irregular migrants)

CNHLC

Established in 1987 as London Health Resource Centre

Big Lottery funding in 2000 to become a national organisation

Aims to promote healthy living and facilitate access to health care for Chinese in the UK

Core services of CNHLC

Sunday bilingual doctor’s surgery TCM clinic Chinese Mental Health Disability & Carers Support Counselling Needs assessments / Researches Cancer awareness Drop-in services Healthy eating and exercise Hep B clinic

Chinese community in the UK

The most dispersed BME community Barriers – language & cultural Quiet & passive/Invisible/Silent minority Service providers stress that it is difficult

to offer suitable services to the Chinese community because they are so unreachable

Reluctant to accept help of others outside the immediate family

Emerging Issues

An ageing population – people live longer In 2010 – 820,000 with dementia in UK Costing £23 billion per year 1/3 of elderly people will get dementia before

death For Chinese - Long periods of working living in

catering limited social circle Poor language skill- access to mainstream service

hampered Generation gap – loss of traditional family support Cultural issues – misunderstanding/stigma More than 8000 London Chinese are 65+

CNHLC London Dementia Awareness & Support Project

Aims: Removing stigma & promoting awareness

Pan-London: work in partnership with local community centres

Promotion: workshops/Chinese language booklets/Tea House

Support the early diagnosed/carers Home visits/referral/benefit

advice/telephone line Involve volunteers/recruit dementia friends

Thank You

Eddie Chaneddie.chan@cnhlc.org.uk