African Caribbean People in Leicestershire: Final report, incorporating the fully revised second interim report

In partnership with central government, the local authorities and the University of Leicester, representatives of Leicestershire’s African Caribbean community commissioned an independent study of the experiences of black people in the country. The project adopted a ‘bottom-up’ approach to give members of the community the opportunity to speak for themselves. Research methods included interviews and group discussions, documentary analysis, postal questionnaires and a sample survey of 547 people, representing 8.5% of the total African Caribbean population in Leicestershire, aged 16 years and over. The final report includes and outline of the experiences of African Caribbean people in Britain, a detailed examination and needs analysis of the social and economic disadvantage of African Caribbean people in Leicestershire, and an account and evaluation of the experiences and opinions of black people in the county, particularly in relation to the public authorities and the services they provide. The Report ends with a brief assessment of the key issues and a summary of the principal recommendations. It concludes that with political commitment, empowerment of black people and a partnership approach there is much that can be done to overcome the inequality and bring about real equal opportunities for African Caribbean people in Leicestershire.