The Researching Asylum in London - RAL - database was launched on 19th March 2007, hosted by ICAR (ICAR is an independent information and research organisation based in the School of Social Sciences at City University in London)

The website is www.researchasylum.org.uk

It is a database of research on refugee and asylum issues relevant to London - research is summarised and relevant links provided.

November 2006: response to the London Assembly's Review of community-based services for people with mental health problems.

Forum activities have included:

• Progressing the recommendations of the Association of London Government ALG's 2001 report, Sick of Being Excluded. ( ALG were renamed London Councils September 2006)
• Steering the development of a strategy to improve access to quality language support services within London's public sector services.
• Campaigning for the recording of ethnicity data to inform action on and monitoring of health and inequalities among black and minority ethnic communities.
• Organisations that were represented on this forum include: Commission for Patient & Public Involvement in Health, Age Concern London, Royal College of Midwives, Commission for Racial Equality, Refugee Council, Asian Health Network, AMICUS, Race on the Agenda, Afiya Trust and Lewisham Community Development Partnership.
  Terms of reference and membership

Melba Wilson, Wandsworth PCT Chair and LHC Deputy Chair was the chair of the forum and still champions BAME issues on the LHC.Secretariat support is provided to the forum by the ALG.

London Councils and the London Development Centre contribute funding for the language support service strategy development, and the King's Fund has pledged support for its implementation.

"We highlighted the urgent need to improve language support services across London in the ALG's (now London Councils) report Sick of Being Excluded. Through the London Health Commission we are working together to address this problem which has a major influence, directly and indirectly, on health and health inequalities in some of the most vulnerable communities in London."
Stephen Burke, former Chair - ALG Health and Social Services Panel

For further information, contact:
Melba Wilson - Deputy Chair, London Health Commission