We are seeking a Project Officer, to run our BASS (Black and Asian Stroke Survivors) Project. 

Different Strokes is a national charity run by younger stroke survivors for younger stroke survivors.  There are 100,000 strokes in the UK every year, and 1 in 4 of these happen to someone of working age or younger.  We aim to promote independent stroke recovery and help these younger stroke survivors to reclaim their lives.

Black and South Asian people are at much greater risk of stroke, with studies indicating that black people are twice as likely to have a stroke as white people and that Black and South Asian people have a stroke at a younger age.  However, this diversity has not been entirely reflected amongst the community of stroke survivors that Different Strokes supports; while around 10% of the UK population is of Black or South Asian descent, a recent beneficiary survey showed that only around 6% of respondents are from these communities. 

To begin addressing this gap, in 2021 we began a national outreach programme with two key aims:

• To raise awareness of stroke risk amongst Black and Asian communities where stroke at a younger age is more prevalent

• To develop a longer-term plan that aims to break down barriers preventing Black and Asian stroke survivors from accessing our support services.

As a starting point, we established a volunteer focus group last year formed mainly of Black and Asian stroke survivors.  The group has since met to discuss the barriers to Black and South Asian stroke survivors getting the right post-stroke support including:

• Lack of information
• Lack of awareness
• Lack of representation
• Cultural or social barriers

We recognise that many of these issues are complex and that change cannot be made overnight.  We now have some funding in place to employ a part-time Project Officer on a 12 month contract, who will lead the volunteer focus group and help to drive wider policy and partnership work. 

This is an entirely new role and will require someone who is ready to take on the challenge of developing and evolving the project in a holistic and collaborative way.

The role would be home-based, but require some travel including occasional visits to our office in Milton Keynes.  Initially, it is offered as 12 hours per week on a 12-month contract, but there is potential for this to be extended.