'Listen and learn' is the secret to successful services for black children.

Too many services targeting disadvantaged children and their families in minority ethnic communities are designed from a euro-centric viewpoint - and they risk being ineffective as a result says a new report from the UK's largest children's charity, Barnardo's.

'Are we listening yet?' (published on Monday 8 April 2002) reports experience gained by Barnardo's in working with especially disadvantaged and marginalised sections of minority ethnic communities. It presents case studies and learning on how to deliver sensitive and appropriate services for disabled children, those excluded from school, young carers, children needing new families and for families in need of support.

"We don't claim to have all the answers - or to get it right every time," said Barnardo's Errol John, "but we do feel we have some valuable experience to share, demonstrating a willingness to listen to individual children and families, rather than relying on stereotypes and assumptions."

Barnardo's provides a wide range of services to more than 90,000 disadvantaged children and their families throughout the UK, via 300 separate projects. About 20 per cent of those using these services are from black and Asian communities, including people of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, African and Caribbean origin.

'Social services were established with the key objective of delivering services which are accessible, appropriate, adequate and accountable, i.e. relevant to the needs of the community in their catchment area', writes Darshan Sachdev in her introduction to 'Are we listening yet?'. 'When services are organised to white norms, the dietary, linguistic, religious and caring needs of minority ethnic users are often overlooked.'

One of the examples highlighted in the report is a project in the West of England supporting and re-integrating minority ethnic pupils excluded from school. Black pupils are four times more likely than their white counterparts to be excluded. A partnership between a black parent support group and Barnardo's, the project has seen demand for services outstrip resources, signalling its success in building positive working relationships with local schools and education authorities while retaining the trust of the local community.

In common with many organisations, institutions and government departments (both local and national) Barnardo's has been reviewing its services, structures and practices in the wake of the Macpherson Report from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

"In an environment where we already see people drawing back from taking action to address issues identified as a result of the McPherson Report, we feel this report demonstrates some important lessons learned," said Errol John. "Barnardo's is committed to pushing forward improvements in our work with minority ethnic communities."