OVER 50s BLACK MEN FORUM (O5BM)

WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY

HISTORY

The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) was established in 2018 as a non-profit community and multi-themed organisation dedicated to supporting Black Men aged 50 and over.

This forum plays a vital role in addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic group, which is often marginalised and unsupported due to stereotypes such as the ‘strong black man’ or the ‘absent father’.

OUR VISION

At O5BM, we envision a future where every black man over the age of 50 enjoys optimal physical health, mental resilience, and a strong sense of community. We aim to break down barriers, combat stereotypes, and create a space where the Over 50s Black Men community across the United Kingdom thrive.

OUR MISSION

We recognise the unique challenges faced by older Black Men and strive to address them through education, support, and advocacy.
To create a vibrant community dedicated to enhancing the lives of Black Men aged 50 and above.
To improve the health of over 300,000 older Black Men in the UK by ensuring that nobody misses out on a quality life.

To create a thriving and engaged community for Black Men aged 50 years and over that will be responsible for reducing the negative impact of systemic Health, Economic and Social inequalities.
To disrupt the traditional and systematic approach of tackling black inequalities through the creation of strategic and support activities designed by the older Black Men community to accelerate reduction in systemic inequalities.

We are building a supportive community for over 50s Black Men through the promotion of a comprehensive and sustainable lifestyle.

OUR STRATEGY

Our strategy is innovative, ambitious and can be seen as downright ludicrous. It is a seismic change that will not be easy or straightforward. But we are convinced that a new approach to inequalities must be given a chance to work. In the words of Marissa Meyer: “How can we expect people to change if we don’t give them the chance to?”

We have identified the following four pillars as our strategic framework by which we will tackle and reduce the identified challenges of Health, Economic and Social inequalities facing older Black Men in the UK.

Last Wednesday was my first time and it was amazing as it helped my exercise routine and I felt more comfortable with the people I play with. A lot of intelligent conversation.
Thank you to the big O5BM family.

Francis Ofufu

Provide constant, consistent health, medical education and information via Black medical professionals with the same lived-in experience

1. Continuous Health & Wellbeing

2. Increase Social & Economic Equality

Reduce the unequal distribution of opportunities and income to ensure our community enjoys the same standard of living and social care as other groups in the UK.

Lead or collaborate with respect to representation on governmental, institutional and organisational policies and processes that may have negative impact on the older Black male community.

3. Advocate for Members Issues & Concerns

4. Fairness in Research & Usage

Reduce discrimination and marginalisation of the Black community in the commissioning and implementation of institutional and academic researches.

CASE STUDY

I am a Black medical professional with a practice in Witham, Essex. I have been involved with the O5BM organisation for over three years. As a GP and medical practitioner, I am aware of barriers affecting Black people access the healthcare such as lack of a permanent address,transportation, poor living and working conditions, isolation, poverty etc. Also, some patients at our clinics are migrants and language can be a barrier.

I was therefore excited by the community-centred approach of the O5BM organisation in the mobilisation and encouragement of Black men towards social connectedness and increasing their personal control over their health and lives and building on community capacities to take action together on health and the social determinants of health.

It is important to note that talking to doctors is not an easy experience for Black men,especially the Black African members, many who are anti-doctors and have a conservatism approach to dealing with NHS.

So, what is remarkable, and not captured on the recorded sessions posted on YouTube is the interactive Q&A sessions, where grown men share personal details of their health issues and receive feedback, input, advice and encouragement from others.

This creation of a safe space cannot be created in an NHS practice environment. The interaction shows the positive impact that can be made using a community-based approach. Since joining, it is good to see other Black medical professionals joining and getting involved in O5BM health activities.

This creation of a safe space cannot be created in an NHS practice environment.

Dr Olusegun Adetunji
RN BNSC MBCHB MRCGP
MSC Medical and Healthcare Education

WHAT WE OFFER

BENEFIT TO OUR O5BM COMMUNITY

WHAT WE OFFER

BENEFIT TO THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (NHS)

WHAT WE OFFER

BENEFITS TO LOCAL & BOROUGH COUNCILS

The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) serves as a vital bridge between the community and local councils and government organisations

Being linked to the O5BM group through Sport England has been really beneficial for us to link with such a proactive community of advocates.

We are always looking for ways to support ethnically diverse communities and recognise the importance for trusted individuals to lead on this work.

That is where the O5BM group has been a fantastic connection with our team at Herts Sport and Physical Activity Partnership.

Charlotte Bird
Active Ageing Officer,
Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

On page 34 of the November 2020 joint committee report by the house of commons and the house of Lords on Human Rights, titled “Black people, racism and human rights”, it states that “In the course of this inquiry, concern was expressed by witnesses that; despite the work of many excellent smaller organisations in the Black community, there is a lack of high profile, well resourced, Black-led organisations to maintain pressure for better protection of Black people’s human rights.”

With the support of The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF), the O5BM organisation has made its first meaningful step as a pioneering black led multi-themed organisation, making sustainable and longlasting change to our community across London, the Southeast and East of England.