This booklet tells SubCo's story, from the initial lack of social care and the organisation's inception, up to the present day. This takes in the perspectives of care professionals and community pressure groups, current staff, and service users. The exhibition text has been translated into Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, which can be found below.
Bengali translation
Gujarati translation
Hindi translation
Punjabi translation
Urdu translation
1 - Who cares?
The exhibition starts by looking at the NHS and Community Care Act (1990). This led to an emphasis on providing social care in a community, third sector, context. At this time, many Black and Asian people faced institutional racism when trying to access statutory services.
2 - A radical vision
Newham remains home to a very diverse community, due to decades of migration from Commonwealth countries. The early '90s was a time when many migrants realised they would permanently remain, and when new studies brought a sharp focus on the experience of migration and age, and their social effects.
3 - Making it happen
Newham also had a very active and engaged platform for community initiatives, most notably the outstanding anti-racist work of Newham Monitoring Project. Third sector networks provided SubCo with support and advice when it was founded, but changes in central funding could test these relationships.
4 - Building a home
SubCo's Plashet Grove building is essential to the organisation, offering a warm welcome to its members, as well as a base for the delivery of essential services. Local government gave funding for SubCo to establish itself, but redevelopment in Newham since the 2012 Olympics has also marginalised charities and community ventures.
5 - Welcoming everybody
SubCo is an emphatic advocate for Asian elders. Yet there is a lot of diversity within the needs of Asian people as a whole, especially language, dietary, and religious needs. SubCo has always emphasised its openness and receptivity to these requirements, as well as opening its doors to people from outside of the Asian community.
6 - Cooking for the community
Food is clearly a vital service, and one that Asian elders had difficulty accessing before the NHS and Community Care Act. Against a background of ignorance and obstruction SubCo have provided healthy, nutritious, and culturally appropriate meals, and created a warm and supportive atmosphere through food provision.
7 - Keeping things running
Despite difficulties with funding, that any small charity faces, SubCo's continued success over 25 years is testament to its dedicated and effective staff members. Changes in funding models and social needs have meant that SubCo have developed their staff to meet present and future challenges.
8 - Cherished memories
Looking back over the last 25 years, many staff and service users have warm memories of a great myriad of activities. As well as regular sessions in local community centres, SubCo has allowed its members to see the world, whether at home or abroad, and take part in opportunities that otherwise would not have been available.
