I'm looking for examples of good practice in this area. We are a small local authority welfare rights service and are looking to do a short-term take-up campaign before April 2007. The campaign will be in partnership with our Housing Benefit service and also another advivce agency but dealing with all benefits. Any ideas/pointers would be greatly appreciated. BME groups make up only 2.5% of the population locally & 1 of the problems we face is that they spread throughout the borough, i.e. there aren't many easily identified communities. Thanks - Mattthew

You may have found some of this already, but I have come across these resources:

The DWP commissioned research in this area which may be helpful
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2003-2004/rrep201.asp

Age Concern recently produced this guide to working with diverse communities.
http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/cgi-bin/publisher/display.cgi?1319-4106-6417+swopshop

Age Concern England also have a good practice guide on this issue, 'Everybody Benefits - A practical guide to improving
take-up of welfare benefits among disadvantaged older people', (published June 2004) that is available here -

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/ACE_Everybody_Benefits.pdf

Thanks for the contributions - the material is very helpful. Regards - Matthew