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The network aims to create a unified voice of users, professionals, carers, families and organisations concerned by poor mental services experienced by BME communities. It also helps to progress coherent voluntary and statutory sector action on BME mental health policy and practice.

Established in 2006, this BME survivor and carers network enables national networks and individual survivors and carers to learn, teach and grow under the heading of personal development. Initially funded for three years by the Big Lottery Fund, in 2010 Afiya, along with leading mental health voluntary organisations, was successfully awarded three years funding to become a strategic partner with the Department of Health.

The National BME Advocacy Network aims to bring together mental health advocacy organisations delivering specific services to BME communities. Launched in 2008, the project is funded by the Department of Health.

The Work and Recovery Project was recently launched following the successful bid for funding at the Department of Health. The project provides BME service users and survivors with an opportunity to complete an Open College Network (Level II) course in Peer Support as well as soft skills training such as Steps into Employment and Building Self Confidence.

The overall aim of the project is to prepare BME mental health service users/survivors for employment. The Afiya Trust will work in partnership with specialist employment support agencies in the voluntary and statutory sectors, as well as private sector employers to promote work trials and placements, which are hoped to lead to paid employment. By the end of the three year project, the training will be facilitated by service users for service users with Afiya's support.