COMMUNITY leaders and service providers in Banbury are looking to improve the lives of the town's Asian population.

Regular forums involving Asian community leaders, voluntary workers, charities, and statutory organisations are being organised by Oxfordshire County Council.

Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureau, Connexions, the Carers Centre, Cherwell District Council, and local NHS representatives are among those invited to attend. The aim of the forums is to give professionals and voluntary workers more insight into the needs of Asian people Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi.

Community leaders will be asked to advise Asian residents about services available, and explain to the forums what their communities need.

The first of the monthly meetings took place at the Mill Arts Centre, on Tuesday of last week.

County council community development worker Usha Masih, who came up with the forums idea, said: "We have had a tremendous response to the meetings from service providers and community leaders alike. Many services are on offer in Banbury but very often Asian people don't know how to access them and non-Asian people working in the services do not always understand the needs of the ethnic communities."