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Race, religion and culture have been issues in a number of high profile public enquires, but there is little advice to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities about ways to help safeguard children. In Walsall, the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) worked with Muslim organisations to raise awareness on safeguarding local children. The Madressah Project focused on places where large numbers of Muslim children went each day for religious education.The aims of the Madressah project were:• to provide information and guidance to parents, carers and Mosques/Madressahs on ensuring the safety of their children• to advise Madressahs on their legal obligations• to provide advice on safe recruitment• to provide child protection training to the Mosques/Madressahs.The project resulted in an action plan and Good Practice Guide. The Guide attracted wide interest from inspectorates and other local authorities resulting in Walsall providing advice and guidance to others looking to improve practice and provide safe environments for children irrespective of race, ethnicity or culture.

The prevalence of heart disease varies with ethnicity and deprivation. By analysing one year's data for all hospital admissions with a cardiac diagnosis, we have shown that there are differences in the pattern of care between ethnic groups. Patients from a black and minority ethnic background tend to have an age profile that is 10 years younger than the majority white population. This finding is even more pronounced in those from deprived areas. We also show that black and minority ethnic patients have a different mix in respect of the proportion that is admitted for definitive treatment rather than for heart attacks. This preliminary finding may have explanations other than inequitable access to treatment.