A SPECIAL open day takes place next week to help show people from ethnic minority backgrounds just how a local hospice can cater for their needs.

Bosses at St Catherine's -- which cares for patients from Chorley, Preston and South Ribble -- have written to numerous groups inviting them to attend the awareness-raising event.

Shamim Mahomed, of SKM Chartered accountants, who are sponsoring the evening -- at which the guest speaker will be Meena Pathak, of Pathak Foods -- said there was a misconception that ethnic minorities shunned or avoided help or advice from others.

She said: "One of the problems is the perception that we do things in our own community rather than go out and use other arrangements. That's incorrect.

"If people don't know about it, they are not going to think 'yes, I know I can go there and get some help'.

Shamim, an NHS trust non-executive director, added: "I have also come across people with mental health problems who have encountered facilities they don't know how to use.

"If you don't know that it exists, you can't start the dialogue."

Shamim said organisations needed 'to meet us half way' to help make what is on offer better known.

John Nickson, of St. Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall, said: "From our point of view it is the ongoing crusade the hospice has to the people of Chorley, Preston and South Ribble to make sure the care is appropriate for all the ethnic backgrounds." The open evening takes place at the hospice on Monday, October 30, starting at 7pm. Anyone who has not received an invitation and is interested in attending should call 324540.