After the success of last year’s health inequalities programme, the Faith Leaders Network has been proud to receive another year of funding from the Public Health team at Barking and Dagenham Council for more amazing projects using faith communities to tackle health needs and challenges within Barking and Dagenham.
After a competitive application process, the members of the Faith Leaders Network have decided to award the following 11 projects with funding for this year’s programme to deliver some amazing work and tackle some of the most pressing health challenges.
RCCG Apata Irapada
With members of the black community more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, with cultural issues and stigma around seeking medical help often prevalent, RCCG Apata Irapada are running two projects to help educate their community about these conditions and offer health screenings to pick up signs of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The group will run a series of workshops, with one project specifically focusing on cardiovascular disease and the other on diabetes, informing participants on how to spot the signs of both diseases, how to implement lifestyle changes to prevent these conditions developing, as well as answering questions and breaking down barriers towards seeking treatment.
Barking Muslim Association
Recognising that adverse childhood experiences and trauma can have a significant impact on future health outcomes, Barking Muslim Association have partnered with trauma informed practice charity MHAHR to develop and run a series of workshops for staff and volunteers working with Barking Muslim Association. These workshops will equip participants to deal with trauma and adverse childhood experiences they may come across as they support members of their community either attending the mosque for worship or attending one of their projects, as well as developing Barking Muslim Association as a trauma informed organisation. Barking Muslim Association will then monitor how staff use this training, including setting up specific interventions for members of the community to receive support around their experiences.
Community Resources
Through work on a previous project testing interventions around type 2 diabetes, Community Resources identified a need to continue to work with members of the community to create and test further models of developing understanding for those living with type 2 diabetes about how to control and manage their condition. Through a series of 3 co-design workshops, participants with the condition will have the opportunity to explore how to better empower and equip those with type 2 diabetes with more knowledge and test out ways this could be improved. The group will also work with those who other barriers, including English language needs, to help design models for better engagement across the borough.
Creative Wellness Wonder
Creative Wellness Wonder will be offering blood pressure checks to members of the community through community spaces and local faith groups. Those who are identified as needing intervention will be referred to medical professionals and supplied with information around how to improve their condition through diet and exercise. Those who are identified as not yet needing medical intervention but are found to have higher than normal blood pressure readings, which could indicate a developing cardiovascular issue, will be provided with education and a free months gym membership to encourage them to explore exercise as a method of controlling their blood pressure.
Flowing Rivers
Building on their successful project last year engaging with women from the black African community around maternity and pregnancy health, Flowing Rivers will be running another maternity and pregnancy workshop, focusing this year on providing information to men from the black African community. Recognising that men often feel unsure how to support their partners through their pregnancy and maternity journey, Flowing Rivers will equip men with the information they need to understand the pregnancy and maternity journey, as well as gathering information from men about the experiences they’ve had through supporting their partners in previous pregnancies, gathering thoughts on any changes that could be made by local maternity services.
Kingdom Builders Evangelical Outreach
Kingdom Builders Evangelical Outreach will be running a series of workshops with members of their community to help dispel some of the myths and concerns around certain health topics, including vaccination and cancer treatment. These workshops will help answer questions from the community, provide a safe and informative space to explore issues around these topics and help participants make informed decisions around their health choices. Participants will be encouraged to become Health Champions, using what they have learned to conduct conversations with others in their community and help them explore their own concerns around these issues.
Kingsley Hall Church and Community Centre
Kingsley Hall will be working with Wood Lane Baptist Church and other partners to develop a programme of low impact exercise and activity aimed at members of the community who would be unable to access other forms of exercise, including older people and those with disabilities. Low impact activities including walking football, Pilates and chair yoga will be offered, allowing participants to experience activities at a level appropriate to their current abilities, as well as developing relationships with other participants to help tackle loneliness and isolation.
Great Commission Ministries
With the women of Great Commission Ministries having identified 11 areas of women’s health that they felt were either poorly understood by the community or where there were issues receiving adequate healthcare, Great Ministries have developed a series of workshops targeting these 11 areas, which includes topics such as Menopause, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis and Reproductive health awareness. The workshops will provide attendees with information on each of these conditions, explore how these conditions have affected participants, and empower participants to advocate for their own health needs in these areas.
On the Rock Ministries
Building on the back of the project On the Rock Ministries ran during last year’s Faith Leaders Network programme, the group will be running a series of monthly wellbeing sessions for their community. Alongside offering a welcoming space for those who are experiencing loneliness and isolation, the group provides food and activities including music and chair Zumba for participants to take part in. The sessions will also include general health talks, with invited guests from the healthcare system, with each talk focusing on a specific topic of need within the community, such as diabetes, mental health, and healthy eating and diet.
Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara
Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara will be running a series of health screening sessions for members of their congregation attending the gurdwara across the weekend. These health checks will include blood pressure monitoring and blood glucose testing, and will be targeted at the over-40s. Participants will also be provided with health information about managing their and avoiding conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes through diet and exercise.
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Cardiovascular workshops
RCCG Apata IrapadaRock of Redemption, First Floor, 168 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 6LUEmail organiser Find out more -
Diabetes workshops
RCCG Apata IrapadaRock of Redemption, First Floor, 168 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 6LUEmail organiser Find out more -
Diabetes workshops
Community ResourcesThe Hub @ Castle Point, 163 Bennett's Castle Ln, Dagenham RM8 3YJEmail organiser Find out more -
Health concerns outreach – Vaccinations and Cancer
Kingdom Builders Evangelical OutreachDagenham Learning Centre Community and Family Hub, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QSEmail organiser Find out more -
Health screenings and education sessions
Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara1 Gurdwara Way, Barking IG11 8JDEmail organiser Find out more -
Healthy Eating and health screening workshops
Creative Wellness WonderRivergate Centre, Minter Rd, Barking IG11 0FJEmail organiser Find out more -
LIVEWELL Programme – supporting people become more active
Kingsley Hall Church and Community CentreParsloes Ave, Dagenham RM9 5NBFind out more -
Maternity and women’s health workshop for men
Flowing Rivers Ministries121 Broad St, Dagenham RM10 9HPEmail organiser Find out more -
Maternity and Women’s Health Workshops
Great Commission Ministries102 Longbridge Rd, London, Barking IG11 8SFEmail organiser Find out more -
Mental health and general health workshops
On the Rock MinistriesSt Marks Church Marks Gate, Belben Court, 165 Rose Lane,Romford, RM6 5NREmail organiser Find out more -
Supporting families with children experiencing adverse childhood experiences
Barking Muslim AssociationAl Madina Mosque, 2 Victoria Rd, Barking IG11 8PYFind out more