How our funding is making a difference 

Through the Compassionate Communities programme, we’ve awarded vital funding to support fantastic organisations working to enhance the health and wellbeing of people in north west London. Here are just a few of the incredible projects that we began supporting in previous years.

Feed Me Good

Feel Me Good is an organisation that provides holistic and innovative health and wellbeing solutions through programmes that engage with diverse communities.

They support groups that are disproportionately at high risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Low income black and ethnic minority adults and older people in Brent can often be harder to reach due to cultural exclusion from mainstream health messaging, economic inequality, and limited access to tailored support.

The project will address the social and commercial determinants of health, building trust within the community through culturally relevant and peer-led health education.  Public health campaigns often ignore cultural food norms and the higher cost of world foods.

Their Feed Me Lifeskills project aims to reduce the risk of preventable diseases in these communities, with an approach that respects culture, improves health literacy, and offers realistic, sustainable lifestyle changes.

Controlling Chemsex

This charity is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of individuals affected by chemsex; the use of drugs to enhance or facilitate sexual activity.

Controlling Chemsex provides a safe environment for those who feel they have lost control over their drug use and sexual behaviour, and recognises the unique challenges faced by individuals in this community by offering tailored support to address their needs. Research shows that trauma-informed and peer-led interventions (especially those specifically tailored to chemsex) can significantly reduce harm, improve mental wellbeing, and increase engagement with healthcare services.

Our grant will support work that provides targeted and compassionate support to people who often fall through the cracks.

Westminster Bangladeshi Association 

The Westminster Bangladeshi Association promotes unity and togetherness through a range of diverse programmes that foster community bonds and celebrate diversity.

The Bangladeshi community in the UK has some of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with many individuals living with undiagnosed or poorly managed conditions. Health inequality is exacerbated by language barriers, lack of culturally appropriate services, and low uptake of preventative healthcare. Many older residents are socially isolated and less active, which can increase their risk to these diseases.

 Their programme Rally for Health aims to change this by delivering culturally appropriate badminton sessions, providing both targeted men-only and women-only social health groups. Rally for Health encourage physical activity, improve understanding of health risks and promote behaviour change in a culturally relevant and accessible manor. The sessions offer awareness around diet, medication adherence, and the importance of attending routine check-ups.

Sport4Health

This charity offers free sport activities to people from disadvantage and minoritised communities.

Their Asian Student Health & Wellbeing programme will provide culturally relevant indoor sports and social activities, which aims to increase awareness and promote uptake of healthcare services for young people (aged 18 to 24).

As well as providing a space for exercise, this programme will offer guidance on access to preventative health services and treatment for mental health problems, reducing the likelihood of poor physical and mental health and encouraging healthy eating.

Give Space

Give Space aims to improve the mental health, self-esteem, and emotional resilience of young people using ‘dramatherapy’. Service users are given strategies to manage low mood and anxiety, connect with others, and navigate challenges in their lives.

Their Room to Feel programme will target depression and anxiety in children in care and other groups of at-risk young people in Hillingdon, providing trauma-informed drama and movement therapy that’s tailored to the needs of those who have experienced instability, loss, or adversity.

Mind in Harrow

Mental Health support charity Mind are offering a service based in Harrow, which offers the Stepping Stones: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body programme.

This will aim to reduce anxiety and depression, as well as hypertension and diabetes by offering Harrow and Hillingdon’s only mental health specialist walking group and yoga classes. Activities will be led by qualified instructors who are experienced in supporting vulnerable adults.

Wipers Foundation

This group works with marginalised young people by offering a range of support services, including personal mentoring, workshops, and employability programmes.

The Clear Minds project is a structured, relationship-based intervention for young people aged 13–24 living in Hammersmith and Fulham who are experiencing depression and anxiety.

Tailored mentoring sessions will aim to reduce isolation, strengthen coping strategies and support access to community-based opportunities that enhance wellbeing and resilience.

Volunary Action Harrow

Voluntary Action Harrow (YAH) works with their local community in Harrow to delivers a range of services and programmes.

The Every Contact Matters programme will train residents, community workers, NHS staff, and other stakeholders to build their skills in preventing long-term health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, improving mental wellbeing and encouraging physical activity.

Activities will include:

• workshops on behaviour change, health literacy, critical thinking, and active listening
• strengthening strategies, reasoning and engagement skills, and lifestyle coaching sessions
• outreach to libraries, fairs and community spaces with a focus on reducing health risks

The goal for this programme is to address health inequalities by empowering and upskilling local people, allowing them to achieve long-term, sustainable change and reach the people at risk of physical and mental health issues.

Srishti Yuva Culture 

This charity promotes healthy recreation, equality and diversity through the provision of Indian dance!

South Asian people in the UK are statistically at a higher risk of diabetes and obesity than the White British population. The Healthy Moves project aims to reduce these health risk through interactive talks on healthy Indian cooking practices and portion control. The sessions will respect traditional cultural recipes whilst showing how to adapt them for modern health. This balance aims to improves nutrition, wellness, and energy, guiding participants towards long-term health.

This will be combined with Indian dance workshops that make physical activity enjoyable and culturally familiar, improving fitness, flexibility and mental wellbeing. Clinically informed sessions increase health literacy and participants will be signposted to support that will broaden understanding and encouraging well-informed health choices.

SFIDA

SFIDA is a community organisation that works with young ethnic Albanians and their families.

Their Healthy Hearts, Healthy Minds project will deliver a culturally tailored programme to reduce the risks of depression and anxiety, as well as cardiovascular disease, among the Albanian community in Northwest London.

It will combine physical activity, health education and mental health support, providing participants with the tools to make healthier choices and access appropriate services.

Step Up 2 Fitness

This organisation works to remove barriers and reduce health inequalities for minoritised communities of women and girls. It’s comprehensive programme of wellbeing activities includes swimming, tennis lessons, half-marathon training, nutritional workshops, and functional fitness classes with the support of a mobile crèche.

The Breathe and Cook project will aim to reduce the risk of long-term health conditions such as obesity, diabetes type 2, and hypertension by promoting healthier eating habits, showing how to prepare affordable balanced meals, and introducing anti-waste strategies without compromising taste. This practical approach will help to prevent diet-related conditions while addressing the financial and cultural barriers many families face.

Give. Help. Share.

Give. Help. Share. is an organisation founded by two teacher friends, which aims to address health inequalities by providing nutritious food and food education workshops for children. They seek to prevent childhood obesity through early intervention, delivering practical, engaging lessons in schools, helping pupils to make informed, healthy food choices and share that knowledge at home. Teachers report increased food literacy, improved attitudes toward healthy eating and meaningful ripple effects within families. The programme is a vital tool for improving children’s long-term health outcomes and building healthier, more resilient communities.

The Nourish to Flourish – Food Education for Healthier Futures project will deliver a structured food education programme to primary schools in the most disadvantaged pockets of Harrow and Brent.

Check out the Compassionate Communities projects we helped fund in previous years.