Preston North End Community and Education Trust [PNECET] have been supporting the Sahara Women’s Centre with tailored and culturally appropriate Weight Management provision under the Lancashire County Council Tier Two Weight Management contract.
Through its Health and Wellbeing provision, PNECET delivers programmes that tackle the health inequalities across Preston to support people to lead healthier and more active lifestyles, while diversity is one of the club’s official charity’s underpinning values – driving innovation and considering cultural perspectives across its programmes.
The Sahara Women’s Centre is based in Fishwick and offers a number of initiatives to engage women in the area, many of whom are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
PNECET and the Sahara Women’s Centre have been working in partnership for over a year, and in 2021, 29 women from the centre completed the PNECET Weight Management programme, which was delivered at the centre.
The partnership has earned commendation from NHS England Director of Healthcare Inequalities Bola Owolabi.
'I never thought I would be part of an exercise club that uses something so culturally accessible to people.'
— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) April 13, 2022
Dr @BolaOwolabi8 met with @pnecommunity to hear about their fantastic work with the Sahara women's group to support lifestyle management. pic.twitter.com/1FwYC9yBFj
Those accessing the Sahara Women’s Centre were recently welcomed to Deepdale for a Bollywood dance class, forming part of the Weight Management provision, which was followed by photo opportunities inside Deepdale – all with Bola in attendance.
Bola said: Preston North End Community and Education Trust have been delivering some fantastic work with the Sahara Women’s group on lifestyle management.
“I really enjoyed the Bollywood dance. I never thought I would be part of an exercise club that uses something that is so culturally accessible to people.”
PNECET Deputy Chief Executive Harriet Creighton-Levis added: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the Sahara Centre to offer a unique Weight Management programme that considers the different cultural perspectives of the Sahara Centre’s service users.
“Our Health and Wellbeing provision is breaking down multiple barriers facing our community, ultimately reaching and improving the lives of those residing in areas of deprivation across Preston.
““We were pleased to showcase our work to NHS England Director of Healthcare Inequalities Bola Owolabi and to share ideas of best practise within our Health and Wellbeing strand.”
For more information about PNECET’s Weight Management programme, please email hannah.white@pne.com or click here.