BUILDING TRUST TOGETHER - BREAKING BARRIERS: AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY FOR IMPROVING BLACK HEALTH & WELLBEING & COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IN H&F
- Pauline Zepherin
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
H&F HEALTH & WELLBEING COMMUNITY EVENT - SAT 31ST MAY 2025
On Saturday 31st May 2025, our community came alive with energy, connection, movement and magic at the Building Trust – Health & Welling Community Event - what an unforgettable day it was! From the moment the doors opened, the space was buzzing with healing, joy, laughter and simply… pure togetherness.
306 VOICES - Our Community showed up & we thank you - 306 attendees from across the borough and beyond, including toddlers to teens, adults to elders, professionals and local leaders. We truly created a powerful, multi-generational celebration of wellness, culture and community spirit.
Simply put… MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
A VIBRANT WELCOME
As we kicked off the day, SEACC quickly transformed into a haven of buzzing activity, with fantastic Stalls and Stations that inspired, empowered and engaged. As guests arrived, they were met with open arms, by the Reception Team with warm smiles and each person received A FREE raffle ticket and Voucher for a FREE traditional Caribbean meal.
A RANGE OF FREE FUN ACTIVITIES
The day was packed with a dynamic programme – something for everyone to enjoy, explore and take part in:
Interviews – Showcasing the vast ranges of services
Taekwondo Session wowed us with 20 students aged 4-16 years showcasing discipline and skills, led by the esteemed Master Mark Sargeant.
Boxing with Coach Roy Reid – interactive sparring sessions.
Face Painting round the clock and sculpted balloons.
Arts & Crafts Station.
African Drumming Circle - led by Martin at Primary Workshop for Schools, offering group drumming lessons.
Cake Decorating with Funpact
Henna Tattoos
Beginners Writing Workshop with The Wilde Foundation
Zumba with Yrene high energy and dance fun!
Speakerbox Street Party - joyful Danceathon with high energy, featuring line dancing to our ever-popular Candy – A beautiful sight seeing the young and old teaching each other and dancing together – AWESOME.
DJ Khonz bringing the beats.
This was no doubt a special intergenerational celebration, where health and wellbeing was promoted, laughter echoed and new friendships and connections blossomed.
A Focus on Wellbeing & Health Equity
At the heart of the event was our shared commitment to wellbeing and improving health outcomes for our community, especially for the Black Community in Hammersmith and Fulham. NHS had a strong presence at this event focused on connecting 1-2-1 with you the community to offer a friendly warm listening ear about your health concerns, offer testings, give professional guidance and signpost. They showcased information about the NEW NHS IN-REACH MODEL they are keen to co-design with YOU to share information about this new innovative concept learn more about their plans working in partnership with YOU creating five Community Hubs across North West London to provide accessible, culturally responsive healthcare and reduce disparities in Core20PLUS communities. Click link to learn more.
17 Liver Scans conducted by St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College
29 Soothing & Healing Massages delivered by The Massage Company
BMI and Blood Pressure testing throughout the day by NHS Teams.
Crates of FREE fruit distributed courtesy of Health Defence
We put wellness front and centre and our community responded with great enthusiasm. A massive thank you for creating the ideal space for residents and helping us to achieve this goal.
Special Guests, Special Moments
We were honoured to welcome our newly appointed Mayor Sharon Holder, who was an absolute delight as she engaged with everyone, posing for pictures, chatting with children - young people, adults – elders and stallholders alike. Our very own Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Ben Coleman who kick started this very important initiative back in 2024 and Cllr Frances Umeh, also attended and June Farquharson, NHS Associate Director – Health Equity and Nick Skoric all showing ongoing support for grassroots community action and genuine passion for building trust and tackling inequalities to improve health outcomes in Hammersmith and Fulham. Their presence was much appreciated.
FREE Nourishment & Hydration
We can’t talk about the day without mentioning the incredible food and drink that kept everyone fuelled. Huge thanks to:
Tesco’s (Shepherd’s Bush Superstore) who generously provided gallons of water to keep us hydrated throughout the day.
New Kingston Cuisine wowed us with their mouth-watering selection of dishes: Curry Chicken, Vegetable Curry and Escovitch Fish, served with traditional rice and peas or plain rice. It was flavour, culture and love on a plate.
Dandelion Cakes blessed us with sumptuous Banana and Vanilla cupcakes – topped off edible NHS logos - delicious treats that disappeared fast!
Shoutout to Six Stations’ Mixologist who brought the zing with his phenomenal thirst-quenching Ginger Zing Shots – a big hit on the day.
Tri-Yoga team who donated prizes on the day including the beautiful Yoga Mat.
QPR and YHFF for their donated prizes for the day.
Click to watch
Behind the Scenes Heroes
An event like this doesn’t just happen – it takes dedication, teamwork and heart:
Thank you...
To the SEACC Team & Trustees for providing the venue and amazing support on the day.
Respect to the ASÉ Team, our incredible Parent/Carer Champions (PCCs), Ivan and Sam and Chair of the Building Trust Implementation Sub Group, Kes Markfor your relentless effort and hard work on the day to ensured the efficient and smooth running and rapid pack-down.
To our volunteers, stallholders, performers and every helping hand - we see you and appreciate you. You were the heart of the event - bringing information, care, support, creativity and joy to the day.
Enjoy the Slide Show
PARTICIPANTS:
100 Black Men
ASE Squad: Taekwondo – Boxing – Zumba, Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, Six Stations – Free Health Shots
African Advocacy
Alzheimer’s Society
ASE: Parent/Carer Champions (PCCS)
CAHN
Carib and Co Brunch
CLCH – Sickle Cell
Community Massage
Elwira Brady Photography
Faith Forum for London
Family Champions
Forward Women Organisation
Funpact
HAFSON (Hammersmith & Fulham Save our NHS)
H&F Cost of Living Team
Health Defence CIC
Henna Tattoos
Imperial College – Cancer & Prostate
NHS In-Reach (June & Margarette)
MIND – Fiona Reddick & team
MOM
Music – DJ Khonz
NHS Talking Therapies
ORCHID Men’s Cancer Charity
Papyrus
PCN Team (Ross Lambdon)
Primary Workshops – African Drumming
Prostate Cancer UK
QPR
Shaw Trust – Workwell
Sickle Cell UK
Sobus
Speaker Box Street Party
St Mary’s Hospital – Imperial Liver Screening
Tesco
The Mind Café
Tri Yoga
Together Unity
W12 Together
West London CAMHS
Wilde Foundation – Writing Workshop
YHFF
A final thank you goes out to the phenomenal organisations and individuals who contributed to the day with fantastic, interactive health & wellbeing stalls and stations that informed, inspired and uplifted our community - creating an inclusive and vibrant atmosphere where everyone felt welcome and made new connections.
Feedback from attendees and stallholders has been overwhelmingly positive.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned and look out for news about new developments such as the NHS In-Reach Model – 5 Health Hubs being created, get involved because your voice is important to help co-design the service you need and deserve. Email: In-Reach Model
Let’s Stay Connected! Work continues to improve health outcomes – please join our Building Trust Squad and post your pictures of the event, share your health & wellbeing related events in H&F, share information links and post flyers to our new
BUILDING TRUST TOGETHER...
WEBSITE: www.buildingtrusttogether.org
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