A Bradford-based charity providing mental health support through sewing classes has received a substantial funding boost to expand its services. The Women’s Empowered Minds project, an initiative of Better Communities Bradford (BCB), has been awarded £600,000 in grants from the Henry Smith Foundation and the National Lottery Better Communities Fund.
Founded by Abbas Najib, CEO of BCB, the Women’s Empowered Minds project has been offering free therapy and group sessions to women, primarily from South Asian backgrounds, for the past five years. The new funding will support the project’s operations for the next three years, allowing it to increase its weekly offerings to five sewing classes.
Najib explained that the £600,000 grant, which breaks down to approximately £200,000 per year, will support about 100 women per week with sewing classes. Additionally, it will fund approximately 50 hours of one-on-one and group mental health therapy each week.
The project initially served women in the BD7 area, responding to local demand. Over time, it has grown and will now operate five classes a week. According to BCB, the initiative benefits between 150 and 200 women each month through various forms of mental health support, with referrals coming from GPs, friends, family, and self-referrals.
The services address a range of issues, including isolation, depression, anxiety, and bereavement, with a focus on the South Asian community, which constitutes 90 to 95% of the users. However, the project also serves individuals from other ethnic backgrounds, including white English, Eastern European, and African heritage communities.
Najib noted that recent challenges, such as the rise in Islamophobic incidents, have increased the need for such services. During these times, many women have opted for online or telephone therapy due to safety concerns.
“This funding allows us to continue providing essential services to those who need them most, helping to alleviate the mental health challenges faced by many women in our community,” Najib said.
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