Introduction: A Comprehensive Approach to Community Health

Health inequalities represent one of the most persistent and troubling challenges facing contemporary British society. In Leicester, as across much of the United Kingdom, stark disparities exist in health outcomes based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographical location. Public Health England reports that individuals living in the most deprived areas can expect to live nearly 10 years less than those in the most affluent areas, with an even more dramatic 19-year gap in disability-free life expectancy (Public Health England, 2017, p.12). These inequalities are not inevitable consequences of individual choices but rather reflect complex interactions between social determinants of health including poverty, education, employment, housing, and access to healthcare services.

At Raedan Institute, our Health and Wellbeing Programmes represent a strategic response to these inequalities, providing accessible, culturally appropriate interventions that address both immediate health needs and underlying social determinants. We recognize that health extends far beyond absence of disease, encompassing physical fitness, mental wellbeing, social connection, spiritual fulfilment, and environmental quality. As the World Health Organisation’s foundational definition articulates: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948, p.1). Our programmes operationalize this holistic vision, addressing the multifaceted nature of human wellbeing.

Our approach is grounded in recognition that effective health promotion requires community-based interventions delivered in trusted settings by culturally competent practitioners. Research consistently demonstrates that community-based health programmes achieve better engagement, greater cultural relevance, and more sustainable behaviour change than traditional clinical approaches, particularly among marginalized populations who face multiple barriers to accessing mainstream health services (Marmot et al., 2010, p.89).

The Social Determinants of Health: Understanding Root Causes

Understanding health inequalities requires examining the social determinants of health—the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. The Marmot Review, a landmark examination of health inequalities in England, identified six key policy objectives for reducing health inequalities: giving every child the best start in life, enabling all children, young people and adults to maximize their capabilities and have control over their lives, creating fair employment and good work for all, ensuring a healthy standard of living for all, creating and developing healthy and sustainable places and communities, and strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention (Marmot et al., 2010, p.15).

Raedan Institute’s programmes address multiple social determinants simultaneously. Our educational services tackle educational inequality; our food bank addresses poverty and food insecurity; our counselling services support mental health; our community activities combat social isolation. Our Health and Wellbeing Programmes integrate across these domains, recognizing that sustainable health improvements require comprehensive approaches addressing interconnected challenges.

Leicester’s demographic diversity adds additional complexity to health promotion efforts. Communities from South Asian, African, and Caribbean backgrounds face elevated risks for specific health conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, while also experiencing cultural and linguistic barriers to accessing preventive healthcare (Diabetes UK, 2019, p.34). Our programmes are designed with cultural competence at their core, ensuring interventions are appropriate, accessible, and effective across Leicester’s diverse communities.

Physical Activity and Fitness Programmes

Physical inactivity represents a major public health challenge, with Sport England reporting that 28% of adults in England are physically inactive, failing to achieve even 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per week (Sport England, 2021, p.23). The health consequences are profound: increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, mental health problems, and premature mortality. Conversely, regular physical activity delivers remarkable health benefits including reduced chronic disease risk, improved mental health and cognitive function, better sleep quality, enhanced immune function, and increased healthy life expectancy.

Our physical activity programmes are designed to overcome common barriers to exercise including cost, confidence, childcare responsibilities, cultural appropriateness, and lack of knowledge. We offer group exercise classes tailored to different fitness levels and abilities, walking groups exploring Leicester’s parks and green spaces, sports activities for all ages including football, basketball, and badminton, gentle exercise classes for older adults and those with health conditions, family-friendly activities promoting active lifestyles, and exercise on referral programmes in partnership with local GPs.

Research demonstrates that group-based physical activity programmes achieve better adherence and greater enjoyment than individual exercise, while also providing valuable social connection (Burke et al., 2006, p.456). Our emphasis on enjoyable, social physical activity helps participants develop sustainable habits rather than short-term engagement.

Recognizing cultural sensitivities around exercise, we provide women-only sessions, culturally appropriate music and activities, flexible scheduling accommodating prayer times and family responsibilities, and programmes designed for modest dress codes. These adaptations ensure that cultural or religious practices never prevent participation in health-promoting physical activity.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Mental health challenges affect one in four people annually, yet stigma and service access barriers mean many individuals never receive appropriate support. The mental health charity Mind reports that people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds face particular challenges accessing mental health services, with cultural stigma, discrimination, and inappropriate service provision contributing to significant treatment gaps (Mind, 2020, p.67).

Our mental health and wellbeing programmes provide accessible, culturally sensitive support through stress management and relaxation workshops, mindfulness and meditation sessions, peer support groups for individuals facing common challenges, psychoeducation about mental health conditions and coping strategies, and signposting to specialist mental health services when needed. We also integrate mental health awareness across all our programmes, recognizing that mental and physical health are fundamentally interconnected.

Nutrition and Healthy Eating Initiatives

As detailed in our nutritional workshops programme, diet profoundly influences health outcomes, with poor nutrition contributing to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Our nutrition initiatives go beyond information provision to address practical barriers to healthy eating including cost constraints, limited cooking skills and confidence, time pressures facing busy families, and cultural food preferences and traditions.

Conclusion: Building Healthier Communities Together

Health inequalities are not inevitable. Through accessible, culturally appropriate, evidence-based programmes addressing both individual behaviours and social determinants of health, we can create healthier, more equitable communities. Raedan Institute’s Health and Wellbeing Programmes represent our contribution to this vital work, supporting Leicester residents to live healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives.

We recognize that health is both individual and collective—personal wellbeing depends on supportive communities, while community vitality depends on healthy individuals. Our programmes strengthen both, creating virtuous cycles where healthier individuals build stronger communities that in turn support individual health. We invite you to join us in this essential work.

Join our Health and Wellbeing Programmes:

Phone: 07725974831

Email: [email protected]

Address: 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA