The Rafiki Food Network is an ethnic food project supplying fresh & ambient items to those in need in the community. Working closely with FareShare Greater Manchester who have helped and supported this project providing surplus food (and other items like Hand Sanitiser) to Community Groups. This meant that many were able to pick up free food weekly to support their members who were really struggling in the Pandemic due to loss of earnings etc.

The Community Health Online project is running from January to March 2022, to help those from Ethnic Minorities be able to access and navigate digital healthcare i.e. the NHS app and being able to access their GP online.  Community Connectors will be trained and will be engaging in Community Conversations to help as many as possible.

The Pakistani Women & Cancer project is running from now until the end of March 2022. This project seeks to work with the Rafiki Network Community Connectors working with Pakistani women to understand why they find it difficult to come forward for breast screening and present later than average with symptoms of both cancers.  It also seeks to raise awareness of both diseases.

Each year we work with the University of Manchester to deliver an engaging day of special speakers and Community Connectors for first year midwifery students to understand more about the cultural needs of the main ethnicities of residents in GM that they are likely to meet in their placements.  This helps them feel more knowledgeable and gives them the confidence to provide better culturally appropriate care.  The next one will take place in April 2022.

The South Asian Sounding Board was initially set up as a group of concerned community activists & health professionals to help keep the community safer during the Pandemic. The group met frequently and worked with organisations like Public Health and Manchester City Council by sharing messages and information as quickly as possible. The group still meets regularly and is open to everyone who is interested in helping South Asian Communities stay safe and well.

Living life to the full is a programme educating communities in better mental health and how to live a more fulfilled life. The resources have been provided by award-winning Psychologist Dr Chris Williams, and are completely free for all Greater Manchester residents. Check them out here.