Well-being day for the Lambeth’s black communities attended by hundreds

Hundreds of Lambeth residents got together for a special well-being day for the borough’s black communities on Saturday.

More than 400 people attended the event in St Mark’s Church, Kennington, which combined culture, entertainment, stalls, health screening, sports and health support.

The Black Communities Health and Wellbeing Day was organised by Lambeth Together – an event between Lambeth council, the NHS and the voluntary sector – alongside the Inspire programme which was set up after the Covid-19 pandemic to tackle health inequalities faced by black people in London. Saturday marked the borough’s third year hosting the event.  

Councillor Jacqui Dyer, Lambeth’s cabinet member for healthier communities, said: “We know that there are serious racial inequalities in our healthcare system, particularly in mental health services, and black people face significantly higher risks of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, mental health challenges and other health problems.

“As a partnership we’re dedicated to overcoming these challenges. Events like this are part of the process of removing barriers to accessing healthcare for all our communities.”

Workshops on the day included the Black Men’s Consortium games, hosted by the ACE Programme, a charity reaching under-represented groups in cricket, as well as a boxing pad session led by sports development charity, Fight 4 Change.

The Black Living Donor Choir, which promotes kidney donation among black communities performed at the event and its members shared their stories of donor transplants.

There were more than 20 stalls offering a range of health and well-being information and checks. 

King’s College Hospital, Macmillan’s breast cancer screening, King’s Kidney Health and Sickle Cell Awareness, Lambeth Cost of Living and Employability Skills, Diabetes Prevention, Prostate Cancer UK, Black Thrive, Lambeth Talking Therapies and Active Lambeth were represented at the event. 

Cllr Dyer said: “The Inspire Black Communities Health and Wellbeing Day stands as a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in promoting health and wellness.”

Pictured top: The Black Communities Health and Wellbeing Day (Picture: Lambeth council)