Our first termly Chai & Chat with Project Salama was a lovely opportunity for women to come together, talk, connect and create their own vision books – thinking about their hopes, goals, wellbeing and what they would like for the future.

We were also delighted to welcome Joan Sinclair, who delivered an informative session on menopause as part of Menopause Awareness Month this October part of the Chai and Chat sessions. There were lots of questions and discussion about symptoms, physical and emotional wellbeing, and where women can find support.

Lily Gibbons, Oral Health Improvements Practitioner, also visited RCLC to deliver group sessions with learners in our Reading & Writing and English Conversation classes. Lily talked about good oral hygiene, brushing techniques, children’s oral health, how parents can encourage children to brush and which products to use.

Our crèche children joined in too! Children and their mothers took part in practical tooth-brushing sessions together, helping families build healthy habits from an early age. We will continue practising brushing once a week at the Centre. 🪥🦷

For RCLC, bringing trusted health information directly into a familiar, safe and supportive community setting is an important part of our work. Many of the migrant, refugee, asylum-seeking and minority ethnic women we support can face barriers to accessing health information and services, including language, confidence, unfamiliarity with UK systems and wider inequalities.

By creating opportunities to ask questions without embarrassment, learn together and speak directly with health professionals, we can help women feel more informed and confident about looking after their own physical and mental health and the health of their children. This is about prevention, early support and helping to reduce health inequalities, while making health information accessible and relevant to everyday family life.

A huge thank you to Project Salama, Joan Sinclair and Lily Gibbon for sharing their time, knowledge and expertise with our learners. The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed – and there were certainly plenty of questions! 💗
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