The Beginning
Lancashire Gujarat Health Users Forum established in partnership with the Gujarat Hindu Society to promote health of South East Asian and wider communities.
- Series of monthly ‘Health workshops’ introduced.
Preston
- Two day Mela held in the new Gujarat Hindu Society Community Centre.
- First Chief Guest, Professor John Ashton, Director of Public Health North West
- Royal Preston Hospital staff, the ‘Blood Drop’ team provide professional support.
- Number of visitors exceeds organisers’ expectations.
Preston
- Monthly health workshops continue to attract support at GHS Community Centre.
Preston
- ‘SloppySlippers’ campaign organised in collaboration with Age Concern.
Preston, Manchester
- Principal Guest, Prof. Raman Bedi, Chief Dental Officer, delivers message of support from Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief Executive, Department of Health.
- Medical students from University of Manchester (supported by LGHUF to form the ‘Health Olympics’ team) provide health counselling.
- Road accident awareness theatre presentations.
Preston
- Ambulance and fire tender prove a big attraction to children.
- Anna Walker, Chief Executive of the Health Care Commission visits Preston to meet LGHUF.
Preston
- Healthy walks organised in association with Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
- Charity dinner to support Rosemere Cancer Trust.
Preston
- Second Rosemere Charity Dinner.
Preston, Chorley
- Presentation ‘Promoting Healthy Living – Empowering Communities’, at NW Evaluation Network Conference, Bolton.
- Involvement in Falls User Carer Forum
Preston, Bolton University, Cardiff
- Health Mela crosses the border to Wales.
Preston, Bolton University, London
- First discussions on collaboration with Rotary International.
Preston, Bolton University, Leyland
- Mela moves to Guild Hall to celebrate Guild Year.
- First collaboration with Rotary Club of Leyland and Rotary International fully engaged in Health Mela programme.
- Name changed to National Forum for Health and Wellbeing reflecting an expanding role.
Mela team joins Guild Torchlight procession.
Preston, Bolton University, Leyland, Fylde Coast (Blackpool), Bradford University
- Chief Guest Paul Buckley, Director of Education and Standards at the General Medical Council praises contribution
of ‘Health Olympics’ team. - Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, is honoured Guest.
- Permanent office base for NFHW established in University of Bolton.
Preston, Bolton University, Leyland, Fylde Coast (Fleetwood), Bradford University
- Professor John Ashton returns as Chief Guest at Leyland
- Proposals for events in West Lancashire and Merseyside.
- NFHW is finalist in E3 Business awards ‘Social Enterprise’ category
- Guest lecture at University of Bolton by Rotary District Governor Kevin Walsh.
- Conference with University of Bolton,‘An Holistic Approach to Health and Wellbeing’.
- NFHW applies for charitable status.
- Secondary school link – Academy@Worden
to be host for 2015 Leyland Mela. - International link as NFHW supports planned Health Mela in India.
2015
Health Mela at Catholic primary school, Baguley, Manchester.
Preston Mela moved to Uclan in 2015
We had health Melas at Preston, Bradford, Leyland, Bolton and Lytham St Ann’s ( Fylde coast) as well.
2016
International partnership of NFHW and rotary international
First health Mela at town centre square – Carlisle, Attended by local mayor Cllr Steve Leyden
First health Mela at Carnforth high school. Included presentation “Don’t walk on grass” by chief guest Dr Chris Moulton, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
New initiative of local communities to promote health and wellbeing started at the Euxton library.
Students of School of Medicine, UCLan started participating in the Health MOT
2017
Health Melas at Preston, Bradford and Leyland continued.
Euxton library lectures continued.
Several research based master classes at university of Bolton.
Students of School of Pharmacy, UCLan joined Health MOT team
2018
First health Mela at Accrington, East Lancashire.
Chief guest lecture by professor John Middleton, president of the faculty of public health UK.
Second international health Mela at Benghazi, Libya organised by medical students of UCLan.
We were invited to present a paper on Health Mela at the conference held at MMU of the Association of the Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
2019
Health Melas at Preston, Bradford and at Tattoo community centre, Chorley.
Screening for atrial fibrillation for those who had tasted a reiki session was introduced.
NFHW received a nomination, and was a finalist for the Community Group of the Year category of the Fusion awards.
Formal partnership of the NFHW and School of Medicine UCLan.
2020
First public engagement seminar on nutrition and health at the UCLan.
Covid-19 lockdown and all health Melas for 2020 cancelled.
Use of social media and modern technology introduced to continue public engagement to promote health and wellbeing.