NFHW and NHS staff together at a recent health mela
Formed in 2001 as the Lancashire Gujarat Health Users’ Forum, the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing is a registered charity that specialises in helping local communities to take greater responsibility for protecting and managing their own health.
It was accorded charitable status in December 2014. Its registered charity number is 1159443.
The Forum is based at the Centre for Research into Health & Wellbeing at the University of Bolton (Deane Road, Bolton). It also has close ties to the Gujarat Hindu Society in Preston. It is supported by a variety of NHS Trusts, councils, universities, voluntary groups and private enterprises. It has a variety of roles but is best known for organising a growing programme of Health Mela events, which enable families and individuals to get valuable professional healthcare advice in a friendly and informal environment.
First conceived and developed in Lancashire, these health melas have spread from town to town, city to city and are now supported by a wealth of partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors.
In addition, the Forum is also supported by practitioners of alternative medicine, who provide workshops and seminars on subjects such as reflexology, holistic living, aerobics, yoga and meditation.
The Health Melas are intended to be informative and fun, with events and attractions for all the family.
The Role and Origins of the Forum:
In the following video, made in 2009, Professor Romesh Gupta and Ishwer Tailor MBE explain the role of the Forum and the development of the health mela concept.