On a cloudy afternoon on Saturday, 7 March 2026, just after noon, the premises of the Gujarat Hindu Society Cultural Centre in Preston filled with the sound of beating dhols (Indian drums). It marked the beginning of the silver jubilee year celebrations of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing (NFHW).

The Chief Guest, the Amanda Parker, JP was welcomed at the centre by the Chairman of NFHW, Romesh Gupta OBE, along with trustees Ishwer Taylor, Professor R Campbell, Martin Myers, Sarifa Kabir, Ravin Shah  and other members of the organisation.

Also present were Professor Mumtaz Patel, President of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Alison Carr, Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Central Lancashire, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council, and Rotarian Kevin Walsh MPHF, past Rotary Governor of Lancashire and Cumbria. Several other dignitaries and members of the public were also in attendance.

The function began with the guests lighting the traditional ceremonial lamp and being honoured with garlands. This was followed by a welcome dance performed by young dancers from the Gujarat Hindu Society Dance School.

In his welcome address, Professor Romesh Gupta said:
“It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker, other distinguished dignitaries, and the assembled guests and stallholders to this celebration marking the 25th year of the NFHW. It was in these very premises that we began our journey with the aim of bringing health services to the community in a friendly, stress-free environment and empowering people to take control of their own health.

“Over the past 25 years, we have organised nearly 75 Health Melas in cities across Lancashire, Cumbria, Manchester and other parts of the UK. The model has also been replicated in India and Libya. We have developed partnerships with local councils, NHS organisations, universities, NGOs and voluntary organisations. We have also provided opportunities for healthcare students to enhance their skills, undertake research projects and serve the community.

“We begin this silver jubilee year with immense pride and satisfaction, while looking forward to continuing our work towards achieving our aims and objectives.”

In her address, Mrs Amanda Parker highlighted the importance of the organisation’s vision of improving health across communities by working closely with local people and affiliated organisations through outreach programmes. She emphasised that encouraging individuals to undertake health checks, screenings and to develop greater awareness of their wellbeing was vital.

She noted that the forum works closely with healthcare professionals and local residents with a clear aim: helping people understand their health issues. While some initiatives are community-specific, others address wider societal concerns, with community engagement at the heart of these efforts.

Professor Alison Carr said:
“The university has a responsibility to play an active role in promoting health and wellbeing within our communities. Through this partnership we are making health services more accessible while giving students meaningful real-world experience in public health and community engagement.”

Professor Carr added that she was proud that the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Central Lancashire had been working closely with NFHW and supporting its aims. She also thanked the forum for providing medical students with opportunities to practise their skills and engage in volunteering.

Professor Dr Mumtaz Patel said she was a proud Prestonian and was pleased to see NFHW working hard to empower communities to understand and address health risks. Having attended Health Mela event last year, she said she had been impressed and offered her support for future initiatives.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said:
“Health is not just made in hospitals and GP practices; health is made in our homes and in our communities, and this event is a real-life example.”

Dr Alpana Asurkekar also spoke about the organisation’s vision of improving health across communities by working with affiliated organisations to promote testing, screening and awareness of health and wellbeing.

The evening also heard reflections from Rotarian Kevin Walsh, Professor Rob Campbell, Mr Russell Hogarth and Mr Martin Myers.

During the event, NFHW Fellowships were awarded to the Gujarat Hindu Society and the Holistic Living Group in recognition of their contributions to community health initiatives.

The programme was interspersed with entertainment throughout the afternoon. Highlights included the “Red Rose Ragas” by an Indian choir under the guidance of Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Bollywood dance performances led by the Sheema Hazuria group from Blackpool, and a Tai Chi and Qi Gong demonstration by Ms Feixia Tie. These performances were interactive and the audience enthusiastically participated.

Attendees also had the opportunity to visit several health-related stalls and receive free health assessments.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mrs Sarifa Kabir, who expressed gratitude to all participants and supporters for making the event a success. She also reminded attendees of NFHW’s forthcoming Health Melas scheduled to take place in Preston on 11 April, Burnley on 16 May, and Leyland on 26 September 2026.

(Additional reporting contributions by Vaishnavi Sharma, Mridini Venkatakarthikeyan and Raya Shiju Abraham.)