Making Every Contact Count event showcases local health and care services in Croydon

Funded by NHS England, NTAF worked with Croydon BME Forum and One Croydon Alliance partners to organise a Making Every Contact Counts (MECC) event for Croydon residents last month at Fairfield Halls. From free health checks to mental health support, the event showcased 34 local health and care services available to the community and was opened by the Mayor of Croydon.

Around 200 local residents turned up on the day to indulge in the information and free activities on offer. Many put on their dancing shoes as they joined in with dance sessions from R&B Soul Stepping and Beeja’s Bollywood dancing class and got their body moving with Age UK Croydon’s seated exercise class. Following a free taster of the activities on offer in the borough, residents then enjoyed a free lunch organised by Croydon BME Forum.

Jason Perry,  Executive Mayor of Croydon, said:  “I had the privilege of attending the successful Community Health Day organised by Croydon’s BME Forum in partnership with the One Croydon Alliance and the NHS at Fairfield Halls. It was wonderful to witness first-hand the wide range of health and wellbeing services available in the borough. This event further showcases the fantastic services available in the community, providing valuable information to hundreds of people and empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.”

Vaccinations were also available provided by the NHS vaccination team and residents had the opportunity to ask their questions with the clinical team.

As the CEO, I must commend the outstanding content quality of the Croydon Community Health Event. The insightful presentations and interactive sessions provided invaluable knowledge and fostered meaningful discussions among attendees. The event’s coverage of health and wellness topics, resonated with the 200 people who attended – reinforcing our commitment to promoting wellbeing within our community. Well done to the BME Forum team and the NTAF Team for their exemplary efforts in delivering a truly impactful event.

Andrew Brown, Chief Executive Officer for Croydon BME Forum

Many who attended the event were unaware of the local services/activities available and were grateful they had the opportunity to find out more. Residents commented on the community spirit that was on show during the day and welcomed the chance to get involved with exercise sessions at the event. One resident told us that they were leaving the event with a new sense of hope about the future, having discovered more about the support on offer for them and their family.