Healthy Mind Healthy Grind will provide up to 30 young people from the BAME community access to a wealth of resources that support their wellbeing and a balanced lifestyle over 6 weeks. Instructors, nutritionists and artist will deliver 6 weekly workshops to members of the community which members will experience a range of wellness activities. From professionals and entrepreneurs, to like-minded individuals, regular communication and interaction through exercise classes, cooking classes, art classes means our young people can access valuable exchanges and information to enhance their physical and mental well-being. In between weekly classes, young people will be motivated via daily videos, quotes and once a month accountability sessions, lead by a life coach, where members will set action points and celebrate their wins. The young people will also learn transferable skills to potentially facilitate their own group sessions among their piers. All facilitators will be volunteers.

What we'll deliver:

• Cooking class with a professional Chef
• Yoga class with an instructor
• Live art workshop
• Organic skin cream making class
• Nutrition information class with Nutritionist
• Vision board making class with Life Coach

Why it's a great idea:

Benefits of the project will : • Involve more people from low engaged communities in Barking & Dagenham in health and wellbeing activities • Increase their life chances by providing opportunities for them to participate in high quality activities that promote their personal, social, physical and mental well-being and educational development • Increase the professional capacity & creative output of entrepreneurs and professionals within the community via volunteering on the programme • Create a new, interactive & immersive health and wellbeing experience bringing together professionals and local people • Break down cultural & social barriers to enhance community cohesion using health and wellbeing The programme will be sustainable as members can continue the skills they have gained during the programme. They can do this together online or in person.

Steps to get it done:

• Provide facilitators/volunteers a date and time to deliver sessions
• Promotion of programme via local press and social media
• young people joining the programme
• Purchase equipment
• Delivery of weekly classes/workshops online or at the library
• Delivery of accountability sessions with life coach manager every month

Our young people face most risk and are directly impacted by COVID-19 as black men and women are 4x more likely to die of COVID-19 (ONS 2020) and face higher levels of unemployment (JRF 2020). Further, our consultations have confirmed that young men and women are facing complex challenges in their everyday lives; including precarious housing, chronic low-pay, heightened anxiety and depression. They struggle to identify their life ambitions and are disillusioned by mainstream education and other provisions. Our programme supports young people to gain the confidence, skills and training to overcome these challenges. Our borough is the third most deprived London borough, with limited opportunities for the BAME, community making our offering both unique and essential to reduce marginalisation. We have been contacted by a number of previous beneficiaries who have family/friends who would like to participate however due to a lack of funds we cannot provide this vital service.