Mental Health Advocates

IMO Charity are excited to announce our NEW bespoke Mental Health Advocates Training Programme for teachers in local Madrassah teachers in Blackburn with Darwen.

 

This CPD Accredited Programme will empower staff working in a Madrassah setting to learn how to confidently, competently, and confidentially apply the RESTORE model to enhance emotional well-being and promote positive wellness. With the increasing challenges and mental health decline in young people, this training will equip teachers with the tools and skills needed to address the difficulties in an appropriate and empathic manner.

The program is delivered by a professional Counsellor with more than two decades of expertise in mental health across a range of fields; with extensive experience of work around the BME community in the UK as a family mediator, domestic abuse program facilitator, parenting specialist, and child protection consultant.

The CPD accredited training program will help teachers to:

  • Recognise signs and symptoms of mental health conditions (Depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, psychosis, bereavement and addictions).
  • Enhance understanding, awareness and support responses for mental health issues.
  • Promote resilience, inner peace and harmony in individuals/families/communities.
  • Acquire non-clinical intervention techniques.
  • Build skills in supporting individuals in your care
  • Sign-posting and referral guidance

The right mental health support can have a profound and positive impact on young people. The Mental health Advocate training will help you to navigate challenges faced by young people and help them to:

  • Improve emotional wellbeing
  • Enhance resilience
  • Build self-esteem and confidence
  • Improve relationships
  • Improve academic achievement
  • Reduce risky behaviours
  • Provide early intervention and support for mental health concerns

The cost of the course will be fully funded by IMO and attendees will receive a comprehensive training/reference manual and workbook.

If you would like to enrol onto the training or have any further questions, please contact Salma Kathrada on 07849647382 or email salma.kathrada@imocharity.org

Artful Essence: Women's Painting Circle - A NEW 8-week W4W Programme

Did you know that painting induces a mindful state and reduces stress? When was the last time you had the opportunity to paint for leisure?

Painting has been proven to have a calming effect, reduce heart rate and cortisol levels. Moreover, painting serves as a powerful means of emotional expression, enabling the communication of feelings that may be challenging to express verbally.

Accomplishing a painting, irrespective of one's skill level, significantly boosts self-esteem and confidence. Painting in a group setting encourages social interaction and cultivates a strong sense of community. Furthermore, creating art elevates mood and contributes to an enduring sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. Over time, painting enhances personal growth, nurturing resilience and adaptability.

IMO’s Artful Essence course is based around peer support and the five ways to well-being. We aim to deliver a bespoke 8-week course for women aged 18+ from the BAME community who may feel isolated, stressed, anxious or be experiencing low mood.

Start Date: Wednesday 24th of January 2024
Venue: Eanam Wharf Business Centre, Blackburn, BB1 5BL
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm

Register using the link: https://bitly.ws/36s7v

For more information contact Fatima Patel on 01254 781 310 / 07719 322 569 or email fatima.patel@imocharity.org

*All registrations will be confirmed by 22nd January 2024

Register Now

Women 4 Women

Get Moving in 2024! We're thrilled to launch Sayhat, a new local programme funded by Sport England that offers free and low-cost physical activities for adults in Blackburn with Darwen. Join us and achieve your fitness goals this year!

Money's Tight, But Your Health Matters! Even when funds run low, staying active provides huge physical and mental health benefits. Don't let finances bench your fitness - keeping moving will keep you feeling your best!

Stay Active on a Budget! We've put together loads of affordable, local sports options so you can keep moving and feeling great, even during tough economic times. Let us help you stay fit and healthy! #LetsGetMovingIMO for less!

Our Sayhat programme is open to:

  • Residents aged 30 or above.
  • Residents of Blackburn with Darwen.

Sayhat is offering the following sports:

  • Cricket on Mondays 8.00pm till 10.00pm @ Synergy Sports, St Mary's College, Shear Brow, Blackburn BB1 8DX
  • Badminton on Mondays 7:00pm till 8:00pm @ Synergy Sports, St Mary's College, Shear Brow, Blackburn BB1 8DX
  • Netball on Thursdays 7.30pm till 8:30pm @ Synergy Sports, St Mary's College, Shear Brow, Blackburn BB1 8DX
  • Volleyball on Fridays 8.00pm till 10.00pm at Bangor Street Community Centre, Norwich Street, Blackburn BB1 6NZ

We have limited spaces for each sport so places will be offered on first come first basis.

To register, send your full name and the sport you would like to join via text on 07517 437993 or email on support@imocharity.org

Registration deadline: 18th January 2024

Women 4 Women

IMO Charity's Women 4 Women (W4W) programme caters to East Lancashire's culturally diverse communities, offering a holistic, empathic approach to address attendees' low-level mental health concerns. Operating with a person-centered focus and implementing the Five Ways to Well-being, our program yields positive outcomes for W4W cohorts.

The Five Ways to Well-being encompass simple actions for improving mental health; Connect with others, Be active, Take notice of the world around you, Keep learning, and Give to others. These actions are a key element in our bespoke programme design and activities to enhance overall well-being for our participants.

Our dedicated staff, are well-versed in community dynamics and sensitive to the diverse cultural needs, which contributes to our success in creating an inclusive space where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered on their mental health journey.

Finally here are a few of the activities we deliver as part of our W4W programme:

  • Coping strategies
  • Navigating relationships
  • Healthy lifestyles
  • Creative arts
  • Hand embroidery
  • Crochet
  • Mindfulness
  • Gardening
  • Outings

Be Warm Save Money Project

Funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme. www.energyredress.org.uk

Our Be Warm Save Money project is aimed at supporting vulnerable people experiencing fuel poverty in Blackburn with Darwen. We aim to provide help to support clients save energy, keep their homes warm, reduce bills, manage debt and access appropriate benefits and grants. We work with those with English as a second language, those who have barriers understanding vital information and elderly people who are socially and digitally excluded.

Our friendly energy efficiency advisor is not only there to help you start your energy saving journey, but also to provide both practical and empathetic support with difficulties you may be facing. Based on project criteria, they will be able to check which schemes are available for you and help with completing application forms or making phone calls where relevant.

Are you worried about your energy bills?
Struggling to warm your home?
Do you want to save money?
Then get in touch and let us help you!

To find out if you are eligible for any of the schemes and to help you save money please contact Sameer at:
Email: sameer.khan@imocharity.org
Tel: 07541 936456 / 01254 781310

Business Health Matters Project

IMO Charity are pleased to announce our new ‘Business Health Matters’ project.

The aim of this project is to support businesses across Lancashire improve the health and well-being of their staff. The business will have the opportunity to nominate members of the workforce to attain the knowledge and practical skills required to become a Workplace Health Champion. They will cascade this information to their colleagues to help improve the health outcomes in their work place.

We are offering free accredited qualifications, fully funded by the European Social Fund. The qualifications are as follows:

NCFE Level 2 Award in Introduction for Workplace Health Champions

This is a one-day course that will introduce the concept of workplace health and the role of the workplace health champion. Learners will also understand how to plan and implement a physical activity in the workplace.

NCFE Level 3 Award in Skills for Workplace Health Champions

This is a 3-day course with two days guided learning and an additional day for a practical assessment. The first day of the course is the one-day Level 2 award.

The skills and knowledge they gain through the qualification is designed to support the staff who have responsibility for promoting health choices within the workplace. It is also open to those who want to get involved with championing workplace health.

An example of the type of modules the course will cover are:

  • What is workplace health
  • Impacts of physical and mental health on workplace productivity
  • Benefits of good mental and physical health for the employee
  • The role of a Workplace Health Champion
  • Understanding key behaviour change principles
  • How to safeguard adults as a Workplace Health Champion
  • Learn the key elements involved in planning and preparing for a sport or physical activity session
  • How to measure the success of a sport or physical activity session

We adapt all our courses based on learner needs. These courses will be delivered in a classroom setting, through small group delivery sessions.

To register please click the link below: https://bit.ly/IMOBusinessHealthMatters

For further details, please contact: support@imocharity.org / 01254 781310

Register Now

Diabetes Support: Your Path to Wellness

IMO Charity are pleased to announce a new support programme for diabetes awareness and management within the East Lancashire area, our core objective is to offer support and vital information to young people and their families dealing with pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. Simultaneously, we strive to address the issue of obesity and proactively prevent diabetes development in young individuals through community support and educational programmes.

South Asian communities are statistically prone to higher risk type 2 diabetes that results in emotional difficulties. The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes is reported to be as much as 6 times higher in South Asians compared to the wider population. With more than 4.9 million people in the UK currently living with diabetes, and predictions indicating that this number could rise to 5.5 million by 2030, it's crucial that we understand the facts about diabetes and dispel the myths surrounding its treatment.

We aim to raise awareness about effective sugar level control and promote a healthier lifestyle as well as educate young individuals and families to reduce the obesity amongst young people. We will pay special attention to preventing and managing Type 2 Diabetes for those who are at risk of developing the condition. This will involve encouraging positive changes in their behaviour and lifestyle. To achieve these goals, we will closely collaborate with families, children and caregivers to better understand the needs in managing their condition.

As part of the programme participants will learn:

Education and management of daily eating habits
To better understand Type 2 Diabetes
Manage and control portion sizes and sugar intake
The importance of physical activity and lifestyle changes
To provide peer support around managing emotional well-being
Learn and develop new ways to enjoy healthy meals with family/friends
One to one support provided

This course will cater for young people 13+ and their families

All our sessions are free and are a great opportunity to build stronger networks within our communities to support each other and make new friends.

To register your place and for more information please contact our diabetes practitioner: Sophia Karolia on 01254781310 / 07708193520 or sophia.karolia@imocharity.org

IMO Volunteer Academy

The ‘IMO Volunteer Academy’ is intended for adults aged 18+. It aims to provide candidates with opportunities to learn new skills and develop themselves in a relaxed and supportive environment. This will provide them the opportunity to enhance their individual talents, expertise and skills.

The IMO Volunteer Academy will include a range of weekly workshops to assist and develop a range of skills, including communication, leadership, e-learning modules and opportunities to volunteer and obtain 1-1 support and guidance.

The IMO Volunteer Academy also provides a variety of volunteer opportunities, based on the individual’s needs and interests. Some examples are listed below:

  • Supporting with physical/sporting activity sessions
  • Assisting with activities, events and projects in a community organisation (youth or adult)
  • Working within an educational setting
  • Working in a retail setting
  • Being actively involved with the wider community through volunteering for charities

The IMO Volunteer Academy offers the encouragement to gain experience in various settings, along with providing support to equip everyone with life-long learning experiences and transferrable skills.

For further information please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator Dawn Treanor:
Email: dawn.treanor@imocharity.org
Phone: 01254 781310 / 07858 638882

To register, please click the following link bit.ly/IMOVA

Register Now

IMO’s ‘Multiply Your Maths Skills’ Project – Multiply Gintee (Burnley)

We take great pleasure to inform you that we will continue delivery of our ‘Multiply Your Maths Skills’ courses through the ‘Multiply Gintee’ maths project.

The project aims to support men and women, aged 19+, in Burnley improve their maths skills, which will benefit them in everyday life and also in a work situation.

The course will be delivered for 12 sessions and will cover basic entry level maths skills to those who do not have maths qualifications, or want to do the next level. The aim is to help develop useful skills, which are vital in everyday life. The course offers learning via practical application, which will be done through creative activities along with the theory behind each topic.

The overall aim is to help them feel more comfortable with maths, so they can apply it at home and in a work situation or simply progress to the next level and gain qualifications.

The course will be split into 6 theory and 6 practical application sessions for each topic. The practical application will be through cooking, sewing and other similar activities. We will give learners a choice in what activities they want, but an example of the type of topics the course will cover are:

  • 2D shapes and their properties
  • 3D shapes and their properties
  • Practical craft activity using cardboard to apply skills learnt around 3D shapes
  • Metric and imperial measurements, including length in metres and centimetres
  • Sewing activity to create a bag to apply measurements and 2D shapes.
  • Capacity to learn how to measure liquids in litres and millilitres
  • Cooking activity to apply skills to measure liquids
  • Mass to learn how to measure in grams and kilograms
  • Cooking activity to apply skills to measure using grams and kilograms
  • Budgeting for a recipe

These courses will be delivered in a classroom setting. Courses will be adapted based on learner needs.

To register please click on the link below: https://bit.ly/IMOMultiplySept2023

For further details, please contact:
farhana.social@imocharity.org
01254 781310 / 07727 173444

Register Now

Spark Programme

IMO Charity would like to present our drug and alcohol awareness programme to raise awareness in the local community.

Drugs and alcohol addiction affect 1000’s every year with 589,000 addicted to alcohol and approximately 3.2 million people use drugs in the UK.

These issues have been associated with mental health disorders and continuous use can often lead to addiction with risk of feeling anxious and depressed leaving people isolated from family and loved ones.

The most difficult step to take in overcoming addiction is the first step – the desire to change for the better. Overcoming your drug addiction takes more than willpower. It is normal to feel hesitant at first and ask for help.

A New Approach

To be able to reduce substance misuse within the local community, prevention is key. Education and awareness of substances which cause individuals and families, severe harm is needed to prevent further substance misuse.

The road to recovery takes time, effort, motivation and IMO are here to support you.

How we can help:
Group and one to one session’s available.
Guide and support you with appointments.
Help refer and signpost you to the right services.
Improve your physical and mental well-being.
Socialise and build a stronger support network around you.
Educate and learn about coping strategies.
Help you on your way to recovery.
Our sessions are available to all including users of substances, supporting family members of users, parents and anyone who would like to Learn More about substance misuse.

If you would like more information or would like to attend one of our awareness sessions and support groups please contact Ajmal Mohammed or Aisha Sajjad on 01254 781310 or email ajmal.mohammed@imocharity.org / aisha.sajjad@imocharity.org

Finance, Benefit & Debt

IMO Charity is proud to announce we are delivering the Ministry of Justice ‘Finance, Benefit and Debt Service’ across the North West. IMO is working in partnership with The Wise Group to support and mentor people in prison or people on probation in relation to their financial well-being.

This service allows people to:

  • access the financial support they need
  • engage with relevant services
  • manage and co-ordinate their debts
  • budget better
  • access the right benefits

Financial well-being is an issue for over half of people on probation or in prison and the delivery of this service will be pivotal to improving outcomes for vulnerable people who need our support.

Please contact Rahemtullah Mulla for further information.
Email:Rahemtullah.Mulla@imocharity.org
Office: 01254 781310

Cyber Ark - Tech Discovery: A Journey into Technology

IMO Charity proudly introduces 'Tech Discovery,' a course under our Cyber Ark initiative, designed to open up the vast opportunities within the technology sector. This 8-12 week programme is tailored for individuals over 18, ideally those interested in exploring cyber and tech careers but possessing limited technical skills or experience. We welcome career changers, those currently not in education or employment, and individuals re-entering the workforce from Blackburn, Darwen, Burnley, Nelson, and Accrington.

Navigating the Tech Landscape:
'Tech Discovery' offers an guided journey into fundamental areas of technology, including cyber security, databases, systems & networking, and software development. As we transition into an era where every organisation is becoming more reliant on digital infrastructure, the demand for tech roles is rising rapidly. Statistics reflect this trend, with notable increases in the need for skills in Artificial Intelligence (44%), Cyber Security (22%), and Cloud Computing (22%). The tech industry not only offers job satisfaction – with 87% of tech professionals enjoying their work – but also presents opportunities for rapid career advancement and lucrative prospects. Starting salaries in tech are around £18,000, with the average IT salary recently increasing to £53,069.

What We Offer
Participants in 'Tech Discovery' will gain:

  • CompTIA ITF+ Certification: Attain this globally recognised qualification upon successful completion of the exam.
  • Career Readiness Skills: Receive comprehensive advice and guidance to sharpen your tech career readiness.
  • Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from qualified instructors in a supportive, dynamic environment.
  • Practical Preparation: Enhance your employability with tailored interview and CV preparation.
  • Two-Stage Learning Approach: The programme is divided into ITF+ Training & Exam and Job Readiness Training.

Cyber Ark offers a unique blend of remote learning sessions complemented by bi-weekly drop-in sessions for personalised guidance. This approach ensures flexibility while providing ample opportunities for face-to-face interactions and in-depth discussions.

Join Us on Your Tech Journey
Ready to step into the world of technology and reshape your career path? To register or for more information, please contact Adam Entwistle at Adam.Entwistle@imocharity.org, or visit https://www.bit.ly/cyberimo

Register Now

Cost of Living Support in Blackburn with Darwen

In response to the ongoing cost of living crisis in the UK, our "Cost of Living" project is dedicated to assisting the residents of Blackburn with Darwen. We understand the challenges many are facing during these tough times, and our goal is to provide much-needed support to those suffering from poverty in the local area.

What We Offer:
Our project focuses on offering help with applications for the Household Support Fund. We realise that navigating these applications can be daunting, and our team is here to guide you through the process.

How We Reach You:
To ensure we're accessible to everyone in need, we conduct home visits and provide one-to-one consultations. This personalised approach allows us to understand your unique situation and offer tailored support.

Personalised Assistance:
At the heart of our project is our dedicated team member, Sameer, who is committed to offering not just practical help but also a sympathetic ear. Whether you need assistance filling out forms or understanding the support you're eligible for, Sameer is here to help.

Eligibility and Application:
If you're facing financial difficulties and reside in the Blackburn with Darwen area, you could be eligible for our support. To find out more about your eligibility and how we can assist you, please get in touch with Sameer.

Contact Us:
For more information, or to start your journey with us, contact Sameer at:
Email: Sameer.Khan@imocharity.org
Tel: 07541 936456

Don't let the cost of living crisis overwhelm you. Reach out to us, and let's work together to find the support you need.

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Inspire Motivate Overcome
Unit 11, Business Development Centre,
Eanam Wharf,
Blackburn BB1 5BL

01254 781 310
info@imocharity.org

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