We have a long history of running special focus projects in collaboration with public and private partners.
Sangam Centre
AFCS is starting a satellite office at the Sangam Centre in Burnt Oak from April 2023 in order to meet the particular needs of the Asian community. This counselling service will be funded through the Maitri Project, a pilot scheme between the Women’s India Association UK and Sangam to identify and support the needs of the wider community.
Harborne Parish Lands Charity
This is a one-year project running in the HPLC catchment area and finishing at the end of January 2024. The focus is on providing counselling, debt counselling and support to those in the Asian community struggling with debt or financial issues as well as elderly people suffering from loneliness and isolation.
Building Relationships for Better Families Project
AFCS was part of a consortium led by Tavistock Relationships providing parenting programmes in Hammersmith & Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington and Buckinghamshire. The programme offered parents support tailored to their circumstances to address conflict within their relationship as well as strengthen their parenting skills. Support took the form of one-to-one or group sessions delivered by experienced facilitators skilled in encouraging discussion around the modern struggles that parents and couples face. The programme finished in July 2022 and an evaluation is currently underway.
Better Care Fund Project
AFCS ran the Better Care Fund Project from 2015 to 2017 under the aegis of the Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group. It aimed to reduce emergency admissions and attendance in hospitals providing care for Ealing residents of Asian origin. It provided on-site counselling for those who made recurring trips to the A&E such as over 65’s who were socially isolated, victims of domestic violence and those with alcohol and drug-related issues.
Postnatal Depression Group Project
AFCS ran the Post Natal Depression Group Project (PNDG) from 2004 to 2014 with funding from the Ealing Council. The project provided a support group as well as individual counselling for South Asian mothers suffering from postnatal depression, many of whom were referred to us by local GPs. It also provided complimentary therapies such as reflexology, reiki and aromatherapy to alleviate psychosomatic symptoms. Group yoga, arts and crafts, and cooking classes helped forge new friendships amongst the women. An on-site daycare centre was made available for women who were primary caregivers for small children so they could avail of the counselling and other services.
Roshni Project
AFCS ran the Roshni project, funded by Ealing Council under its Choosing Health programme, which addressed some of the underlying causes of ill-health through education by encouraging healthy eating habits.
The Roshni project was part of the Southall Healthy Living initiative and counselled South Asian people, either living or working in the Ealing area.
Raksha Project
AFCS ran the Raksha project, funded by the Cadbury’s Trust, which dealt with victims of domestic violence in the Birmingham area.
Other Projects
Other AFCS projects include three initiatives which were funded by the Department of Health between 1996 and 2008. The Nai Umeed project, which ran between 1996-99, counselled Asian women who had attempted suicide or were suicidal. Any Asian woman who had attempted suicide and been taken to the A&E at Ealing Hospital was seen by our counsellers in the Outpatients department. Working with these women made us aware of the need for preventative work – many women who attempted suicide were very depressed due to their family circumstances. This led to the Naya Raasta project which counselled those who were depressed and on anti-depressants. The Aastha project which ran from 2005-08 counselled those who suffered from anxiety, depression, panic attacks or were self-harming and suicidal.