Path to Wellness: Empowering Communities to Lead Healthier Lives

Creative Wellness Wonder, a Muslim-led community group in Barking and Dagenham, were one of the projects delivering support for their communities as part of the Barking and Dagenham Faith Leaders Network Health Inequalities programme. in this blog, founder and Managing Director Khushnood Ahmed shares what took place during this year’s programme.

The Path to Wellness programme, delivered by Creative Wellness, showcases the impact of community-led, culturally responsive approaches in supporting people to take control of their health and wellbeing. Designed to reduce barriers and increase physical activity, the programme focused on empowering individuals with the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities needed to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Creative Wellness engaged 53 participants from diverse communities, many of whom were living with long-term health conditions and low levels of physical activity. At the start of the programme, over 60% of participants were not regularly active, and 76% were living with conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, highlighting significant unmet need within the community.

Through its trusted, grassroots approach, Creative Wellness created a safe and inclusive environment where participants felt comfortable to engage. The programme began with interactive health and wellbeing sessions, where participants received health checks alongside personalised guidance on nutrition and lifestyle. These sessions were designed not only to inform, but to empower.

As a result, participants reported a much stronger understanding of their health and how to manage it. They gained practical knowledge on how to look after themselves, recognise early signs of concern, and take proactive steps to improve their wellbeing. For many, understanding how to maintain their health became a key takeaway. Importantly, participants consistently shared that they felt heard, supported, and valued, something that is often missing in traditional approaches.

Building on this foundation, Creative Wellness focused on increasing physical activity in ways that were accessible and relevant to participants’ lives. To remove financial barriers, individuals were offered fully funded options, including gym access, community badminton sessions, and step-count watches. This flexible, person-centred approach ensured that participants could choose what worked best for them.

Engagement was strong across all options, with participants attending regularly and integrating activity into their routines. Beyond physical health, many reported improvements in energy levels, sleep, mood, and overall confidence. The programme also strengthened social connections, with 60% of participants feeling more connected to their local community.

The impact of Creative Wellness’ approach is best reflected in the experiences of participants.

One participant, previously inactive and struggling with their weight and energy levels, described feeling overwhelmed before joining the programme. Through the supportive environment created by Creative Wellness, they began engaging in regular physical activity and, within one-month, lost 5kg. More importantly, they reported feeling more in control of their health, with improved motivation and confidence to continue.

Another participant, living with diabetes and arthritis, initially felt anxious about being active due to pain and mobility challenges. With encouragement and tailored support, they gradually rebuilt their confidence and found that regular movement reduced discomfort and improved their overall wellbeing. They are now motivated to continue being active in ways that suit their needs.

The programme also remained responsive to participants’ circumstances. Where barriers such as cost, timing, or personal commitments arose, Creative Wellness adapted delivery by offering flexible and inclusive alternatives. This ensured that no participant was excluded and that engagement remained consistent throughout.

Path to Wellness highlights the strength of Creative Wellness’ model placing people, trust, and accessibility at the centre of delivery. By combining practical support with a deep understanding of community needs, the programme enabled individuals to take meaningful steps towards healthier lives.

The success of the program demonstrates that when communities are supported through trusted, locally rooted organizations like Creative Wellness, meaningful and lasting change can be achieved.