Mental Health Leads

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

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

Road To Health - Diabetes

IMO Charity are pleased to announce a new support programme for diabetes awareness and management working across 3 PCN’s; Blackburn West, Pendle West and Rossendale West. Our core objective is to offer support and vital information to individuals and families dealing with pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes, through engaging taxi drivers who are identified as an at-risk group. 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 educating individuals and families to reduce obesity risks. 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.

As part of the programme participants will learn about:

  • Education and management around daily eating habits
  • Managing and controlling portion sizes and sugar intake
  • The importance of physical activity, movement and lifestyle changes
  • Managing emotional well-being
  • Developing new ways to enjoy healthy meals with family/friends

Our sessions are free, delivered in a group or 1:1 setting and are a great opportunity to build knowledge around living a fulfilling and healthier life.

For more information please contact our Diabetes Practitioner, Sophia Karolia on 01254781310 / 07708193520 or sophia.karolia@imocharity.org

IMO Volunteer Academy

We take great pleasure to inform you that we are launching our new ‘IMO Volunteer Academy’. This is aimed at adults aged 18+. The aim is to provide service users with a range of new skills, knowledge and support to find volunteer placements in their chosen area of interest. This will not only support the service users with the required experiences for long term volunteer placements, this can also lead to businesses who want to provide opportunities for employment.

At IMO Charity our aim is to support our volunteers to enhance their individual talents, expertise and skills, along with providing support to equip them with life-long learning experiences and transferrable skills. This will be done by facilitating volunteer placements in several settings within the community.

IMO volunteer support will include a range of weekly workshops to help develop a range of skills, including communication, leadership, self-confidence and employability to name a few! One to one support and guidance will be given and opportunities to take part in other training will also be provided.

There will be a variety of volunteer opportunities, based on the needs and interests of service users. 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
  • Caring for people in a care home
  • Working in a retail setting
  • Being actively involved with the wider community through volunteering for charities

The volunteers will have opportunities in various settings, which they may want to experience to help find their ‘specific’ area of strength, which they can pursue further. The aim is to give them the opportunities to enhance their chances of finding full time employment, in their area of interest.

For further information please contact Sabbir Musa our ‘Volunteer Co-ordinator’:
Email: Sabbir.musa@imocharity.org
Phone: 01254 781310/ 07541 938430
To register, please click the following link:

Register Now

IMO'S 'Active Maths' Project- Multiply BwD

We take great pleasure to inform you that we will continue delivery of our ‘Active Maths’ courses through the ‘Multiply BwD’ Maths project.

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

The course will be delivered for 5 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 with a range of activities whilst also exploring the outdoors.

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 theory and practical application sessions for each topic. The practical application will be through I.T, Exercise, exploration of the local community 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 and 3D shapes and their properties
  • Metric and imperial measurements, including length in metres and centimetres
  • Capacity to learn how to measure liquids in litres and millilitres
  • Mass to learn how to measure in grams and kilograms
  • Budgeting for everyday life
  • Calculating percentages of amounts
  • Reading and using a range of time tables
  • Microsoft Excel Skills incorporating basic Maths

Courses will be adapted based on learner needs.

To register please click on the link below:

For further details, please contact:
Maarya.giga@imocharity.org
01254 781310 / 07395575015

Register Now

Spark Programme

As part of the Recovery Collaborative partnership, IMO Charity offers alcohol, drug and substance misuse support through education, awareness and referrals into treatment for people of all ages in Blackburn and Darwen. We are more than an addiction support service; we are part of a local partnership who together have the skills, training and lived experience needed to help individuals, adults, young people, families and communities create a life beyond drugs and alcohol.

To be able to reduce substance misuse harm within the local community, prevention is key. We offer education and awareness sessions of substance harm in school, madressah and community settings. We also work directly with individuals to provide confidential, culturally sensitive, non-judgemental and person-centred support into drugs and alcohol recovery treatment.

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

  • Group and 1:1 session’s tailored to your need- meeting you where you are at
  • Guiding and supporting you with appointments
  • Signposting and referring you to the right services
  • Helping you to improve your physical and mental well-being
  • Helping you build a stronger support network around you
  • Learning coping strategies
  • Supporting family members affected by substance misuse

If you would like more information, would like to attend/arrange an awareness sessions or would like support, please contact Yasmeen Asvat on 01254 781310 / 07510745086 or email Yasmeen.Asvat@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 to register your interest for any future cohorts

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.

Sahara- Gambling Support

IMO is excited to introduce a new initiative aimed at supporting individuals and families affected by problem gambling across Blackburn. Our primary goal is to provide essential support and information to those struggling with gambling addiction and support the families affected. Additionally, we aim to address related issues, such as financial difficulties and mental health concerns, through comprehensive community support and educational programs.

Research indicates that certain communities face a higher risk of gambling-related problems, leading to significant emotional and financial challenges. It's reported that problem gambling rates are considerably higher in specific demographic groups compared to the general population. With millions of people in the UK affected by gambling addiction and numbers continuing to rise, it’s vital to understand the facts about gambling and to debunk the myths associated with addiction and recovery.

Our mission is to raise awareness about the importance of responsible gambling and to promote healthier lifestyle choices. We seek to educate individuals and families on how to reduce the risks associated with gambling addiction and provide effective strategies for managing and overcoming these challenges.

As part of the programme, participants will learn about:

  • Education and management around responsible gambling habits
  • Strategies for managing and controlling urges to gamble
  • The importance of financial planning and management
  • Managing emotional well-being and stress
  • Developing new hobbies and activities that do not involve gambling

Our sessions are free and available in both group and 1:1 setting, providing a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge on leading a healthier, more fulfilling life free from the burdens of gambling addiction.

For more information please contact our Optimal Health Practitioner, Ilyas Valimulla on 01254 781310 / 07938 492126 or ilyas.valimulla@imocharity.org

Blood Pressure monitoring

This pilot programme encourages attendees and participants to get their blood pressure checked. High blood pressure, or ‘hypertension, can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other health complications. This blood pressure initiative aims to build awareness around hypertension and offer support to prevent the associated risks.

If high blood pressure (hypertension) is left unchecked it increases the risk of serious problems and where there are rarely symptoms to show hypertension, regular check-ups are important.

For more information please contact Salma Kathrada on 01254 781310 / 07849647382 or email salma.kathrada@imocharity.org

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

01254 781 310
support@imocharity.org

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