At the end of September, the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden hosted a community health check day in their parish hall, in partnership with the Brent Health Matters programme: a Brent Council and NHS initiative focused on improving access to healthcare. The event was coordinated by Caritas Westminster and supported by Fr Stephen Willis, Dean and Parish Priest of the shrine.
The programme offers free NHS check-ups to members of the community who may not regularly access local health services, or who face difficulties securing GP appointments. The service is open to anyone living in the Borough of Brent.
On the day, medical professionals were on-hand in the parish hall to carry out a range of tests, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, diabetes risk assessments, clinical consultations and BMI measurements. They were joined by a team focused on supporting young people and a housing representative offering advice and support for housing-related concerns.
Over 50 people came to the parish to access the various services available; attendees included parishioners from Our Lady of Willesden and neighbouring parishes such as Kensal Rise and Willesden Green, as well as others from the local area.
One parishioner said:
I went [to the event] after work with some family members. It was really helpful to speak to organisations like Brent Health Matters who provide accessible health and wellbeing services. The range of free health checks and advice was impressive… [and] having a ‘Children and Young People’ Team onsite was a thoughtful touch that showed a commitment to serving the whole family. It’s a wonderful example of community engagement and support.
Another added:
Lots of people struggle to get GP appointments, so it’s great that they could get some support. It was also nice for everyone to catch up and chat. We should have more events like this, especially for those who need a bit extra help. God bless Caritas and the SVP!
As a result of the on-site tests, 25 attendees were referred back to their GP for further consultation, highlighting the importance of making health checks more accessible to the community.
The day was supported by volunteers including Beatrice Gyimah, a parishioner of Our Lady of Willesden, and Nick Murphy, the parish’s Caritas Representative, along with members of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP). Together, they kindly served teas and coffees to attendees, which was especially appreciated during periods of waiting caused by high demand.
The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between churches, charities and local organisations, as well as the power of parishes to serve the needs of their community. Caritas Westminster is grateful to Our Lady of Willesden, Brent Health Matters and the SVP for joining them in this effort to address health inequalities and promote wellbeing in our parishes and across the borough.
