On Saturday 1 November, the Lydia Becker Institute took part in the Community Health Fair at Castlemere Community Centre in Rochdale. The event was co-produced by Dr Madhvi Menon and Dr Sean Knight from the Becker, Mohammed Tariq from the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation, and Hafiz Abdul Malik and Tayyib Tariq from Castlemere Community Centre. The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, also attended.

Health inequalities remain a significant challenge across Greater Manchester. In particular, communities of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage experience some of the poorest health outcomes in the region, including higher rates of diabetes, stroke and respiratory illness—issues often compounded by longstanding gaps in trust and access to healthcare services.

Castlemere Community Centre has long played a key role in supporting local residents, many of whom are from South Asian backgrounds and live in one of Greater Manchester’s most socioeconomically deprived areas. The Health Fair offered a valuable opportunity to connect directly with the community, share health information, and listen to their concerns and experiences.

During the event, Dr Madhvi Menon delivered a talk on autoimmunity and chronic lung disease. Researchers from the Becker were also on hand throughout the day, speaking with attendees about their work and answering questions on topics such as COVID-19, vaccination, and how the immune system works. A range of interactive activities—including “Splat the Virus”, a pipetting challenge, and the “Build Your Own Immune System” spinning-wheel game—helped make these conversations accessible and fun for participants of all ages.

Many attendees also signed up to the Research for the Future database, expressing interest in taking part in future studies. This support helps ensure that research across Greater Manchester better represents the full diversity of its communities.

Mohammed Tariq said, “From the outset, we wanted to ensure that the event was authentically coproduced, which helps build stronger relationships and trust between community members and with service providers and institutions.  I want to thank everyone who helped to make this event possible and look forward to working with Dr Sean Knight and Dr Madhvi Menon in the future.”

Contains excerpts from ‘Wellbeing Walkthrough’ by Robina Malik in the Asian Leader newspaper 19 November – 2 December 2025 edition

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