About Harrow Healthy Living Centre

History

A major award was given by the New Opportunities Fund (renamed the Big Lottery Fund) to a consortium of 8 Harrow organisations for the development of a Healthy Living Centre, to offer a wide range of services and activities to the public and support social inclusion of sections of the community. (As a Community Project service all sections of the community rather than disabled people) to ensure mainstream opportunities are available for full participation in the community.

The Centre provides information on healthy living, diet, courses and classes in fitness, complementary therapies such as massage and reflexology.  Particular attention is paid to the requirements of the local community.

The Partners in the project initially were Age Concern Harrow, Carers’ Support Harrow, Carramea, Choices 4 All, Community Link Up, Harrow Association of Voluntary Service, Mind in Harrow, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Integral to the service is the café, staffed and run by people with learning disabilities, which offers affordable and healthy meals and snacks to the public.  The café offers both on-site work experience and training towards certification (Choices’ students were all below NVQ level), within a supported commercial environment.  This prepares trainees for further employment and full integration into the workforce. 

The Harrow Healthy Living Centre is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The organisation is managed on a day to day basis by the Director, who is accountable to a Management Committee, the members of HHLC.  The Management Committee meets at least 6 times a year. 

The HHLC is based within the Wealdstone Centre, which is a completely accessible building and includes Wealdstone library, Primary Care Trust and Youth and Connexions.

Organisational beliefs

1.1 The Harrow Healthy Living Centre’s Statement of Intent states:      

HHLC recognises that every human being regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin, refugee status, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, education, religious beliefs, geographical location, caring commitments, class, employment status, mental or physical health problems, HIV or AIDS status or disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable has a right to equal recognition, treatment and opportunities. HHLC will promote equal opportunities in all aspects of its work.

1.2 People who are described as having a disability are individuals with the same human value and rights as everyone else.

1.3 The Harrow Healthy Living Centre defines ‘quality of life’ as having:

The opportunity and support to gain new skills by building on the strengths (competences) already achieved by each individual.

The opportunity and support to develop relationships with the community in which people live and establish themselves as valued and contributory members of their community.

The opportunity, the support and the power to make real and informed choices about how to live their lives.

The opportunity to become aware of their personal value and achieve positive recognition, self respect and respect from others.

The opportunity and support to form valued relationships.

 1.4 The Harrow Healthy Living Centre works to achieve this purpose through the ethos that people have a right to access information and classes to enable them to live healthy lives

Harrow Healthy Living Centre aims to build relationships with community and voluntary organisations, local government, health authorities, trusts, and the wider community, through which, the interests and needs of the general community can be promoted.

Management Committee

Community Link Up (Chair) - Mike Coker,

Choices 4 All - Marie Harrison,

Age Concern - Avani Modasia

Mind in Harrow - Janet Smith

Harrow Association of Disabled People (HAD) – Angela Dias

Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT) – Anne Whitehead

Harrow Council – Victoria Isaacs

Treasurer – Rehan Sultan

Carramea – Baldev Sharma

Carers Support Harrow

The Management Committee can be contacted at the following address:

Harrow Healthy Living Centre
The Wealdstone Centre,
38-40 High Street,
Wealdstone,
HA3 7AE

The Wealdstone Centre, 38 - 40 High Street, Harrow HA3 7AE
Phone: 020 8420 9380 | Fax: 020 8420 9382 | info@harrowhlc.org.uk