Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum

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📢 You're Invited: SMEF Community Health Hub We're bringing together local health professionals and community organisatio...
16/06/2026

📢 You're Invited: SMEF Community Health Hub

We're bringing together local health professionals and community organisations for a free community health event designed to help people access advice, support and health information in one place.
Whether you're looking for a health check, information about local services, or simply want to find out what's available in your area, we'd love to welcome you.

Wednesday 24 June 2026
🕚 11:00am – 2:30pm
📍 United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU22 7HA

On the day you'll be able to access:
✔️Blood Pressure Checks
✔️ COVID-19 Vaccinations
✔️ GP Advice & Support
✔️ General Health Checks
✔️ Children’s Activities
✔️ Free Lunch & Refreshments

Whether you have a health concern you'd like to discuss, need a routine check-up, or simply want to connect with local services, our team is here to support you. Families are warmly welcome, with activities available for children while adults access health services.

Come along, meet local health professionals, get practical advice, and take a positive step towards improving your health and wellbeing.
Everyone is welcome – no matter your age or background. We look forward to seeing you there! 🌟

Save the Date: Interfaith Walk for Unity and UnderstandingSMEF is pleased to support Surrey Heath Faith Forum’s Interfai...
08/06/2026

Save the Date: Interfaith Walk for Unity and Understanding

SMEF is pleased to support Surrey Heath Faith Forum’s Interfaith Walk for Unity and Understanding on Saturday 4th July.

It has been a while since the forum has organised an event, and we feel that now, more than ever, it is important for people of different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds to come together — to build friendships, strengthen understanding and show unity within our communities.

The walk will begin with registration from 1.30 pm at High Cross Church and will end at 4.30 pm at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Camberley, where food will be served.

The walk will include Camberley Mosque and St Tarcisius Church, with other places to be confirmed.

Everyone is welcome to join this friendly and informal afternoon of walking, learning, conversation and connection.

📧 Please RSVP to [email protected] by 30th June for catering purposes.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your communities, friends, family and networks.

Walk together. Learn together. Live together.

Faith, friendship and cricket at Puttenham Cricket ClubOn Saturday 25 May, Woking People of Faith, supported by Surrey M...
08/06/2026

Faith, friendship and cricket at Puttenham Cricket Club

On Saturday 25 May, Woking People of Faith, supported by Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum and Your Fund Surrey, organised a wonderful Interfaith Cricket Match at Puttenham Cricket Club.

The match brought together 22 players from diverse backgrounds, including Christian, Muslim and people of no faith or belief, for an afternoon of sport, friendship and community spirit. Two teams took part, with one representing Puttenham Cricket Club and the other representing Woking People of Faith.

Although Woking People of Faith lost the match, the real success of the day was bringing people together in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

With the sun shining and a warm, friendly atmosphere, around 20 spectators from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and other backgrounds came along to watch, support and cheer on the players.

Throughout the afternoon, people had the chance to chat informally, share stories, talk about life and get to know one another better. Many attendees said they appreciated the initiative and valued the opportunity to connect with people from different faiths and communities.

The day was a lovely reminder that sport can be a powerful way to build friendships, break down barriers and strengthen community spirit.

A big thank you to all the players, supporters, organisers and Puttenham Cricket Club for helping to make the event such a positive and memorable occasion. We hope to see the interfaith cricket match return again next year.

Warm conversations at the Ladies Interfaith Coffee MorningWomen from different faiths and backgrounds came together for ...
07/06/2026

Warm conversations at the Ladies Interfaith Coffee Morning

Women from different faiths and backgrounds came together for a warm and welcoming Ladies Interfaith Coffee Morning at The Lighthouse, Woking, organised by Woking People of Faith and supported by Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum.

During the morning, Lucy Greenland, Centre Manager, spoke about the wide range of support and services offered at The Lighthouse’s Woking branch. She also shared the values that guide their work, including compassion, dignity, peace, hospitality, kindness and hope, and the importance of creating “a place to belong.”

Guests then enjoyed informal conversations over hot drinks and cakes, creating space to get to know one another, share experiences and build new connections.

Feedback showed how much this relaxed gathering was valued. One participant described the event as a “welcoming environment”, while another said they most enjoyed “getting together and socialising with different people.”

For many, the chance to connect across faiths was especially meaningful. One attendee shared that they had “a meaningful conversation with a woman of Christian faith” and hoped to continue the discussion in future, while another reflected on “our shared humanity.”

The morning was a lovely reminder that simple, welcoming spaces can help strengthen understanding, friendship and community cohesion.

Women’s Drop-in sessions supporting communities in Surrey Heath and StanwellAs part of SMEF’s exciting Many Hands of Sur...
05/06/2026

Women’s Drop-in sessions supporting communities in Surrey Heath and Stanwell

As part of SMEF’s exciting Many Hands of Surrey initiative, our Women’s Drop-in sessions are creating welcoming and safe spaces for women to connect, learn and build confidence.

Funded by The National Lottery, the project brings women from different communities together to access support, improve spoken and written English, receive health and wellbeing advice, and develop friendships and peer support.

SMEF has been working with communities in Surrey Heath for a number of years and has established a wonderfully engaged group. We are also pleased that our new Stanwell Women’s Drop-in, launched in April, is growing well and continuing to welcome new women who are looking for connection, support and a sense of belonging.

The Stanwell sessions take place at the Stanwell Events building, next to Long Lane Recreation Ground, a friendly and sociable space to meet others and make new friends in the local community.

We are excited to see these drop-in sessions continue to go from strength to strength, supporting more women across Surrey.

Session details:
Stanwell Women’s Drop-in
Tuesdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Stanwell Events building, next to Long Lane Recreation Ground
Surrey Heath Women’s Drop-in
Fridays, 10.30am to 12.30pm

The hidden dangers of chewing to***coChewing to***co is sometimes seen as a safer alternative to smoking, but smokeless ...
04/06/2026

The hidden dangers of chewing to***co

Chewing to***co is sometimes seen as a safer alternative to smoking, but smokeless does not mean harmless.

Products such as paan with to***co, gutkha, naswar, s***f, khaini and betel quid with to***co can contain ni****ne and harmful cancer-causing chemicals. These products are often chewed, sucked or held between the gum and cheek, allowing dangerous substances to enter the body.

Regular use of chewing to***co is linked to serious health risks, including mouth, tongue, gum and throat cancers, gum disease, tooth loss, painful mouth ulcers and dental decay. It can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

For many people, chewing to***co may be connected to tradition, social habits or stress relief. That is why conversations about stopping need to be respectful, culturally sensitive and supportive.

Raising awareness is an important step in helping people understand the risks and make healthier choices.

Support is available.

Anyone in Surrey who would like help to stop using to***co can contact One You Surrey for free and friendly stop smoking support, including one to one appointment by phone or in person.

Take your first step towards a to***co free life:
https://oneyousurrey.org.uk/programmes/stop-smoking/?utm_source=smef&utm_medium=qr_code&utm_campaign=sfg_grant_scheme

Autism and Mental HealthSMEF is pleased to share a new infographic on Autism and Mental Health, created by Sadia Sultan,...
03/06/2026

Autism and Mental Health

SMEF is pleased to share a new infographic on Autism and Mental Health, created by Sadia Sultan, Counsellor MBACP & Senior Development and Engagement Officer, SMEF
The infographic highlights the close relationship between autism and mental health, exploring key areas such as sensory differences, communication styles, burnout, trauma, and the importance of collaborative and respectful practice.

It also reinforces an important message: mental health difficulties are not part of autism itself. They often arise when needs are not understood, support is not accessible, or environments do not adapt.

By increasing understanding, we can help create more inclusive, culturally competent and compassionate support for autistic people and their families.

Please share this infographic within your professional networks to help raise awareness and encourage better practice across services and communities.

June arrives as a month of extraordinary spiritual richness and I find myself moved by just how much wisdom, across so m...
03/06/2026

June arrives as a month of extraordinary spiritual richness and I find myself moved by just how much wisdom, across so many different traditions, points us in the same direction.

This month, communities across Surrey and beyond are observing Eid al-Ghadir, the Islamic New Year (Muharram) and the Day of Ashura (Islam), the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, and the Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul (Catholic and Christian), the Apostles' Fast and its joyful conclusion on 28 June (Orthodox Christian), Rohini Vrat (Jain), the Rice Planting Festival of Otaue Matsuri (Shinto), the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Hargobind Jayanti (Sikh), Litha and the Summer Solstice (Wicca, Pagan and beyond), and Maidyoshahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian).

What strikes me, every single time I look at a month like this, is not the difference between these observances, it is the profound similarity at their heart. Sacrifice. Remembrance. Gratitude for the earth and its abundance. The call to be better, kinder, more just. Whether through fasting or feasting, prayer or planting, mourning or celebration, each of these traditions asks something of us, and what they ask is, at its core, the same: that we live with greater humanity towards one another.

In a world that can feel fractured and divided, I believe this matters deeply. Peace on earth is not an abstract ideal, it is built, quietly and steadily, in the way we treat our neighbours, honour each other's sacred moments, and choose to see our shared humanity before our differences.

At SMEF, that is exactly what we are here to do, and June, with its glorious diversity of faith and culture, reminds us why.

To everyone marking a special occasion this month, I see you, I honour your tradition, and I wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and blessing.

Neelam Devesher MBE DL Chair
Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum

🌈 Step into 200 years of LGBTQ+ history in Elmbridge this Pride MonthSMEF is pleased to share this partner event taking ...
02/06/2026

🌈 Step into 200 years of LGBTQ+ history in Elmbridge this Pride Month

SMEF is pleased to share this partner event taking place as part of Pride Month.

Residents are invited to discover the powerful stories of LGBTQ+ pioneers who have shaped local, national and global history at a special talk at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames.

The talk, “Q***r Heritage Trailblazers: Stories of ordinary LGBTQ+ people doing extraordinary things,” will shine a light on often-overlooked individuals whose courage, creativity and contributions have helped shape history.

The session will be led by Sue Shave, a q***r heritage consultant and former museum director, drawing on her work with organisations including Q***r Britain, Q***r Heritage South and Brooklands’ Stories Uncovered project.

📍 Venue:Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2PF
📅 Date: Wednesday 17 June
⏰ Time:7.30pm
🎟️ Tickets: £4 per person, available to book online: https://www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/events/153448

A meaningful opportunity to learn, reflect and celebrate LGBTQ+ heritage this Pride Month.

Community Health Event brings services together in RedhillOn 21 April, SMEF was pleased to host a Community Health Event...
02/06/2026

Community Health Event brings services together in Redhill

On 21 April, SMEF was pleased to host a Community Health Event in Redhill, bringing together a range of organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for residents, services and community partners to connect, share information and raise awareness of the support available locally.

We were joined by a number of partners, including Marie Curie, One You Surrey, Diabetic Eye Screening Awareness, Dr Helen Barnes, Active Surrey and other local services. Attendees were able to access useful health information, take part in gentle movement and wellbeing activities, and receive blood pressure checks and health advice, which were greatly appreciated by both community members and service providers.

Although community attendance was lower than expected, the event created a positive space for partnership working. Organisations were able to connect with one another, learn more about each other’s services, and explore ways to strengthen future referral pathways and joined up support for residents.

Events like this play an important role in building relationships, raising awareness and creating stronger links between communities and services.

A big thank you to all the organisations who attended and contributed to making the event a meaningful and productive day.

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