Women’s Health and Family Services

Women’s Health and Family Services is a multi-ethnic health advocacy organisation that was established in 1981 by a group of local women living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The original aim was to enable access to maternity services for ethnic minority women who do not speak English as a first language. Today, Women's Health and Family Services (WHFS) work to address the unmet health education and welfare needs of ethnic minority women and their families who are resident in Tower Hamlets and the surrounding boroughs.

The current work of WHFS covers the following areas:

Providing advice and support

Through interpreting and translation of advice services for speakers of English as a second language, in particular speakers of Bengali, Cantonese, Somali and Vietnamese. The advocacy workers also provide individual advice on Health, Welfare Benefits, Immigration and Refugee Issues and run Health Advice Sessions. There is also a weekly Legal Advice Session and a Social Support Group for older Somali women.

Health advocacy

This includes bridging the gaps between Service Users and Service Providers both in Hospital and Primary Care and by representing Women·s Issues both within the community and on an individual basis

Campaigning

WHFS continues to campaign for all women·s rights to an adequate health service and an ability to make informed choices about the service(s) they receive

Special projects

These have been developed from listening to the needs of the local communities. WHFS have set up a number of projects for women and children; and these include the following:

• Infant Feeding Project Coronary
• Heart Disease Prevention Programme
• Hearing Project for Bangladeshi children with hearing impairment
• Somali Children·s Homework Club and a Literacy Class for their mothers and carers
• Outreach Project with the Sure Start programme for children under 4 years and their carer

Health promotion and education

This includes Keep-Fit, Exercise, Health Education Groups for Older Women and Counselling. An innovative Mental Health project has been set up and run by a Somali speaking Psychology Assistant, to research and address the Mental Health needs of young Somali men in Tower Hamlets.

Our Vision

All women and their families are fully enabled to lead healthy lives.

Our Mission

We work for equitable healthcare for minority ethnic women and their families in Tower Hamlets and other East London boroughs through advocacy and awareness raising. We challenge discrimination; and we campaign for clients' rights and choicees to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Contact Us

Office hours are 9-5pm Monday to Friday.

Women's Health and Family Services
Room F6 - 1st Floor
Brady Centre
192-196 Hanbury Street
London
E1 5HU

Telephone No: 0207 377 8725

Fax No: 0207 377 1064

email: enquiries@whfs.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1033764
Registered Company No: 2897750