Our peer support programme will offer you the chance to meet other people from your community who share the same risks as you do. By connecting with other people, sharing your experiences and learning together you can make changes to improve your heart health and maintain it.
We want to help you…
- Understand the risks of high blood pressure
- Learn how to monitor your blood pressure
- Access support to manage your blood pressure
How will we do this?
- You can join four weekly, free in-person support groups where you hear via video from doctors, nurses and nutritionists about how to manage your blood pressure and overall heart health
- We offer one-to-one sessions with our peer supporter workers, specially trained people from your community who have lived experience of the challenges you face, who can help you set personal goals to improve your heart health and support you while you make those changes
- We provide a confidential and safe space at our regular face-to-face sessions at:
- The Centre of Excellence, The Concourse, Colindale, London NW9 5XB (Tuesdays, 2-4 pm)
- The West Hendon Hub, Gladwell House, Perryfield Way, Hendon, NW9 7DZ (Wednesdays, 11-1 pm)
- We will also offer some online support groups for those of you who can’t join us in person
- We provide bespoke paper-based information about looking after your heart, how to monitor your blood pressure correctly and how to prevent high blood pressure
How do I get involved?
You can connect with Healthy Heart by contacting us via email at healthyheart@inclusionbarnet.org.uk or by calling 020 3475 1316.
Or you can be referred by any voluntary, community or statutory group who can sign up on your behalf if you have given them your permission.
Email us at: healthyheart@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Phone us: 020 3475 1316
Text us (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm): 07719 105534
Healthy Heart Team
Judi Dumont-Barter (she/her): Healthy Heart Peer Co-ordinator
Judi started with Inclusion Barnet in May 2021 as Representation Lead on our Community Organisation Support team. Judi brings with her over 20 years’ experience in the mental health and education sector and is also a chair of governors within a south London Multi-academy Trust.
From April 2022, as the Healthy Heart Peer Project Co-ordinator, Judi now brings her lived experience of managing her own high blood pressure for over 10 years to the role. She says ‘it is as if this project was crafted just for me!’.
Her life-long passion is psychology and continuing to understand how to support humanity to flourish in all aspects of their lives, especially through positive and rewarding work. In addition, she has in the past five years focused her energy on supporting anti-racism in both schools and work settings – holding fast to the belief that change is possible to dismantle structural racism in all its forms.
Salna Abdallah: Healthy Heart Peer Worker
Salna joined us in May 2022, having worked in the charity sector for over 15 years with experience in promoting social justice for socially excluded communities in North London, promoting health, education, integration and employment.
Some of you may recognise Salna from a previous role working in Morrison’s Colindale! Salna also worked as Community Champion during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting individuals, charities, religious groups, schools and the local foodbanks to achieve their goals. She also organises fundraising and activities to promote national days such as cancer awareness, mental health awareness, World AIDs Day to name a few.
Salna believes that the lived experience of the team allows us to remove the barriers between the service provider and service users. She says: “Our uniqueness is that we are an equal partner”.
Riffat Ahmed: Healthy Heart Peer Worker
Riffat joined us in May 2022 having previously worked in various sectors over the years. She has always been actively engaged with the community at a personal level, contributing in different community programmes. During her last job as an Outreach Officer, her support of people with medical conditions was referral based, enabling better focus and dedication to people with illnesses that affect their day to day lives. Riffat is keen to bring about positive change through behaviour change and self-efficacy of those who need support.
“I think that my first-hand knowledge of high blood pressure and cardio vascular disease strengthens the belief that I can help others with the same condition in an effective way. Once the understanding develops that the condition can be managed via light exercise, healthy changes in diet, there can be a drastic turn in life style. A clear concept of peer groups accentuates the process.“