One Voice Blackburn is a community-led charity dedicated to improving the health, wellbeing, and life opportunities of people across Blackburn. We deliver health education, outreach, and support programmes that address both physical and mental health, particularly within underserved and ethnically diverse communities.
Our work focuses on tackling health inequalities by raising awareness of key health issues, empowering residents with knowledge, and supporting people to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
Through trusted community partnerships, co-produced campaigns, and culturally sensitive engagement, we help individuals and families lead healthier, happier lives.
One Voice Blackburn’s community health programme ‘Baiter Sehat’ (Better Health) was recognised nationally when it received the Excellence in Health Award from the UK Department of Health for its innovative approach to engaging communities in improving their own wellbeing.
Stem Cell Donation Awareness
One Voice Blackburn have been working with Anthony Nolan since 2024.
For the past three years, One Voice Blackburn has worked in partnership with Anthony Nolan, the UK’s stem cell charity, to encourage people from all ethnic backgrounds to join the stem cell donor register.
Patients from ethnic minority backgrounds often face significantly lower chances of finding a suitable donor match. By increasing awareness and encouraging young people to register, our work helps improve the chances of patients receiving life-saving treatment.
Our outreach programme focuses particularly on engaging young people aged 16–30, who are most likely to be selected as stem cell donors.
Impact:
Over 500 new stem cell donors registered since April 2023
Awareness campaigns reaching thousands of community members
Partnerships with local community leaders and organisations
Engagement through events, youth activities, and community spaces
Beyond registration numbers, the campaign has also helped address cultural and religious concerns around donation. A video produced by One Voice Blackburn, featuring a respected local Imam discussing the importance of stem cell donation, has now been viewed over 46,000 times, helping to build trust and encourage open conversations about donation within the Muslim community.
The Imam confirmed that stem cell donation is permissible in Islam, providing reassurance to many young people considering joining the register.
Watch Video below:
Sam's Diaries
Supporting Children’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing
Sam’s Diary is a series of children’s books designed to support emotional health and wellbeing for primary school pupils.
The books were written by Saffiya Hanslod, an 18-year-old One Voice Blackburn alumni, and focus on helping young children understand and manage difficult emotions.
The first two books address important topics:
Coping with Anxiety
Dealing with Loss
The books have been distributed across primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen, supporting children aged 7–10 years.
Two additional books are currently in development, and later this year all four stories will be published together in a single volume.
Through relatable storytelling and accessible language, Sam’s Diary helps children understand their emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Because every child deserves the tools to understand their feelings.
Dementia Friends
A Dementia Friend is someone who learns more about dementia and takes small actions to help improve the lives of people living with the condition.
Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by attending a Dementia Friends Information Session, delivered by a trained Dementia Friends Champion.
These sessions help people understand:
What dementia is and how it affects people
The challenges individuals with dementia may face
Simple actions that can make communities more dementia-friendly
OUR IMPACT:
One Voice Blackburn has delivered Dementia Friends sessions across the community, including in schools, colleges, community groups, workplaces, and care homes.
To date, we have helped create over 2,800 Dementia Friends, building a more understanding and supportive community for people living with dementia and their families.
Organ Donation Awareness
One Voice Blackburn promotes awareness of organ and living donation through community education, engagement, and outreach.
By working closely with community leaders, faith groups, families, and young people, we aim to increase understanding of the life-saving importance of organ donation and encourage informed decision-making.
Patients from underrepresented communities often face longer waiting times for suitable organ matches, making community awareness and donor registration particularly important.
Our work includes:
Community workshops and awareness events
Outreach sessions with community groups and young people
Educational campaigns explaining how organ donation works
Sharing personal stories from donors and transplant recipients
Informative articles that dispel myths and answer common questions
By increasing knowledge and encouraging open conversations about donation, One Voice Blackburn helps people make informed choices while supporting patients waiting for life-saving transplants.
Vitamin D
One Voice and Baiter Sehat (Better Health) promote vitamin D use in all communities of Blackburn with Darwen, and in particular those form a BAME background.
- Vitamin D is crucial to support bone and muscle health
- Over time a lack of vitamin D, can lead to bone deformities in children and painful bones in adults
- The best way to make vitamin D is from direct sunlight on the skin
- During winter up to 40% of UK adults may have low Vitamin D levels (NICE 2022)
- All adults and children over 4 years should consider taking a daily Vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter of 10 micrograms (400 IU)
You may also not get enough vitamin D year round if you:
- Have darker skin e.g. you have a south Asian, African or African-Caribbean background
- Usually wear clothes that cover up most of your skin
- Are not often outdoors or are housebound
- Adults in these groups may wish to take a higher daily Vitamin D supplement all year round. This should be no more than 100 micrograms (4,000IU)
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health is a vital part of overall health and wellbeing. At One Voice Blackburn, we work to reduce stigma, promote open conversations about mental health, and provide practical support for people across the community.
Our work supports the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, which focuses on accessible, community-based support and strengthening local networks of care.
We create safe and inclusive spaces where individuals feel supported, connected, and valued.
Our programmes include:
Community Wellbeing Groups
Peer support sessions where people can share experiences, learn coping strategies, and build meaningful social connections.
Stress Management and Resilience Workshops
Sessions that provide practical tools to help people manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges.
Signposting and Access to Support
We connect individuals with appropriate local services to ensure they can access professional mental health support when needed.