Aleya Khatun is the Equalities and Inclusion Community Development Worker at the Hangleton and Knoll Project (HKP). In this story, she describes what her role involves and why the work she does is special.
“In my role, I support a variety of community groups and initiatives, focusing on working with residents from ethnically diverse backgrounds across West Brighton. My work includes organising a regular program of activities in partnership with the Multi-Cultural Women’s Group. Together, we offer sessions like swimming, Bollywood dancing, yoga, walk-and-lunch events, and monthly social coffee mornings. I also help facilitate day trips, creative writing projects, ESOL courses, and a men’s mental health initiative, which focuses on culturally appropriate support for mental well-being.”
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to engage with people from different generations and see them grow in confidence. I love working alongside these communities, supporting them as they achieve their goals and overcome challenges. A proud moment for me was when members of our Bollywood group decided to perform at the International Women’s Day event at the Dome—it was such a celebration of their hard work and bravery.”
“Creating safe spaces where people feel understood and supported is essential. Once that environment is established, people are more likely to reach out for help, which can be the first step in improving their mental health and well-being. Building trust, having empathy, and understanding the cultural barriers that exist are key in this work.”
“Being part of the UOK Brighton and Hove partnership is something HKP values deeply. It’s a brilliant network of services working together to ensure everyone in the city has access to the mental health and wellbeing support they need. Our collaboration with UOK helps smaller organisations like ours ensure that even the most underserved communities are included and supported.”
Aleya kindly sent a video of her expressing the what being part of the UOK partnership means to her and the organisation. You can watch the whole video, of which Aleya is a part of here
Find out more about activities at HKP and how to get involved in the 50+community development here and for the Youth team activities here
Visit their website here: www.hkproject.org.uk
