A self defence instructor has received funding from the NHS to launch a menopause awareness and health project for women in deprived areas of Blackburn.

Zaynab, known as Zee, Jogi is running a community project to engage women aged between 40 and 60 in educational and physical sessions to improve their health and wellbeing.

The project, Transform4Life, is aimed at targeting the most deprived area in Blackburn and offering hour sessions to support women’s health and improve their confidence and mental health problems.

The first session took place on Wednesday, January 11, at Mii Chai Café on Whalley Range, where guest speaker Fatima Patel delivered a presentation on menopause and how to manage symptoms. 

Zee said: “Our first menopause session was fully booked. We had 15 women turn up and it went really, really, well. I was quite surprised that we had a full house, which was great and we'll be delivering more in February.

“We received funding from the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated care team which took six meetings and a final presentation in front of five panellists from the NHS team, Dragon’s Den style, to secure over eight months.”

The proposal Zee pitched to the panel was based on a questionnaire Zee conducted, which revealed that Blackburn women aged 40 to 60 were struggling with low confidence, anxiety and depression, loneliness, body image problems and obesity.

Zee also highlighted that many women don’t access NHS services until their conditions worsen, so aims to target the problem before it occurs to “reduce pressures on the NHS”.

Zee added: “This is a preventative project and gives a solution to the problems women are suffering.

“Women will feel fitter, stronger, resilient, sociable, less depressed and will be able to make new friends, lose weight and improve their body image.

“This will support the NHS as women won’t be accessing the NHS services as much, will reduce the use of medications as well as reducing pressure on the NHS waiting list.

After the month of Ramadan, Zee will be running sessions on Nutrition Advice, boxing, yoga, and gym taster sessions and is looking for volunteers to help deliver the project.

To sign up for the sessions, complete the online form here or visit the website for more information.