Launch of Roshni dementia support group

ROSHNI Dementia Support Group with Shahid Mohammed (standing on the far right)

BME Health & Wellbeing have launched the Roshni (meaning ‘light’) dementia support group as part of their South Asian dementia project in partnership with Deeplish Community Centre.

The support group is for members of the BME & south Asian community in Rochdale who are living with dementia, their carers and family members. It will offer help and emotional and practical support in a caring and non-judgmental environment.

Shahid Mohammed, founder of BME Health & Wellbeing explained; "Following on from our very successful South Asian Dementia Awareness & Consultative Seminar earlier this year, one of the issues that arose was the lack of support for south Asian and BME people with dementia, their family and carers.

"It is also something that I am also very passionate about and committed to, having had personal experience as a carer.

"We found that there was very little community based support for people living with dementia and this is why we have taken the initiative and launched the Roshni support group."

Sohail Ahmed, Manager of Deeplish Community Centre said: "We believe the Roshni Support Group will provide a much needed social environment and stimulation where help, advice and support will be provided in the heart of the BME community. We look forward to working with BME Health & Wellbeing to develop a ‘BME Dementia Hub’ at Deeplish Community Centre."

Councillor Mohammed Zaman said: "I fully endorse the Roshni project at Deeplish Community Centre - I am confident it will help reduce social isolation and address in the inequalities in health provision for people with dementia."

The Roshni Group meets the last Monday of every month  at Deeplish Community Centre, Hare Street, Rochdale.

For more information email:

info@bmehaw.co.uk