Community Snapshot: Asian People's Disability Alliance (APDA)
At the heart of Tower Hamlets, Asian People’s Disability Alliance (APDA) is creating a safe, welcoming space for women to connect, grow, and thrive.
Meeting weekly at our Minerva Community Centre, APDA supports Asian women living with disabilities, health problems, suffering from mental health, or experiencing social isolation.
They provide tailored health and wellbeing activities that respect their cultural and religious needs. From seated exercises to sewing and crocheting, the sessions are designed to be inclusive and empowering.
Founded by Zeenat Jeewa, APDA has been active for over 35 years. Originally based in North-West London, Zeenat now operates in Tower Hamlets after moving there herself. She recognised a gap in support for local women:
I saw the need there was for women not being heard, not being seen, not being supported.
The impact has been transformative. Women who participate in APDA’s sessions report significant improvements in their mental wellbeing and a renewed sense of confidence. Kweku Benefo, APDA’s Business Development Manager, feels he can really see that transformation:
The confidence they gain out of even attempting to do something means that later, they are walking out with so much inner fulfilment that they’ve even attempted this.
These improvements often lead to better physical health outcomes, including lower cholesterol levels and improved diabetes management. Zeenat feels this link is important to recognise:
Physical and mental is interlinked in terms of health so by being here and being part of a community network of ladies, I think that’s helped their mental health which has then in turn helped their physical health.
More than just a support group, APDA has become a trusted community — a space where stories and life experiences are shared. Attendees have grown with the group and are grateful for the change it has brought to their lives. Javeria Ansari, who has been coming to the group since 2017, talks about the impact it has had on her:
When you’re suffering alone, it’s really hard. To connect with other people, talk to them at the same level, they will not judge you. It’s a trust you build with them, like a family. It helped me throughout my journey. I hope it can reach more and help people like me.
By working with THCH’s Community Development Team, APDA have been able to engage with more residents and encourage women to take what they’ve learned back to their friends and family. Zeenat is proud of the impact this is having on their communities:
We’ve really helped empower these ladies. They are really active in their own local communities and they’re sharing what they’ve learnt here to other people.
If I have people who feel so empowered and own the support themselves that they can tell me off, I’m absolutely happy! That to me means we’re doing something right, because they’ve gone from being so scared and shy, to feeling empowered that this is mine, and I want this.
Looking ahead, APDA is working with the NHS East London Foundation Trust to set up a community-based mental health service — only the second of its kind. This innovative pilot project shifts the focus from clinical care to a more person-centred approach, rooted in trust and lived experience.
At THCH, we’re proud to support initiatives like APDA that bring people together, build resilience, and make our communities stronger. If you’d like to learn more about APDA, or feel you would benefit from their services, you can go to apda.org.uk or head down to their Minerva Community Centre sessions.