Our class designed to support south Asian women has won a National BAME Health and Care award.

The functional rehabilitation programme, which is delivered in Urdu was designed by our physiotherapists.

Tanisha Saboo, senior physiotherapist said: "We know that language and culture can be barriers to seeking help and understanding what is available but we were able to create an environment where patients could share their experiences.”

Supported by colleagues at the Trust and a unique partnership with the Peterborough City Council’s health and wellbeing service, south Asian ladies who met certain criteria were offered a programme of five sessions. Each session lasts 90 minutes and held once per week. These included:

• Active discussion and education on pain neuroscience, recommended physical activity guidelines, pacing and multi-factorial nature of pain.
• Exercise session including group warm-up, functional exercises and relaxation.
• Home exercise program.

Priyanika Jesrani, First Contact Physiotherapist said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won the 'outstanding achievement of the year' award. This is really a testament to the collaborative approach we took.

"The unique partnership meant these ladies could be taken by the hand into the community, once our sessions were finished, to continue their learning, rehabilitation and peer support through friendships formed over the five weeks.”

Before announcing the winner at a virtual ceremony last week, Cheryl Cole, Editor at Diversity Q said:

• improved communication between therapist and patients
• reduced chronicity of Musculoskeletal conditions
• prevented recurrent referrals back into the service