I am Lazza. I created Healthy Minds, Healthy Bods myself, registering in 2009, developing it, and working with clients since November 2016, all voluntarily, with grant funds paying for the various projects.

I was the Islington Volunteer of the Year in 2023 (runner up in 2022), and won a Mayor Civic Award for Outstanding Delivery In The Community.

I overcame two crushing depressions - which included being attacked in my own home ending with me HIV+, a friend stealing my life savings, and dealing with a very difficult relationship breakup. From being suicidal to running HMHB has been a mix of incredible highs and lows, frustration, joy, stress, fulfilment, and I have met so many wonderful people along the way. HMHB is award winning and I want it to keep going, but we need your help.

HMHB created our own ground-breaking and unique course to work with people unemployed, NEETS, older people, and those with health issues, to focus on improving their mindset, nutrition, exercise and health, and it has received astonishing feedback across the board.

In 2023 and 2024 we delivered more social outings than any other project in London - to our knowledge - and we now organise 150 health walks a year: over 50 exercise sessions: 12 monthly 40 page health packs covering Mindset, Nutrition, Exercise, and Health: 40 unique online quizzes: and this year there will be over 100 social events that our users can access (including museums, galleries, theatre, cinema, etc.). Last year we worked with over 180 different people. The difference we make on Physical, Mental, and Social Health is astonishing.

However, all this work will stop if I cannot get a part time salary and the running costs. Due to the rules around Universal Credit I need to be earning a thousand a month as a part time salary, and the running costs of the project are around fifteen hundred a month.

We are talking to various places about contracts. The thirty thousand will enable HMHB to pay the part time salary, a second smaller part time salary, and the running costs of the project for a whole year. Do check out our website : www.hmhb2016.org.uk - check out the feedback and pictures on our outings and gallery pages.