About Us

Our Story

Vanclaron was founded by Dr Edith Iheama, a former NHS Public Health Practitioner, whose personal experience of seeking asylum in the UK highlighted the significant gaps in mental health and wellbeing support available to refugees, asylum seekers, and other underserved communities.

Driven by a passion for reducing health inequalities, Vanclaron supports vulnerable, underrepresented, and marginalised communities, particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, to improve their mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life. We provide culturally responsive support, education, and empowerment programmes that help individuals build confidence, resilience, and stronger connections within their communities.

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Our Mission

To create inclusive, accessible health and wellbeing services that enable everyone to make positive choices for their physical and mental health. Through our flagship CHATS (Community Health Awareness and Training Service) programme, we bring people together, tackle loneliness and isolation, strengthen community networks, and empower individuals to become agents of positive change.

Our Approach

We work alongside individuals and communities to improve health and wellbeing. By combining lived experience, local knowledge, and professional expertise, we help people make positive choices, build resilience, and create lasting change.

Our People

Our staff and volunteers reflect the communities we serve. With diverse backgrounds, languages, and lived experiences, they build trusted relationships and deliver culturally appropriate support. Many people who benefit from our services go on to become community champions, helping others and strengthening the communities around them.

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by five core values:

People: We invest in local people and those with lived experience.

Excellence: We deliver high-quality, culturally responsive services.

Social Value: We create lasting benefits for underserved communities.

Innovation: We develop creative solutions to improve outcomes.

Empowerment: We help people build confidence, skills, and resilience.

Our Team

Our Services