Part of the project: Engaging Somali Fathers & Carers of SEND Children in Brent – A Community-Led Child Health, Well-being & Education Initiative
Lead Organisation: Voices for SEND Support Network (VSN)
A community session on the role of fathers in supporting immunisation within the Somali community, Harlesden
Voices for SEND Support Network held a well-attended community session in Harlesden focused on boosting vaccine uptake, with a spotlight on the important and often under-recognised role that dads play in supporting their children’s immunisation. Delivered in partnership with Brent Health Matters, the session brought together local families, health professionals and decision-makers for an open, informal conversation grounded in trust and shared understanding.
The event formed part of the Network’s ongoing monthly programme of community engagement, and specifically aimed to reach fathers within the Somali community – encouraging them to feel confident, informed and actively involved in decisions about their children’s health.
About the project
This session sits within a wider initiative led by Voices for SEND Support Network (VSN): “Engaging Somali Fathers & Carers of SEND Children in Brent – A Community-Led Child Health, Well-being & Education Initiative.” The project is designed and delivered by and with the community, and focuses on empowering Somali fathers and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to take an active role in their children’s health, well-being and education.
As the lead organisation, VSN works in partnership with Brent Health Matters and wider health and local-government partners to build trust, reduce health inequalities, and connect families to the services and information they need. Boosting vaccine uptake through the involvement of dads is one strand of this broader programme, alongside the Network’s continued support for the education and well-being of SEND children across Brent.
A partnership between community and health services
The session was strengthened by the presence and support of senior figures from across Brent’s health and local government partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to tackling health inequalities for children and young people.
Jenny Lanyero, Head of Health Inequalities for Children and Young People with the Brent Health Matters CYP Team – part of the Brent Integrated Care Partnership and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust – joined the session. Her involvement underlined the value of working directly with communities to close gaps in vaccine uptake and to ensure families have access to trusted, accessible health information.
Cllr Jake Rubin, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Employment & Climate Action at the London Borough of Brent, also attended, signalling strong civic backing for community-led health initiatives and for the wider work of the Network in supporting families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Why the session mattered
The programme was designed to be practical and welcoming, giving parents – and dads in particular – the space to ask questions and access reliable support. Attendees benefited from:
- Trusted vaccine information from credible local health sources
- An open discussion and Q&A, allowing families to raise concerns freely
- Support for family health and wellbeing
- Direct links to local health services in Brent
By centring fathers in the conversation, the session challenged the assumption that immunisation decisions rest with mothers alone, and highlighted how engaged, informed dads can play a decisive role in protecting their children’s health and boosting uptake across the community.
Building trust within the Somali community
Reaching communities where vaccine confidence can be lower requires more than information – it requires relationships. Holding the session locally, in a familiar community setting on Church Road, and framing it around the everyday role of dads, helped create a space where questions could be asked without judgement and where health services felt approachable and relevant to families’ real lives.
An ongoing commitment
This session is one of a monthly series hosted by Voices for SEND Support Network. Each session offers families a recurring, dependable point of contact for health information, peer support and connection to local services. The Network warmly invites families across the community to join future sessions.