Health & Wellbeing Event Held with Bassetlaw Council

Earlier this year, Muslim Charity, in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, successfully hosted the Health & Wellbeing New Year Networking Event on Wednesday 4 February 2026 at Eaton Hall in Retford, bringing together organisations and professionals working across health, wellbeing, sport and community services.

Held at Muslim Charity’s headquarters at Eaton Hall, the event welcomed over 120 attendees from across Bassetlaw and the surrounding region. Participants included representatives from local health services, community organisations, sports clubs, charities, voluntary groups, Bassetlaw District Council, the fire service and the police.

The event created a valuable platform for organisations to connect, share ideas and strengthen partnerships, with the shared aim of improving the health and wellbeing of local residents. Attendees were able to learn more about the services available within the community and explore opportunities for collaboration between local organisations.

The programme included keynote speakers from Bassetlaw District Council, Muslim Charity, Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) and the Retford and Villages Cancer Care Co-ordinator, followed by a networking session where attendees could meet representatives from different organisations and exchange ideas while enjoying refreshments.

Muslim Charity’s Commitment to the Local Community

During the event, Muslim Charity Chairman Bakhtyar H. Pirzada welcomed guests and spoke about the organisation’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities both locally and internationally.

Eaton Hall has served as the international headquarters of Muslim Charity Helping The Needy since its inception in 1999, and the organisation has developed a number of initiatives in Bassetlaw aimed at supporting community wellbeing and strengthening local connections.

“Today, Eaton Hall continues to reflect both elements of its historic legacy: welfare and education through the organisations that are based here,” said Bakhtyar Pirzada, Chairman of Muslim Charity.

“Through our work locally we aim to support initiatives that improve health, wellbeing and social connection. We are grateful to be able to work alongside local organisations, charities and the council to help strengthen our communities.”

Although Muslim Charity delivers humanitarian and development programmes around the world, the organisation also takes pride in its growing local engagement across Bassetlaw.

Over the years, Muslim Charity has supported several initiatives aimed at improving community wellbeing, including partnerships with Bassetlaw Food Bank, Rotary Club of Retford, Rhubarb Farm, Bassetlaw Hospital, Nottinghamshire Police, the installation of community defibrillators at local sites and projects designed to tackle loneliness and social isolation.

One of these initiatives is the “Happy to Chat” benches project, launched in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council. The initiative placed benches in several locations across the district to encourage conversation and help reduce social isolation among residents.

Muslim Charity has also supported subsidised fruit and vegetable boxes for low-income families in Bassetlaw, helping households access fresh and healthy food during the ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

Strengthening Local Partnerships

The event demonstrated the importance of strong collaboration between community organisations, local authorities and voluntary groups in addressing health and wellbeing challenges within the district.

Councillor Darrel E Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Bassetlaw District Council, praised the event and the wide range of organisations that attended.

“This has been a tremendous event with well over 120 people attending in this wonderful setting provided by the Muslim community,” he said.

“We have seen health professionals, sports organisations, the council, the fire service and the police all coming together to share ideas and build connections on how we can best serve the people of Bassetlaw.”

Councillor Pulk highlighted the importance of events like this in building stronger networks between organisations working across the district.

“Events like this will pay dividends for the people who live in our communities. It is a milestone for further communication and collaboration, helping organisations build stronger partnerships that ultimately benefit residents across Bassetlaw.”

Looking Ahead

The Health & Wellbeing Networking Event highlighted the positive impact that collaboration and community partnership can have in improving health outcomes and supporting residents across the district.

Muslim Charity expressed its gratitude to Bassetlaw District Council and all participating organisations for helping make the event a success.

By bringing together organisations dedicated to health, wellbeing and community support, the event marked an important step in strengthening cooperation and building a healthier, more connected Bassetlaw community.