Research

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Learning from lived experience. Creating meaningful change.

At Jamila’s Legacy, research plays a vital role in shaping how we support individuals and communities. Our work is grounded in real experiences, informed by evidence, and focused on improving mental health understanding, access, and outcomes particularly for underserved communities.

Why Research Matters

We believe that meaningful change happens when voices are heard, experiences are understood, and evidence informs action.

Our research helps us to:

  • Understand the mental health needs of diverse communities
  • Identify gaps in support and service provision
  • Reduce stigma through insight and education
  • Inform better policies, practices, and interventions
  • Strengthen the impact of our services and partnerships

Our Research Focus Areas

Our research is shaped by community needs and lived experience, with a focus on:

  • Mental health inequalities and access to support
  • Cultural barriers and stigma around mental wellbeing
  • Emotional wellbeing in adults and families
  • The impact of social factors such as isolation, trauma, and financial stress
  • Community-led approaches to mental health support

Menopause Baheno

Menopause remains a deeply under-addressed issue among South Asian women in the UK, where cultural stigma, medical misrecognition, and limited mental health support often converge to create serious barriers to care. The Menopause Baheno Project, funded by Leicester City Council and delivered by Jamila’s Legacy, set out to explore how menopause affects the mental health and wellbeing of South Asian women in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

Visit a Mental Health Café

Our Resources

Impact

Honest feedback from individuals & organisations we’re honoured to support.

12

Year Anniversary

4000+

People Engaged

120

Counselling Sessions

50+

Community Partners

Young Adult

Experienced isolation, anxiety, and challenges linked to neurodiversity and relationships, resulting in leaving her course. Received early support while waiting for counselling, building coping strategies and confidence.
Now more resilient, forming healthier connections, and actively volunteering.

Halima

I have found Jamila’s Legacy to be a much-needed resource not only during the Covid pandemic but also following the pandemic. I have personally benefitted from the information sessions on handling bereavement and grief, learning about culturally appropriate services and learning about the availability of resources that help with financial and debt management By bringing in specialists to deliver information sessions. Jamila’s Legacy is enabling access to services to individuals who would otherwise not have access to in these days of increasing mental health problems and limited statutory and voluntary services

Haleema Aslam – Doctoral Researcher/Carbon Literacy Trainer

Jamila’s Legacy empowers individuals to support their mental health via peer support and self-help. The most unique feature of Jamila’s Legacy is to facilitate individuals to identify and develop solutions, resources and training sessions that they feel are crucial to their mental wellbeing using a user led approach

Carl Quinn (CEO)- Solvers Studio

We’ve loved working with Jamila’s Legacy. They’ve taken a real collaborative approach in working with the studio, finding an offer that works best for us and our community. The quality of work is simply excellent, supportive, thoughtful, and responsive to our needs and always looking at ways to make lasting impact. Jamila’s Legacy are an absolute pleasure to work with. We look forward to growing our partnership

Bhanu

Happy 6th Year of your fantastic project that has helped so may people. Keep up the Good Work

Fatima

Thanks for today, brought up some buried feelings and memories. Sometimes when I look back, I just don’t believe am still here living

Raj

I love joining your events. I have always felt I can completely be myself and there are no expectations pit on me. That’s the best feeling ever, when all my life i felt trapped in the cage od emotions

Pratiba

Jamila’s Legacy has been a step back into everyday life, which I had been ‘hibernating from’. I find the welcoming and the non-judgmental, enabling approach was just the ticket I need during a time when I felt isolated, insular and getting increasingly low in my moods

Aisha

I have come away from these art sessions a new found talent and I hope to keep up with developing this amazing skill

Darren Goddard – Force Crime Registrar at Leicestershire Constabulary

Rehana has created something wonderful, a safe space both in the real world and online for people to talk about their mental health and well-being to support each other and bring about the change that is needed

Fay

Thank you for organising these sessions, they do feel like a life saver

Ayesha

Thank you for today’s session, it was really helpful making more senses of the nonsense in my life

Fatema

Projects like Jamila’s Legacy are like golddust

Masuma

Jamila’s Legacy is really helpful, just going to one session made me realise I need to take care of my mental health and I need to seek help.