The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) is delighted to have been featured on BBC News Online and BBC Look East following the filming of our Luton Community Physical Activity Health Hub on Wednesday 20 May.
You can read the full BBC News Online article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyp8rr0gk0o
The feature provided an opportunity to showcase a model that is about much more than table tennis. While table tennis remains at the heart of many of our activities, our hubs have evolved into trusted community health spaces where older Black men can stay active, build friendships, reduce social isolation, improve confidence, and engage positively with their health and wellbeing.
The BBC coverage reflects growing recognition of the important role that trusted community organisations can play in addressing health inequalities. It follows increasing recognition of O5BM’s work through partnerships with health organisations, local authorities, national funders, and wider community stakeholders who share our commitment to healthier ageing and health equity.
We would like to sincerely thank BBC Look East, especially Naomi Richardson, for the professionalism and care shown throughout the process. Our deepest gratitude also goes to Nicola Haseler, Reporter, and Steve Hubbard, Camera Operator, for spending almost three hours with us—not just filming, but genuinely engaging with our members, listening to their stories, and capturing the spirit of what O5BM is truly about.
Across the UK, Black communities continue to experience disproportionately high rates of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. At the same time, many older Black men face barriers to participating in mainstream physical activity, health and wellbeing programmes. O5BM exists to help address these challenges through culturally competent, community-led approaches built on trust, belonging, prevention and wellbeing.
Through our Community Physical Activity Hubs, health engagement programmes and community partnerships, we are demonstrating how community-led solutions can contribute to healthier lives, stronger social connections and greater engagement with preventative health.
We are grateful to the members, volunteers, partners and funders whose support has helped O5BM build trusted community infrastructure that reaches men who are too often underserved by mainstream approaches.
