Community, Culture and Lung Health: UPTURN at the Rochdale South Asian Heritage Festival
Tahsin Tasneem Tabassum, M M Golam Rabbani, Lorraine Lawrence
On 20th August 2026, the Rochdale South Asian Heritage Festival brought together people from across communities for a wonderful celebration of music, dance, food, colour and conversation. Despite the heavy rain and the fact that it was GCSE results day, neither the weather nor the busy day deterred people from attending. It was fantastic to see such a great turnout and a strong sense of community throughout the event.
The festival was a celebration of South Asian heritage and culture, while also providing an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to come together, connect and enjoy the day. From lively dance performances to delicious food and engaging conversations, there was a real sense of community throughout Rochdale Town Hall.
We were very pleased to be there to represent the UPTURN study, following an invitation from the Bangladesh Association & Community Project (BACP). We were delighted to attend and talk about our work on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR), but the day was about much more than just sharing information. It allowed us to meet people, hear their stories, and have some fascinating discussions about lung health. The UPTURN study is exploring why some COPD patients are less likely to attend PR sessions and what we can do differently to increase participation. We want to provide a tailored support package to assist more people to attend PR, particularly patients from underserved groups.
We wanted to talk about these issues at the festival - but did not want to overload attendees with an information shower. So, rather than expecting people to stop and read lots of information, we tried to raise awareness and share our experiences in a more fun and engaging way. We played a challenge game, for example, where we asked our visitors to guess what terms such as COPD and PR stood for. Surprisingly, these quizzes often led naturally into lots of conversation about breathing problems, COPD, and what PR actually involves.
Besides the flyers, posters, and project newsletters, we had henna cones and chocolates to entertain attendees with. These were probably the most popular things on our stall! People would come over for a henna hand-painting or a chocolate, then stay for a conversation. Some asked questions about COPD, while others told us about relatives or friends who had experienced breathing problems. Several people were curious about PR and wanted to know more about the work we were doing. In response to their questions, we gave out flyers about UPTURN and a brief introduction to the project, along with QR codes for more information.
Plenty was happening around us too! One particularly lovely moment was the flag display by local children, representing different South Asian countries. Although the festival was centred on South Asian heritage, one thing that stood out was how familiar many of its traditions and values felt across cultures. Family, food, music, celebration, storytelling, and, above all, community are not unique to one culture. Lorraine reflected this through her own Caribbean heritage, highlighting the similarities that connected people throughout the day. People gathered, shared food, enjoyed performances, exchanged stories, and welcomed new conversations. Despite our diverse backgrounds and traditions, there was a clear sense that we share many values that bring us together. It felt like a celebration not only of South Asian cultures but also of the wider diversity of Rochdale and the UK.
For the UPTURN EDI team, being at the festival was a reminder of why it is so important to take research beyond universities and healthcare settings. If we want more people to benefit from PR services, we first need to understand their experiences. Sometimes it starts with simply being there by meeting people in their own communities, listening to what they have to say, and making health conversations feel less formal. People did not just come to the stall, collect something, and leave; they were genuinely interested. They asked questions, shared stories, and gave us their time. These conversations remind us that community engagement works best when it feels like a conversation rather than a one-way delivery of health information. We look forward to attending next year too!
