A new Sunderland-based community counselling service has launched to improve access to culturally informed mental health support.
Al-Falaq Counselling, a community interest company founded by qualified counsellor Chompa Syeda Begum (MBACP), was set up to provide inclusive counselling services that remove cultural, language and faith-based barriers that can prevent people from seeking mental health support.
While the service is open to people of all backgrounds, it has a particular focus on supporting women and ethnically diverse communities across Sunderland.
Chompa said: “Through my own experience of grief and loss, and later through my work as a counsellor, I became aware of how many women – particularly from faith and culturally diverse communities – struggle in silence.
“I wanted to create a service rooted in compassion and cultural understanding, where people feel seen, heard and respected. Al-Falaq Counselling is about ensuring community wellbeing remains at the heart of mental health support.”
The business name, Al-Falaq, means ‘Daybreak’ and reflects its mission of bringing hope and renewal to individuals navigating loss, bereavement, grief, trauma and a range of emotional and psychological challenges.
Operating with two employees and five volunteers, Al-Falaq delivers support through one-to-one counselling, Tea & Talk groups, Pilates wellbeing sessions, relationship mediation, advocacy and signposting to specialist services. It also offers multilingual counselling in English, Bangla, Hindi and Urdu.
Chompa added: “While mental health services exist, many women from culturally diverse communities still struggle to find support that reflects their lived experience. We aim to bridge that gap and ensure no one feels they have to navigate emotional distress alone.”
Since Chompa set the business up in 2025 with the support of the social enterprise team at the North East BIC, which provided guidance on governance, legal structures and regulatory requirements, Al-Falaq has received a special recognition award for community contribution and been nominated across small business award categories.
Community partnerships have also been formed, including work with Wearside Women in Need to deliver specialist domestic abuse support, advocacy and safe referral pathways.
She added: “The response we have received shows how urgent this need is, not just locally but more widely. My vision is to see cultural competency embedded across mental health services so that support is not only clinically effective but also emotionally and culturally meaningful.
“The support I received from the North East BIC during the start up phase was incredibly valuable. It gave me confidence knowing there was practical, tailored support available to help me build a sustainable foundation for the CIC.”
Ernest Dodds, BIC social enterprise adviser, said: “Al-Falaq Counselling demonstrates how lived experience can be transformed into meaningful social impact, and we were thrilled to support Chompa in starting her CIC to deliver a culturally focussed service that responds directly to a community need.”
The North East BIC’s social enterprise support in Sunderland helps the development of the social economy within the city through the Wear Together Initiative, working with local residents and groups to start a social enterprise or co-operative and help the city’s social enterprises to develop and grow.
The Wear Together Initiative has received £148,638 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme which is managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership.
Find out more about Al-Falaq Counselling here.