The Couscous Club: A table of hope and healing in North Kensington
By Radhika Howarth, North Kensington Engagement and Partnership Lead at NHS North West London.
On a Friday afternoon in North Kensington, the aroma of freshly steamed couscous drifts through the Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women’s Centre. Inside, women gather around a long table, their voices rising and falling in Arabic and Darija, laughter mingling with quiet moments of reflection. For many, this weekly ritual is more than a meal, it’s a lifeline.
As part of my role at NHS North West London, I’ve been working closely with Al-Hasaniya since the Grenfell fire, recognising the unique value of culturally rooted, community-led support. The Couscous Club, which started in 1994, is a shining example of how partnership with local organisations can transform lives.
After the Grenfell tragedy, many Moroccan and Arabic-speaking women in the community found themselves isolated, grieving, and struggling to find support that truly understood their culture and their pain. Al-Hasaniya, the only UK organisation dedicated to supporting Moroccan and Arabic-speaking women and their families, recognised this need and opened up to anyone affected by the Grenfell tragedy where women could come together, share food, and begin to heal.
By respecting language, faith, and cultural identity, the club restores dignity and belonging, and helps address trauma and loneliness in a way that feels safe and empowering. “It was the first place I felt safe enough to cry in public,” one club member told me, her voice soft but steady. Another, a widow who lost family in the fire, adds: “Fridays give me a reason to get dressed and leave the house and to feel human again.”
The club is about much more than couscous. It’s about rebuilding trust, confidence, and connection. Many of the women who attend have tried traditional mental health services but found them difficult to engage with. Here, surrounded by familiar language, food, and faith, they can open up at their own pace, without pressure or judgment. The act of sharing a meal becomes a gateway to conversation, laughter, and sometimes tears, all held in a circle of understanding.
Zohra Davis, from the Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women’s Centre who helps run the club, sees the impact every week. “Some women arrive carrying so much sadness, but by the end of the afternoon, you see them smiling, supporting each other, and even making plans for the week ahead. The club gives them a sense of belonging and hope. It’s a place where they can be themselves, share their stories, and know they are not alone.”
The benefits ripple far beyond the centre’s walls. Women who once felt invisible are now part of a community. Some have reduced their medication for depression or anxiety, with support from their GP. Others have found the confidence to join English classes, volunteer, or simply reconnect with neighbours.
For the women of the Couscous Club, every Friday is a chance to find comfort, friendship, and the strength to face another week. As one member puts it: “Here, we share more than food. We share hope.”
You can find more about the Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women’s Centre at www.al-hasaniya.org.uk
