We’re excited to launch Time to Talk, our brand-new podcast from Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS) , shining a light on the stories, services, and partners shaping the wellbeing of our communities. In our first episode, we speak with the inspiring Angela from Love Compassion — a long-time collaborator with our Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS) — who has been delivering transformative wellbeing and self-compassion courses tailored for South Asian LGBTQIA+ individuals.
A Vital Collaboration Through ENNS
At Gateway and Age UK B’ham, our ENNS service is all about connecting adults, carers, and community members with local opportunities for better health and wellbeing. Through partnerships like the one with Angela and Love Compassion, we’re able to support inclusive, culturally sensitive initiatives that respond to real community needs.
Angela’s four-week wellbeing courses — funded through ENNS — are a lifeline for people who often fall through the cracks. Her work focuses on supporting South Asian LGBTQIA+ individuals, who frequently face unique cultural challenges that make accessing mental health and self-care support especially difficult.
“Where Are the Spaces for People Like Me?”
Angela’s journey began with her own search for belonging. As a queer woman from a South Asian background, she knows firsthand how difficult it is to reconcile identity and cultural expectations. In our podcast, she speaks openly about the emotional toll of growing up without visible role models or safe spaces, and how this inspired her to become a mindfulness and compassion coach.
“I kept thinking, where are the spaces for people like me?” Angela shared. “If I had this when I was younger, it might’ve changed everything.”
That’s where ENNS comes in. Through funding and community connections, we help make Angela’s courses accessible and visible to those who need them most — bridging the gap between health, identity, and cultural understanding.
Tackling Isolation Through Community and Compassion
The challenges faced by South Asian LGBTQIA+ people go beyond mental health. Angela highlighted how the absence of inclusive language in many South Asian languages makes it hard to even name these identities. This lack of expression, combined with family pressure, cultural taboos, and invisibility within both South Asian and LGBTQIA+ spaces, can leave individuals feeling excluded from every side.
“There’s a double whammy,” Angela explained, “rejection from both the mainstream queer scene and from traditional South Asian communities.” That’s why her courses don’t just teach self-compassion — they build safe, affirming places. WhatsApp support groups often emerge from these sessions, helping participants continue their healing journeys beyond the classroom.
Mindfulness in Practice: A Shared Experience
During the episode, Angela also led a gentle mindfulness exercise to demonstrate how differently we treat ourselves compared to others. It was a moving reminder of how difficult it can be to extend kindness to ourselves — and why it’s a skill we must consciously practice.
This core message of self-kindness is what makes Angela’s work such a perfect fit for the goals of the ENNS programme. Her sessions are more than courses; they’re spaces for deep connection, cultural healing, and personal growth.
Join the Movement — Start Your Journey
If you or someone you know could benefit from Angela’s wellbeing and self-compassion courses, you can sign up via OutSavvy or visit lovecompassion.co.uk to find out more. The courses are inclusive and welcoming, and Angela encourages anyone who feels unsure to simply reach out for a chat. Sometimes, the hardest part is walking through the door — but with ENNS and Love Compassion, you won’t be walking alone.
🎧 Listen to Time to Talk – Available Now
Our Time to Talk podcast is now live, and we invite you to tune into the first episode featuring Angela Bhandari from Love Compassion. Her story is one of resilience, cultural healing, and radical self-love — and it beautifully reflects the values at the heart of our Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify:
👉 Time to Talk – Angela Bhandari from Love Compassion
Follow Gateway Family Services to stay updated on future episodes, where we’ll continue to spotlight the incredible work happening across ENNS and our wider community.
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