Our Founder
Razia Shaikh-Patel
Founder & Director, WETA Community Services CIC
7+
Years of Impact
9,450+
Women Supported
30+
Programmes
Her Story
The Vision Behind WETA
One skill. One vision. A journey of empowering communities.
Razia Shaikh-Patel is an educator, social entrepreneur, community leader and passionate advocate for women's empowerment, health equality and social inclusion.
With over a decade of frontline community experience, Razia witnessed the barriers faced by women from South Asian and other ethnically minoritised communities. Limited access to culturally appropriate services, mental health stigma, health inequalities, social isolation and a lack of opportunities often prevented talented women from recognising and reaching their potential.
She believed that meaningful change begins by recognising people's existing strengths, understanding their cultural and social circumstances and creating opportunities that work for them.
Background
From Education to Community Leadership
Razia's professional journey began as a high school science teacher before she transitioned into adult education, community development and social entrepreneurship.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Master's in Sociology and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
Her professional development includes training in Mental Health First Aid, mental wellbeing coaching, Aafiya Healing, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), life coaching, Islamic counselling, Islamic psychology and she is in the process of becoming a Productive Muslim Certified Trainer.
Combining 23 years of educational experience with extensive work in community engagement, leadership and culturally responsive mental health education, Razia brings a multidisciplinary approach to addressing health inequalities and empowering underserved communities.
Origins
How WETA Began
What started as a simple henna art workshop nine years ago became the foundation of something much bigger.
Razia recognised that henna art, a culturally familiar and creative skill, could open doors to conversations about anything that affects quality of life: mental health, emotional wellbeing, confidence and personal development.
This inspired her to establish WETA Community Services CIC in 2019, built around three principles:
ENGAGE • EDUCATE • EMPOWER
Her intention was not simply to deliver activities but to create a community-led organisation that challenges stigma, bridges cultural gaps and provides preventative education and meaningful pathways to progression.
Under her leadership, WETA has evolved from henna-based wellbeing workshops into a multidisciplinary grassroots organisation delivering mental health education, culturally and faith-informed training, physical activity programmes, youth leadership, employability support and entrepreneurship development.
Philosophy
Her Leadership Philosophy
Razia believes that empowerment is not about creating dependency. It is about helping individuals recognise their existing strengths, develop confidence and discover opportunities they may never have imagined possible.
This philosophy is reflected in WETA's strengths-based, person-centred, culturally responsive, trauma-informed and faith-based approach.
Some of WETA's greatest achievements are the women who first joined as participants and have since progressed into volunteering, employment, facilitation and community leadership.
Looking Ahead
Her Vision for the Future
Razia envisions WETA becoming a leading community-driven organisation that bridges the gap between underserved communities and mainstream health, wellbeing and educational services.
Her ambition is to strengthen preventative mental health education, expand culturally responsive training, challenge health inequalities and develop sustainable opportunities for women and young people across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Above all, she wants to create a lasting legacy: communities equipped with the knowledge, confidence and resources to support themselves and one another.
“We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can change someone's world. And that person may go on to change someone else's.
It starts with me. It starts with you. And it ends with us.”
Razia Shaikh-Patel
Want to get involved?
Reach out to Razia and the WETA team to learn how you can make a difference.