About Us
Founded by a family who know first hand what it means to care for a loved one living with dementia.
Built on love, legacy and a promise
Unique Minds was founded by a family who know first hand what it means to care for a loved one living with dementia. Our story begins with two remarkable people whose generosity, compassion and vision made this charity possible.
LAMEHLAK is an acronym which stands for The Late Dr ME Hoque and Late Dr AN Khanam memorial foundation. Dr Hoque and Dr Khanam left a sizeable family legacy for a charity to be set up in their name and they bestowed the guardianship of this to their brother Nurul Khan, who became their guardian later in life and is Chairman of the charity.
Dr Hoque was an ophthalmologist and Dr Khanam a general practitioner, and with Nurul’s support they found their first employment at Corbett Hospital in Dudley Borough in the 1960s. They moved to Bromley in Kent in the late sixties, where they settled. Sadly they could not have children, but both took on the role of patriarchs within the wider Khan family, assisting relatives with advice, guidance, and moral and financial support.
Over the years they took in and supported many family members, some living with them for many years. Both doctors were devout in the Islamic faith, giving generously to charity and making the pilgrimage to Hajj on several occasions. As they grew older and more infirm, both were diagnosed with dementia and came under the guardianship and guidance of Nurul, who looked after them until they passed away in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Nurul’s promise to them before they died was that he, alongside close family members and friends, would set up a UK charity in their honour, one that would make a positive impact on families and loved ones in need. Since early 2024 the charity has focused on setting itself up correctly to achieve that goal.
Dr ME Hoque & Dr AN Khanam
In loving memory of Dr ME Hoque and Dr AN Khanam, whose generosity and vision made Unique Minds possible.
The people behind Unique Minds
Nurul Khan
Nurul Khan is the Chair and one of three founding members of Unique Minds. A well known and respected retired restaurateur, Nurul has been a prominent figure in the Midlands Bengali community since the 1970s.
He has worked with a number of charities and spent 10 years as a health advocate in Warwickshire, where many of his clients were people living with dementia and their carers. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the challenges families face and the difference that the right support can make.
As guardian to Dr Hoque and Dr Khanam in their later years, Nurul witnessed first hand the impact of dementia on those he loved. He made a promise to honour their memory by establishing a charity that would make a real and lasting difference to families facing the same experience. Unique Minds is the fulfilment of that promise, and Nurul is passionate about ensuring that people living with dementia and their carers receive the support and understanding they deserve.
Naz Khan
Naz is a co-founder and Lead Trustee of Unique Minds, bringing over 30 years experience as a services industry professional. Alongside his trustee role, he is a director of several companies in the hospitality and retail technology sectors, and an investor in a business serving the hotel industry. This keeps him closely engaged with current operational and commercial practice, which he draws on in guiding the charity's growth.
He has six years experience as Head of Regulation Operations at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Prior to that, he was Head of Consultancy and Business Development at a mid-sized consultancy and venture capital business, and worked for 18 years as a management consultant across the commercial, charitable, regeneration and public sectors, as well as working directly for charities on fundraising, new builds, operational implementation and business planning.
Naz is committed to making Unique Minds a success and to ensuring the charity delivers meaningful, high quality support to people living with dementia and their families across the West Midlands.
Julie Khan
Julie is a co-founder of Unique Minds and leads the charity as Centre Director, with 20 years experience in education and a background in integrated therapeutic practices that support wellbeing and personal growth.
Previously, she served over a decade on the management committee of a women and children’s centre in Haringey, including a year as Chair, delivering community wellbeing workshops. She is skilled in programme development, coaching, and collaborative engagement with young people, families and professionals.
Julie is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community through the charity and is committed to helping people enhance their wellbeing, improve quality of life, and guide individuals and families through the charity’s mission. As our centre prepares to open, Julie will play a key role in training and developing new staff. She is passionate about raising awareness of dementia and ensuring that everyone who comes through our doors feels seen, heard and supported.
Be part of our story
Whether you need support, want to volunteer, or would like to help fund our work, we would love to hear from you.