Breaking Taboos and Building Bridges in the South Asian Community and beyond
CIC chatted with Founders and sisters, Bal and Taj Kaur on challenging taboo topics and building connections between the South Asian community and local service providers, councils and other community members to create equitable services for all.
Changing Suits Founders, Bal and Taj Kaur
In a world where important conversations are often left unspoken, Changing Suits has become a powerful voice for the South Asian community. Founded by sisters Bal and Taj Kaur three years ago, Changing Suits started as a podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since evolved into much more than casual sisterly conversations. It has grown into a community interest company with a mission to break through cultural barriers, tackle taboo subjects, and open dialogue within the South Asian community.
“‘’THE TABOOS IN THE COMMUNITY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK HELP. WE REALISED WE COULD BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THESE SERVICES AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT’S WHEN CHANGING SUITS EVOLVED INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.’’”
For Bal Kaur, who serves as the strategic director of Changing Suits, the podcast was born from their desire to address difficult topics in a way that resonated with their community. “Initially, it was just a lighthearted podcast,” Bal recalls. “We were having conversations about issues we’ve personally experienced, things that our cousins, friends, and others in the community were going through as well.” What began as informal chats between sisters soon turned into a vital resource for many. The podcast offered a platform to address subjects such as domestic abuse, alcohol addiction, and as Bal jokes ‘the challenges of living with in-laws’—topics often swept under the rug in South Asian culture.
The idea to create Changing Suits came during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when downtime led to deep reflections. “The downtime made us think, well, actually, we’ve been through some serious times, but we’ve always tried to see the light side,” Bal explains. “We didn’t expect anyone to listen at first. But when people began reaching out, saying that our podcast really helped them, it felt amazing.”
From these early beginnings, the podcast blossomed into something much larger. “As we started getting service providers involved, it became clear that the South Asian community wasn’t engaging with the support available to them,” says Bal. “The taboos in the community make it difficult for people to seek help. We realised we could be a bridge between these services and our community, and that’s when Changing Suits evolved into what it is today.”
At the heart of Changing Suits is a mission to break through cultural barriers. “We all want the same things in life, regardless of our background,” Bal says. "We were brought up in a traditional way at home, but we live in a Western society. There's a tension between Eastern and Western values, and we need to find a way to balance them.” Bal and Taj use their platform to process their own experiences, shedding light on how different perspectives, even within the same family, can shape how people navigate these tensions.
Changing Suits also works with service providers—such as those in the healthcare and public sectors—to help them better understand the South Asian community’s needs. Bal emphasises the importance of language and cultural understanding when addressing issues like health disparities. “Take diabetes, for example. It’s prevalent in the South Asian community, but when people are sent to a nutritionist, are they getting advice that aligns with their diet? Often, the advice isn’t culturally relevant, and that’s a waste of resources.”
For Changing Suits, it’s not just about addressing taboos but also about helping institutions serve the community in more effective ways. “If you understand one culture, you’ll open up to many others as well,” Bal notes, pointing out that their work has even resonated with non-South Asian communities. “We’re not aliens,” she adds with a laugh, underscoring the universality of the issues they discuss.
One of the key achievements of Changing Suits has been its success in creating spaces for conversation—whether through its podcast or workshops. These initiatives have had tangible impacts on the lives of community members. "We do chair exercises for the elderly in the South Asian community," Bal shares. "We recently had someone tell us that their mother-in-law, who never goes out, started attending the sessions just for these exercises. That’s fantastic. It’s about more than just physical health—it's also about mental well-being and creating social circles."
Workshops, whether they focus on art, physical exercise, or other activities, often become spaces for community members to open up about difficult topics. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants forming friendships and support systems that last beyond the workshops. "Whether we're talking about fertility, mental health, or other sensitive subjects, we’re making space for those conversations. It’s always gratifying when people tell us, 'That really helped.'"
Despite the positive feedback, Changing Suits faces ongoing challenges—particularly when it comes to breaking down systemic barriers. One recurring issue is the "tick-box" approach that some service providers take when trying to engage with minority communities. “We’ve had events where 150 women attended, but the session was conducted entirely in English,” Bal says. “Many of those women didn’t understand what was being said. We need to get away from this tick-box exercise. If it’s not having the right impact on the community, then it’s a waste of time and money.”
Bal believes that both service providers and the South Asian community need to make shifts in mindset. "Service providers need to learn more about the communities they serve. But at the same time, our community needs to be more willing to reach out for support.”
Bal came to CIC after being referred to the Impact Awards by an existing CIC charity partner. “We didn’t have the capacity to do proper marketing, like many non-profits,” she says. "We needed support, and CIC gave us that.”
Through the CIC Impact Award, Changing Suits was paired with Jordan Borg, a communications strategist who worked with them to develop a messaging framework. “Jordan was fantastic,” Bal says. “She asked us so many questions that really made us think. She understood why we started the organisation and what we’re trying to achieve. The final messaging framework was great because it gave us a solid base to work from.”
The messaging framework helped Changing Suits refine how they communicate with their audience across different platforms. “It was an eye-opener for me,” Bal admits. “Marketing isn’t just something you throw out there—it’s a process. Now we have templates to start from and a clear strategy in place.”
As Changing Suits continues to grow, Bal and Taj remain committed to their mission of breaking down taboos and creating spaces for conversation in the South Asian community. The partnership with CIC has given them a solid foundation to scale their impact even further. “It’s been a great experience,” Bal says. “I’d recommend working with CIC to any nonprofit because they understand what we’re trying to do and why it’s so important.”
For Bal, the future of Changing Suits is about continuing to bridge the gap between service providers and the community, fostering understanding and ensuring that the South Asian community gets the support it needs. With their passion and commitment to creating change, Bal and Taj are proving that even the most difficult conversations can lead to meaningful impact.
Changing Suits is a community based organisation that aims to break through cultural barriers and get the South Asian community to engage with support services.
Website: www.changingsuits.org