MastTheMagazine LTD Edition 2020

28 The Magazine

Make More Margains

With ken Simpson

Swindon Goan Community With Adorabelle

Kwibuka

With Peninah Achieng-Kindberg

FACE TO FACE WITH Krishna Birdy Kindness

PROJECT PADDY

PEOPLE & PLACES TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Holi Hai Celebration

Rango ke is Tyohar mein sabhi Rango ki ho bharmar

Ramadhan REFLECTIONS Inspiring Communities Bridging Cultures Celebrating Diversity

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“Wi prec all. T gray No a

- Ko

28 PR & Marketing Mast The Magazine Features: Junior S. Big Q Adorabelle S. Penninah Achieng-Kindberg Vinod Shrestha Anndeloris Chacon Ken Simpson Malkit Rooprai Najma Buno

Proof Reading R. Sheikh

Creative Design S. Windle

Print Setting B. Skuse

Website M. Wyatt

Photography S. Ahmed K. Bharij S. Bhamra Junior S.

Cover Feature M. Dalal

Administration J. Clark Mast-The-Magazine @mastmagz Mast the Magazine Mast the Magazine

Hello all,

+44 07807802325 www.mtmawards.co.uk info@mtmawards.co.uk

We thank all communities that have supported the magazine since inception in 2009. Thank You all. The concept of Mast The Magazine was conceived as a supplement to the already popular Radio Mast FM. It launched in October 2009 by its founder Big Q, alongside Junior Sheikh.

“Winning takes precedence over all. There's no gray area.

No almosts.”

- Kobe Bryant

In 2012, the team launched an award incentive for the South West Asian communities; the MTM Awards. Since then, the MTM Awards have opened up to include all Asian, Black, and Ethnic communities.

This is our first edition for this new decade; and as always the first edition of the year promotes the MTM Awards, which were held on December 15th last year at the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, and was attended by a multitude of diverse communities, local, regional, national & international.

Stay Safe in these Uncertain Times #MastTheMagazine

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Inside Our Local Community with Adorabelle Shaikh

G

oans are multilingual, but mainly speak the Konkani language, a Prakrit based language belonging to the Southern group of Indo-Aryan Languages. Various dialects of Konkani are spoken by the Goans which include Bardezkari, Saxtti, Pednekari and Antruz.

The Konkani spoken by the Catholics is notably different from those of the Hindus, since it has a lot of Portuguese influence in its vocabulary.

Swindon Goan Community still in its infancy, was an idea that stemmed from a group of volunteers who wanted to do more & give back to the community. Age is no barrier, & this group is perfect example as we have volunteers who are as young as 8 years old to 45. A burning passion to do more, & keep going is all you need to sign up and be a part of the change.

Goan’s continue to be the largest ethnic minority living in Swindon, & we wanted to create a platform to give back to the communities who live in Swindon. So far we have arranged Food Bank collections, organised Senior Citizens Clubs, Community Clean ups & support various other charities. Most recently, we raised funds for Threshold in Swindon to help those who are homeless.

I’m proud to be having friends who teamed up in Swindon Team members: Cllr. Adorabelle, Ana, Merveny, Yvette, Trever, Savio, Jesse, Darilyn, Aarron, Pearl & other volunteers.

Not forgetting Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh who is our motivation and the main person who brought us all together to use our qualities to help all communities in Swindon.

Our favourite session has to be the Senior Citizens Club that is run monthly with the help of these volunteers. It’s a fantastic way to get our older generation out, speaking & socialising more, eradicating fears and coming out of their shell. Our guest speakers range from visits from Nurses from NHS, talking about the importance of diets, to Financial Experts, who share a wealth of knowledge (free of charge) on Mortgages, Online Safety, the importance of wills etc.

The smiles on the faces of people who have found these sessions, and the people who get in touch to thank us for lending a helping hand or a listening ear is what makes all our volunteers do more.

Swindon Goan Community holds Christmas Sessions for Senior Citizens. We had carol singers, tea coffee & snacks which was a lovely way to end the year.

Live music from volunteers who come to play instrumental music from Goa, which makes them remember all their time spent back home and can be quite nostalgic!

Some of our volunteers get together once every month.

We bring our children with us at each opportunity we can, so they learn the importance of community strength, hard work and that its more important to give than receive.

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MTM AWARDS

Finalist 2019

Bazil Solomon “I stand up for all our communities by championing their rights, needs and hopes and looking after them with kindness and a love of all people. I build consensus and action about the struggles of our minority communities, language barriers and child care for our mums with my work through our Swindon Equalities Coalition and VAS Voluntary Action Swindon.”

Bazil

grew up and schooled in South Africa when apartheid was coming to an end, and a Democratic country was emerging. He continuously worked closely with all cultures in South Africa and coming from mixed Indian and British heritage with my families moving to South Africa in the 1820s. He migrated to Swindon 20 years ago.

Since moving to Swindon Bazil has strived to make sure a great democracy becomes a reality for everyone in the UK and worldwide.

His experiences and the lack of opportunities for all races in South Africa and the abilities he developed help him take a stand for social justice and civil society. They have relevance to his role as a local councillor in Swindon, and continue to influence South Africa through his connections there. All hiscommunities deserve better.

Bazil is the Swindon Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South Ward and the Parish Councillor for Nythe, Eldene and Liden parish in Swindon.

“I work effectively and closely with the community, and I am on the children’s social, health and education committee; Communities of place and SACRE religions wherein I help to scrutinise the Swindon Borough Council. I believe that every child and every person in our British ethnic heritage communities must have the opportunity to grow, develop,

feel secure and live a fulfilled and purposeful life.”

He has promoted projects and stood side by side with many a person as he implements and continues pursuing these goals for community development. These goals are by no means easy nor straightforward. There are challenges.

“I grew up in South Africa and was involved in the liberation struggle against apartheid and now in their many movements to bring security and social justice in a civic society. I have seen how government policies and things that divide people can cause a few to have all whilst others that are different must suffer. Diversity and Inclusion is the way to go.”

As a child of the years of Mandela Bazil was taught to believe in the decency of all living beings, “I was taught to treat all humans with respect. I was taught dividing people and allowing injustice to grow must never be allowed. Evil thrives when good people do not act. We must take a stand in our communities daily and then sit down and help build a civic society for all.”

This year he stood up for the Nepalese community who had become the victims of crime and hate in Park South, Swindon . Bazil launched a campaign and worked with the NAW Nepalese Association, the police force and the Police & crime commissioner Angus McPherson. to get issues for our people resolved.

Association Errahma MTM AWARDS

Finalist 2019

Building a social platform for the disabled Our driving force is our belief in the capacity of these weakened social layers weakened by the sight and behavior of society.

Since its inception in 2002, our organization has focused on finding ways and means for empowering and including girls and children with disabilities to end all kinds of discrimination, exclusion, stigma and stereotypes of which they were victims. As a result, it turned out that the only way out of this labyrinth is the education, learning and training of these young girls and children with disabilities in order to to enable them to take charge of themselves and to express their co-determination and to impose their rights on socio-economic integration.

We have created two childcare centers, three classes for girls and children with disabilities excluded by the public and private education systems because of their vulnerability and disability in three rural communes namely the communes. Azilal, Bni Ayate and Bzou, while ensuring access to paramedical services: kenesitherapetie, speech therapy and motor and psychomotor education as well as school transportation. At the same time, we have created activities generating income for the mothers of these girls and children in a situation of disability for their empowerment and integration in the fields of cutting and sewing, the modernization of the production of natural spices, tapestry and pastry in close collaboration with different stakeholders in the organization.

Our key strengths are: • The staff of the association composed of different people with multiple disciplines in various fields. our team brings together volunteers, benches, contractors and employees.

• The headquarters and premises available to the association, whether they are the ones that the association has rented for example the main office and the bakery, or those put at its disposal by its partners.

• The network of partners and stakeholders of the association at local, national and international levels.

• Capacity building of our team in collaboration with our partners in various themes and areas.

• The purchase of 4168 square meters of land thanks to the With And For Girls organization prize in 2017 for the construction and equipping of a social complex for girls and children with disabilities.

ind us on Facebook

Our sc hool offers fun for everyo ne there is , making sur e someth in those who ar g for e less able

Christmas term ends: Saturday 10th December

End of term presentation Our classes cover everything from traditional West End musical theatre On our final dayto of street term, Saturday we invite parents, through dance,10th popDecember, singing and acting for friends and family to join us for our end of term presentation at Yate International Academy. camera.

Students gain valuable insights into the There are no regular razz classes on this day. industry with regular special guest workshops led by Razzexperienced Minis only (Age 3 - 5) professionals from stage and screen.

Your showcase will be at 11am, arrival time 10:45am. Please arrive in Razz uniform.

Tickets: £3 adults, £2 children, on sale next week!

There is a strong focus on performance opportunities to help students Juniors / Inters / Seniorsdevelop (age 6+) their confidence and We have 2 performances, 3pmevery and 5pm potential and allow child the chance to step into Inters and Seniors your arrival time is: 12pm. Please a drink and the spotlight. The ethos throughout all bring the classes is snack!

Juniors - your arrival time is 1pm. Please bring a drink and snack! on having fun, making new friends and enjoying being Tickets: £6 adults, £3 children, on sale next week! active toboth happy and healthy children.

Students areleading required for performances.

Collection time will be 6:15pm We offer classes for children aged 4 to 18 years old and there is no audition process as we like to make sure Chipping Sodbury Victorian Evening performance opportunity everyone is included.

We have been invited to perform in Chipping Sodbury High Street on Saturday 3rd Although it isshould amazing find the next West Enda long Star,sleeved at black top December.

Students wear to Razz uniform (we recommend underneath as it will we be cold!). open to all students, includingskills minis! We Razzamataz focusThis onopportunity building isconfidence and gaining are performing - 6:25pm so please meet of near stage at 6.00pm. for life. Ifata 6:15pm child can perform in front antheaudience then those

skills can be transferred into the workplace and exams, making an interview much easier and a presentation a piece of cake.

Being inclusive and part of a bigger family is a massive plus at Fee Reminder Uniform reminder Razzamataz, and we like to make sure that all our students Please do your best to talk to us if you are Please that Razz should be and note parents feelt-shirts they belong.

having any issues paying your fees on time. worn to classes on Saturdays and to all We will always do whatever we can to performances. We have most sizes in stock We like to offer as many opportunities as possible tosituation, our however there accommodate your to try before you buy priced at £4.99 are now over 25% of students students, to perform in lots of different places such as the who are behind on fees this term.

Hippodrome, Old Vic and Show Case Cinema right through to school fetes and even local Supermarkets. We like to support what is going on around our area and in the community. Most recently we have taken part in Tesco’s Dance beats rising money and awareness.

We have also tried to bring other cultures into our classes and had very successful Bollywood teacher come in to take workshops and give the children a diverse knowledge of dance. These were so successful that now our parents want to come in for a class too. We are now booking an African dance workshop too.

MTM AWARDS

Finalist 2019

Imam Hassan My principle duties involve leading the daily prayers,

delivering Friday sermons and educating children at the evening madressah classes as well as during the daytime at Al-Ashraf primary school.

I act as a first port of call for members of the community regarding spiritual, religious, social or other guidance.

As part of my role, I have developed a mosque visits service and have worked with over 150 schools, colleges, universities and community organisations in the South West.

Imam Hassan visits local primary and secondary schools, public and private sector organisations to deliver assemblies and workshops do develop awareness and understanding of Islam and Muslims in the UK besides hosting groups from local schools and other organisations who visit the mosque.

He also organises open days for members of the public so they are also able to visit the mosque and learn more about Muslims.

Imam Hassan is a regular at BBC Radio Gloucester and other media outlets to take part in programs and shows.

He also represent the Muslim community at events within Gloucestershire, such as at Holocaust Memorial Day Service, Remembrance Day Service and have also been fortunate to work with the Bishop of Gloucester and Gloucester Cathedral in general at multi-faith events.

In March 2014, Imam Hassan set up a charity project called Gloucester Helping Hands. The project provides food parcels to those in need in the Gloucestershire area. The food parcels are delivered to recipients fortnightly. As part of this project, he had worked on fundraising ideas with people from the community and also run a soup kitchen style event.

“I have been involved in outreach work with the wider community; developing education services, building bridges and breaking down barriers and have ensured channels of communication are always open between the Muslim

community and the wider community in Gloucestershire and beyond. I am passionate about ensuring that the Muslim community is represented in the wider community. I believe dialogue is the key to mutual love and understanding.”

Imam Hassan’s strengths are in communication with others and developing opportunities for dialogue. He feels there is more scope for me to work with young people in the community, particularly disadvantaged young people from the Muslim community.

MTM AWARDS

Finalist 2019

KWIBUKA With

Peninah Achieng-Kindberg Special feature We Remember Rwanda On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Habyarimana and Burundi’s president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down over the capital city of Kigali, within an hour of the plane crash, the Presidential Guard, together with members of the Rwandan armed forces (FAR) and Hutu militia groups known as the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi set up roadblocks and barricades and began assassinating Tutsis and moderate Hutus with impunity.

Genocides that had taken place in Armenia, Namibia, Cambodia, The Balkans and of course the Jewish Holocaust. Belgium, a former colonial power in Rwanda, sowed the initial seeds of division and hate among Rwandans that led to decades of exclusion, persecution, expulsions and killings against Tutsi, eventually culminating into the 1994 Genocide that claimed the lives of over a million people. It was the Belgian colonialists that introduced fake ethnicities in Rwanda and subsequently introduced ethnic designation on national cards, a key factor that facilitated the killers to easily identify their targets for slaughter twenty-five years ago.

The mass murder ended on the 15th July 1994. This year the Rwandan government held a commemorative ceremony to mark 25 years of recovery after this I was drawn by the memorial gardens that provide tragic event. It was an honour to visit the Genocide a place for quiet contemplation about the history of Memorial Centre in Kigali, the final resting place for the Genocide against the Tutsi. They allow visitors to more than 250,000 people, the emotion created by reflect on how we all have the personal responsibility the visit of this genocide memorial will stay printed to prevent discrimination and mass atrocity. The in my heart forever. It is a place of remembrance gardens that remain imprinted in my mind are the Gardens of Unity, Division & Reconciliation and the and learning and its aim is to prevent future mass Garden of Self Protection, they symbolize the period atrocities and genocides, in Rwanda and the world. th The mass on the 15 July beforeended the Genocide and the Hope-filled Journey that During the tour of the Centre, I learnt about other murder the the country has gone through to Reconciliation.

1994. This year Rwandan government held a commemorative ceremony to mark 25 years of recovery after this tragic event. It was an honour to visit the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali, the final resting place for more than 250,000 people, the emotion created by the visit of this genocide memorial will stay printed in my heart forever. It is a place of remembrance and learning and its aim is to prevent future mass atrocities and genocides, in Rwanda and the

KWIBUKA 25 REMEMBER

I marvel at a country that is so painfully beautiful, filled with lush green plains and mountains that take my breath away, a people who are very kind and friendly, a nation filled with young people because their parents and grandparents were taken too soon, a people who have been so traumatized but live everyday with hope and gratitude, patriotic and loyal to each other. All across Rwanda the message is see is “Kwibuka25 kwibuka twiyubaka”- Kwibuka means ‘Remember’ in Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s language.

TAKE THE HEADACHE OUT OF YOUR PROPERTY We at Brunel Associates pride ourselves in offering exceptional, dedicated customer service, where our client's requirements take priority over all.

I am currently volunteering for Ahazaza an Independent Primary School based in Muhanga District through a placement programme facilitated by the Accounting For International Development on a professional capacity, the children I see every day I walk into the school rush up to me with joyful smiles, looking into their eyes I know that they will never experience the trauma that their parents and grandparents went through, here is Rwanda’s hope for the future, everyone speaks Kinyarwanda and there is no distinction between them. I feel the deepest honour and privilege to share their space.

Kwibuka

means 'to remember' and describes the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

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MTM AWARDS

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EMPOWERING & SUPPORTING YOUNG & ADULT CARERS This new approach and resultant terminology were developed by Anndeloris Chacon following a conversation with a colleague when she shared her understanding of the difference between planning a programme or event where people are expected to participate or engage. From her observation over the years in England it seems that most consultations or events are based on what outcomes the planner wants, and then the participants are asked for their contributions/opinion.

Realising that my approach always allowed individuals to be part of the whole process, with them becoming fully involved. She tried to explain to her colleague that their approach needed to be different, where they were seeking to engage with an individual or community. Whilst explaining the words ‘engage, greet, support and meet’ emerged as the focus of the conversation. This showed that the process starts with the participants and end with them in order to get true change.

The exercise continued with the order of the letters being interchanged, and the anagram G.E.M.S. was formulated.

Greet – this means we should not wait for others to greet us first but break the ice and create an atmosphere of welcome. This in turn makes the individual comfortable with you and lets them know you are there to assist not judge.

Engage – to do this we must be prepared to listen because if you truly want to give assistance or help find a solution this is the first step. Sometimes an individual may have the answer or solution to the issue or situation. Others may need guidance to get to the solution/answer., and still some may need to be given an answer or solution. You can only differentiate what is needed by listening to the person’s or community’s story.

Meet

– to understand the individual or community before we start to give our opinions on what is best. We should help identify what positives exist in the present time with the individual. In that approach there is hope for change to occur.

Support – when you arrive at this point both you and the individual are on the same page. You can move forward to addressing the issue, programme or event with a better understanding of the issue, goals and outcomes. Participation for both sides becomes more balanced.

@BLACKCARERS

Here again was the realisation then and I now understood why someone called me “a people magnet” and another said, “you can get people to listen to you”. This because I listen to them.

Clear communication is the key to understanding what an individual is stating or asking from another person. This becomes confusing at times when the outcomes are not what is expected by those involved in the process of exchanging information.

I also believe there are three meanings that comes out of a conversation - what is said, what is heard and what is understood.

These can often lead to three different interpretations. It is very important that clarification of the information is explored to ensure that the goal and outcome is understood by those involved and can be achieved. Another important aspect is the action/s which follows and identifying who will be responsible for ensuring they are carried out. Assumptions lead to lack of clarity, cross over or no implementation of any actions. Then mistrust steps in and communication breaks down.

Trust is a key factor to getting people on board with positive change, outcome and longevity of relationships, partnerships or collaboration. In my student nurse days, I had a patient who was discharged from the intensive care unit to the ward for preparation to go home. The first morning I met Jennifer she was having bed baths. I introduced myself and asked what she wanted me to do for her. Jennifer stated that she wanted a bed bath because that is what the other nurses were giving her. After her bed bath I discussed with her how she needs to start doing things for herself. We started with sitting up in bed the next day, then sitting out of bed then wheelchair to the bathroom and then she walked to the bathroom. This was accomplished with Greeting Jenifer and making her comfortable with me as her new nurse and a plan on how her care will progress.

Engaging her in the whole process so that she could choose and

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Bristol Black Carers, Castlemead, Lower Castle Street, BristolBS1 3AG Tel: 0117 379 0084

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Anglo European Immigration Services decide what she could do. I met her at the stage of her ability and mobility while giving encouragement each step of the way. Support though holding her hand and using the different aids to help her to get to the point of completely helping herself. The true point of outcome was when a few weeks later, I arrived on my morning shift at five forty-five and the other patients where beckoning me silently to enter the ward. I entered to see Jenifer turning around at the end of the ward to walk back to her bed, this was the first day she had walked on her own.

Recalling my nursing experience and skills with Jennifer. I was able to use my G.E.M.S. Approach to clearly identify the steps that were necessary to help Jennifer back on her feet before she was discharged to her home.

In my current role as Support Worker and Manager, I have seen the effect and impact of the G.E.M.S. approach with the carers and their families.

One such case is a young carer, Noel whose mother, Gail was involved in an accident. Anndeloris sponsored their trip to the seaside and this turned out to be the first time in six years that Noel’ s had been out with him after the accident. Home visit was made after his mother was discharged from hospital. After the visit Gail expressed her gratitude and stated when she is well enough, she would like to volunteer her time to visit others who are house bound like her. This was fantastic to hear and one day she visited the office on her two crotches to reaffirm her commitment.

Anndeloris recognised this as the G.E.M.S approach not in that sequence but every aspect was at work.

• Spouse/Fiancé Visa • Visa Sponsorship Statements • Visitors/Family Visa • Visa Extensions/Transfers • Dependents Visa • Indefinite Stay Visa • Students-Points Based System • Certificate of Approval • Work Permits-Points Based System • British Nationality • British Passport • Attesting Documents • Home Office Travel Documents • Employer or Educational Sponsor License • Home Office Related Correspondence • Home Office Related Research • APPEALS: Referral Panel • European Nationals (EEA)

I strongly believe that each person is a gem that shines, sparkles and gives this world the joy of our unique attributes. We should embrace our commonalities and differences just like the gems we know and still discovering.

I would like each person to remember that our journeys are not the same and the paths we take lead us in many directions. This is what has made us the GEMS that we are and sometimes we may have to dig deeper to find some GEMS. Do not give up on journey because you can shine at the end in your own way.

Anndeloris Chacon

HFZ. ZAHEER SHABIR LLB T: (HONS) 0117 9413991 • 07711957425 hmzs.pab@hotmail.com 437 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6NA

MTM AWARDS

WINNER 2014 PROFESSIONAL AWARD ZAHEER SHABBIR

MTM AWARDS

Finalist

I raise awareness

for both Crohn’s and Colitis and Body Confidence.

As a model I understand the stigma of looking ‘Photoshop perfect’ and since my life changing operation and a near death experience with both kidney failure, sepsis and a stoma bag which has left me with a large scars on my stomach and on medication which has changed my appearance I want the world to see that real woman come in all shapes and sizes, we are all beautiful and need to be represented in the fashion world.

I have given people the strength to love themselves and realise they are not alone. I will be working (volunteer role) with the local hospital, the local stoma nurses have asked if I could talk to young people who have either diagnosed with Crohn’s or Colitis or have an ileostomy (which I had for 12 months), the fact I have continued to model will hopefully give them hope that life can continue as before.

I am not embarrassed to talk about anything I have gone through or even the fact sometimes I do poo in public without being able to make it to the toilet.

I am very open about anything I go through mentally or physically so that others can relate and know they are not alone.

I held a fashion show (February 2019) to raise money for Crohn’s and Colitis and Brighter future charity for GWH hospital (in Swindon), it was unique as I used real people with stoma bags and Crohn’s like me on the runway. I also held a Body Confidence shoot and invited people through social media who felt ‘different’.

The response was fantastic from all ages from people with invisible illnesses, stomas, self-harm marks, scars, stutters and autism. The next Body Confidence 2 shoot is planned for October.

I have just started an online e-newsletter with monthly questions on Crohn’s and my experiences; I also invite people to submit articles.

By

Natalie Amber

Doaa Shayea

MTM AWARDS

Special Recognition

I have been a wheelchair racer since I was 12 years old, competing all around the country and with a dream of

the Paralympics. Being all the way in Plymouth and the only athlete to have to travel such a long way, I never had the chance of funding support like my fellow competitors for travelling abroad and fees for training kits. I was never able to have as much support from my small area as possible but unfortunately it wasn't enough.

Regardless of this difficulty, I still was one of the best and racing with the top Paralympic athletes even beating them. I did what I could with what I had. I then took up the beauty business and had my own. Being a freelance beautician and working with women to give them their desired looks and confidence!

The more I got into my business and wanted to work in shops and makeup counters, it become apparent to me that the world looks at my disability more than at me and my capabilities. So again, being the person that I am that doesn't give up and will not be defeated by the world (like it has felt that world has wanted me to). I am now looking at a different pathway - and that is to change the WORLDS perception on disability and on people who have disabilities. To not assume and judge and MOST IMPORTANTLY to educate the world and bring awareness for people like me, people who don't have the voice. I want to be their voice.

The difference I feel I have brought to the community that I serve; perseverance,determination and the knowledge of never giving up no matter what horrific circumstance life has put you in. To get up and keep fighting no matter how many reasons you have to just stay down. I am a leader, an educator, and show that pain doesn't always have to turn you into a bad human being if you take the bad that's happened to you and turn it into something positive. My weakness would be Asking for help. I have learnt to only ever depend on me and me alone. Allowing others to help when it is needed, I immensely struggle to let happen.

My objective over the next one to three years would be to be the person I feel I was born to be and that is a leader, a world changer, and make people think of people like me without sympathy but admiration. To be seen as a force of strength not someone to be pitied.

Winning the MTM special recognition award gives me some sort of indication that what I am doing is being recognized and that people want to see a change and not just brush someone like me off. I have been on the news and had a mini documentary made about me and what I am about and on the news for trying to show awareness about people with physical disabilities recently, and I won a BAME Trailblazer award early last year.

MTM AWARDS

Finalist

Krishna Birdy at

PACE Charitable Trust

I am the Founding Trustee of PACE Charitable Trust, a club that has grown from offering a variety of sports and leisure activities to young disabled people and their siblings to an organization that offers bespoke physical activity programmes to community groups and day centres supporting adults with severe and complex health and communication difficulties.

I am responsible for the coordination, overall management and direction of the club. The Foundation PACE is based on is Active Participation, for example, for one member it may be about doing a gross motor swing with their arm, the cricket bat held for them allowing them to experience movement whilst for another member it may be about hitting the ball to improve hand-eye coordination. All our volunteers are fully trained to support participants, regardless of ability levels to actively participate in sport. Our in-house training is now also delivered to other clubs and organizations in the community. This training and experience has also aided many of our volunteers in their chosen professions, some who have progressed to become doctors, teachers, therapists and coaches.

Developing and ensuring PACE’s sustainability, involves keeping upto date with current legislation, ensuring all policies and procedures are followed and the ethos of the club remains at the forefront. Its financial viability is

secured by the two main fundraising events held each year, including the popular pace4PACE Fun Run. Constant sourcing of opportunities to give our members the best chance to progress in an area of their choice, whether they be participants or volunteers is always sought.

Two examples of recent successes are, a young man with cerebral palsy who joined PACE when he was 13, progressed to becoming a volunteer, then Team Leader and shortly after, completed his Boccia Coaching Level 1 Course. After managing to secure funding for an internship for him for a year, he began coaching in the community, gained his Level 2 and has made his post sustainable by delivering sessions in the community. Also, another young person with mental illness and physical disability who with support from PACE, became motivated to progress in Boccia and five years later is competing at International level, representing England and winning medals. The positive impact on the confidence and independence of these two lives is immeasurable.

By 2018, PACE had supported over 8,000 people, disabled and non-disabled, to access a variety of sports and physical activity programmes and built a strong reputation for delivering bespoke physical activity programmes to schools, day centres and even corporate organisations.

What difference have you brought to the communities/markets you serve?

PACE has provided opportunities for disabled people to gain employment, improve their confidence, physical function, communication skills and personal development all leading to a better quality of life and independence. This can be demonstrated by the success of our members, some who have gained employment as community coaches, won medals at international competitions and where services are delivered to community organisations, staff have reported, over time, physical improvements in their service users.

Parents of disabled children are able to meet regularly to share information, resources and be signposted to services and benefits they may be entitled to.

What is your driving force?

My driving force is my daughter, her right to freedom, choice, opportunity and happiness.

What do you consider to be your key strengths?

I am highly motivated and have a small but strong support network. It is this support network that allows to me develop opportunities and drive the club. Also, the values my parents instilled in me help guide me and challenge injustices in society.

What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

Personal responsibilities have not allowed me much freedom in my own life. Time constraints that are placed on me due to being a fulltime carer have led to PACE growing organically rather than me driving its development proactively. However, I look at this organic growth as positive and perhaps that is why PACE has been so successful.

Based on your answers to the above, how would you like to be perceived?

As being fair, unbiased and able to provide opportunities for those members marginalised in society to reach their potential in an area of their choice.

Have you introduced or implemented any projects, services, or events recently?

Aim to increase our service delivery and ensure our Boccia A Team remains in the Super League and the Boccia B Team continues qualifying for the National Finals each year.

In 1986, becoming a mum of a disabled child with cerebral palsy, I found myself challenging authority and society, with its negative attitudes towards disability, just to get basic human rights for Kavita (my daughter), ensuring she played a full and active role in society and education. From the age of 15 months, she began a programme of therapies from the Bobath school, which she still follows.

After finally managing to get Kavita admitted to a mainstream school with a complete overhaul of her Special Educational Needs Statement, a steady stream of parents of disabled children began approaching me for support to help get them the appropriate provision for their child whether it be education, access to services or specialist equipment. I set up FAISE (Facilitating Active Inclusion in Secondary Education) to support not only families but also local authorities and schools on how to actively include those with severe health and complex communication into the school community.

From my work with families of disabled children, a lack of community provision, physical and mental function, social skills and communication was highlighted. Using my experiences, I set up a small club where my daughter could socialize with her friends and their siblings. Gaining the support of the London Forum for Disabled People, Disability Equality in Education and A2Dominion Housing, I secured a venue and delivered the first session of sports and games in June 2004.

PACE began winning awards and mushroomed into a club, offering a wide range of sports and physical activity programs.

MTM AWARDS

Posthumous Award

Remembering

Vasuben Kathrecha

Our dear Mother, Vasuben Kathrecha was born on 01-October-1931 in Nairobi, Kenya. She was 1 of 6 Sisters and 4 Brothers born to Valji Mawji and Maniben Bakrania. She married Jayantilal Gordandas Kathrecha in Nairobi at the age of 17 in a wedding attended by Jomo Kenyatta, who later became President of Kenya. They later moved to live in Tororo, Uganda and became Parents to 1 Son and 4 Daughters.

Although Vasuben was a typical Indian house-wife, she had social interests including being a member of the Lions Club (where she played Badminton), being a member of the Ladies Club (which helped raise funds for charities and the Temple, through various social activities).

She moved to England in 1972 during the exodus as refugees and stayed in Army camps in Yeovil, along with fellow refugees and later her husband got a job in Bristol, where we the family settled and Vasuben worked at the Brooks Laundrette for some years.

“Our Parents were actively engaged with the Bristol Hindu community and helped to raise funds to buy the Bristol Hindu Temple. As part of a Team of volunteers, they always worked hard doing SEVA to set up the Temple for the Community.”

Vasuben joy was her passion for cooking, which she always took great pride in. With her close friends, they would cook lovely food for hundreds of people during any events in the community. It filled her with joy to know that so many people always enjoyed her food (especially her special Dhaar).

She was also Mother to the University Students during their time in Bristol. She would look after them during exam time or when they were not feeling well by cooking food for them.

As they were so far from home, Vasuben would always invite them to her house during Diwali time and other festivals.

She was always ready for SEVA at the Temple, which she did passionately until the age of 85. She was happy to carry on, but unfortunately, she couldn’t because of health reasons, though suffering from ill health for 3-years, the Late Vasuben Kathrecha was still strong and she would fight her difficulties to the end.

“Our dear Mother has left a great and long lasting legacy to the people of Bristol, who also knew her as Aishwarya Rai. We are sure that she will be greatly missed by all whose hearts she touched. Mum treated us equally and has made us all who we are today, Mum was our pride and we are all very proud to have had her in our lives.

We love you Mum – thanks for everything. May you be with your loved ones and be at peace. You’ll always be in our hearts”, Bharti & Usha Kathrecha.

MTM AWARDS

Posthumous Award

Remembering Joyce Stephenson Unfortunately this award comes at a time when she is no longer with us, however this does not diminish the support that she gave Paul Stephenson over the long period of their partnership. Dr Stephenson was one of three men who helped change the course of history in Bristol and the UK forever and has been praised during the awards by Lenny Henry. Dr Stephenson helped highlight the racism black people faced every day in this country and led the victorious Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963. In 1988 Stephenson received the Bristol City Council Community Award for Achievement and Services Rendered to the Black Community and the West Indian Community Publishers Award. Further awards include the Bristol West African and Caribbean Council Community Achievers’ Award (1996), and the city council’s One Person Can Make a Difference Award (2006). There is a saying that Behind Every Great Man There Is A Woman.

Joyce Stephenson has been with Paul in all these journeys, always accompanying and supporting him at every step of the stage. Always the dutiful wife - I recall one evening in London where Paul was set to receive an award and he turned round to Joyce to ask for her assurance that he had made a difference - she was his constant companion, elevating him and even at the age of 82, having been married for 54 years Joyce passed away having spent her life beside one of Bristol’s legends.

Kindness Project Paddy

Paddy Garner has served in the Royal Navy for 16 years, a very proud veteran, would not ask of anything but has the attitude to get on with the life and help others in abundance.

But the continuous lack of self-care this 60 year old veteran, still suffering from PTSD of losing his fellow friends when HMS Coventry sunk during the Falkland war in 1982.

It is sad that he slipped through the net of Charity and support Network, and now is in a terrible situation. We come to the conclusion that he is in no position to better himself, and needed our help to give him his dignity and deserving living condition, by improving his house, which had become beyond human living.

Many builders, merchants and volunteers, veterans and Forces Charities Veterans Contact Point (VCP), SSAFA, Naval Benevolent Fund, communities Sikh Union Coventry and Nepalese Community came together to help him.

He is still in medication and recovering from the illness, we handed him his house on Sunday 23 Feb after nearly 3 months of arduous collective work to refurbish making the house safe and liveable.

It was an emotional moment to hand the key back to Paddy. I kind of fell in love with his house, which needed a little love and care. We are grateful for all the support from local Veterans, incredible volunteers, Communities, builder merchants and service Charities.

So, what did I learn from this Project?

1. Depression is real and it takes people down with it.

2. There are still few people left, who will go extra mile to help people in their difficulty.

3. Take care of yourself and the things that you have.

Thank you all for supporting Project Paddy. We have given Paddy a safe and livable house. It has been an unforgettable Project.

Vinod Shrestha

Chinese Community Wellbeing Society A New Year and A New Name!

As Bristol and Avon Chinese Women's Group (BACWG) approaches the 31st Anniversary of its formation, we are excited to announce that our name will be changing imminently. When the final administrative procedures and tasks are completed, we will henceforth be known as the Chinese Community Wellbeing Society (CCWS).

The group was set up in 1989 to support Chinese women who had nowhere else to turn to due to language and/or cultural barriers. Over the years, this work has expanded beyond its original remit to also help the families of those Chinese women. After extensive engagement and consultation with our members it was felt that this new name would be more representative of the community that we now serve.

The organisation has been registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity registration number 1181750), which potentially opens up new avenues of opportunities.

Even with our new name and its subsequent incorporation, our core work will remain the same.

Our projects – such as the Chinese Lantern Project Helpline, Carers Project, Bristol Meets the World – Food and Nutrition Project and Casework Surgery – will continue to work with and advocate on behalf of the Chinese and east Asian communities in Bristol and across the whole of the south western region.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Voscur and TrustLaw, who provided advice and guidance throughout this process.

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is “Rango ke ein sabhi Tyohar m ar, ho bharm Rango ki n se i khushiyo ahi Dher saar sar, Y aapka san an bhara ho hai Bhagw dil se dua li o H har bar, se hamari ho mere Mubarak Yaar!”

!

Holi is considered as one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country.

It is also sometimes called as the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feeling towards each other. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun.

It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country it is known with different names.

The vibrancy of colours is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a day worth rejoicing.

Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm.

The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad.

On the day of Holi people play with colours with their friends and families and in evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer.

There are a host of traditional delicacies that are relished on Holi Festival making the occasion even more enjoyable

Saankhein Ingredients : 1 cup soaked chana dal 1/3 cup soaked moong dhuli 1/3 cup soaked urad dhuli 1/3 cup soaked arhar dal 1/2 tsp asafoetida 1 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ajwain oil for deep-frying salt to taste Method: 1. Grind the soaked lentils to a doughlike consistency without using water. Make the dough a little grainy.

2. Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients and shape the dough into slightly flat rounds.

3. Heat oil over high flame, put in as many balls as fit in without their touching each other. Turn after about 10 seconds and lower heat. Cook to make it firm but do not turn them brown.

4. Keep it aside to cool down and cut them into thick slices.

Now, deep-fry the slices and make them crisp before serving. Serve with green chutney.

RAMADHAN What is Ramadhan?

The month-long observance will see Muslims fasting from sunrise-to-sunset, reciting verses from the Quran and attending prayer sessions. For many of those observing Ramadan, It is a time to become closer to God. It is also a time of joy and for spending time with one’s family, and giving to charity and those in need.

As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Muslims believe Ramadhan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, selfcontrol, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat).

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur’an.

Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur’an by means of special prayers, called Taraweeh, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur’an is recited. Therefore the entire Qur’an would be completed at the end of the month.

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty, so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasts. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns.

Lastly, those travelling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.

Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy

gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it.

At sunset, the family will gather for the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar. The meal starts with the ritual eating of a date.

Charity is very important in Islam. This is a time when Muslims give plenty to charities and in the UK charity oganisations travel across the country collecting donations in Mosques and others use the media such as the temporary licensed Ramadhan Radio Stations, that have mushroomed in UK broadcasting, propagating the meaning of Ramadhan.

Laylat al-Qadr : Sometimes referred to as “the night of decree or measures”, is considered the most holy night of the year. Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is believed to have occurred on an oddnumbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

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Shining Care Ltd was established in 2015 as an independent care service focused on providing inclusive home and personal care for the elderly & young adults DOMICILIARY CARE We also welcome clients affected by mental health issues such as dementia or those with disabilities.

All our staff are DBS checked and can also provide Somali Translation Services.

Other Services Include •

Personal care such as dressing and bathing.

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Shopping and meal preparation Meals out and other social activities •

Arranging appointments

PERSONAL CARE Our range of services is intended to meet the needs of older adults, young people and children who need caring services at their homes.

SOCIAL CARE Our home care services are provided by locally based and experienced staff to match the support you need to ensure you remain in control of your own care.

Email: info@shiningcare.co Call (0117) 325 1275 Shining_Care1

Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 17:00 PM Shining Care LTD. The Old Co Op, 38-42 Chelsea Road, Bristol, BS5 6AF

S

hinning Care ltd is based in Bristol. They are a home care organisation providing services for diverse people in Bristol.

Shining Care are the first Somali led caring provider in the area.

We met with the director Mahamed Dalal and manager Mahmoud Matan to talk about how they started. They highlighted the importance of services they provide, what they offer to Bristol’s multicultural community and motivation behind providing care provisions in Bristol.

Mahamed explained how he used to care for his mum, “It’s in our culture to take care of our elders” I didn’t have any support available to me and this is the case with many of the BAME communities.

It was clear, talking to both men that this was an issue that was personal and something that they wanted to start to help their community to access services that are very much needed. Mahmoud went on to explain “we identified that this was an issue, so we sat down to think about what we should do. Mahamed stated “We put our self through certain courses, Shining Care Ltd registered in 2015, and as described by Mahmoud, “we started slowly” ensuring they were up to the entire correct standard required by both local authorities, the Care Quality Commission and industry standards. “We took a lot of time to get it right, we worked with GP’s and attended many consultations to see what is needed as well as visiting care homes and liaising with other local care organisations.

Mahamed explained that the company has seen great growth since they started, “in the last two years we have seen growth” he said. “This shows that there was a need within the communities for a caring company”.

Shining Care trains new carers and provides local jobs that people may not have had access to. He went on to say, “we could see that people were not getting jobs in the care industry”. We asked what he thought the reasons for this are. He felt that other organisation do not look outside their traditional methods of recruiting.

One of the main aspects of Shining Care is delivery of accredited in-house training. This includes Health and Social care, Health and safety, ICT and Communication skills.

Mahmoud explains “before any of our staff undertake a caring role, we ensure they are fully trained to a high standard to ensure they understand the role and can undertake their work at a high level’ “We have trained more than 50 employees who are now professional carers, the employee waiting list is long” says Mahmoud, and we work with the Job Centre and are invited to and attend many job fairs.

NVQ level 1, 2 & 3 health and social care Some of our staff have fully qualified and have moved on to careers in nursing and healthcare. We are also working with closing with organisations in Bristol to identify other health issues and needs within ours and the wider community.

We started with two people that we cared for, now we are delighted to care for many people around Bristol. In the future we would like to expand Shining Care further into other cities.

MTM 2020: When you decide you’re going to win, its not about luck... ...it’s about making that decision MTM Awards is already established as the premier Asian, Black & Ethnic Community event in the South West.

Welcoming over 4000 people across diverse communities at the Glittering Gala Award Evening, 4500 nominees participating and with over 135,000 voters engaging in the online voting process since inception in 2012.

MTM Awards is a leading player in promoting and honouring diverse businesses and community groups and are renowned for pushing boundaries and offering audiences a world class Glittering Gala Award Evening and nominees an extraordinary experience and platform to showcase their excellence & achievements in business and community work.

We are now a national, and international award body.

We have provided a platform for grass root artistes and have support various community inspired projects.

We are set to be a world class awards ceremony with the introduction of the National Award for Excellence & Achievement, and an International Award for Excellence & Achievement 2016.

These awards have opened doors for the South West’s best and brightest businesses nationally. Building on the success of MTM Awards 2019, we are delighted to offer our stand-out awards night in 2020, celebrating the essence of business and culture across our diverse, rich, ethnic communities.

We are now one of the biggest award ceremonies that celebrates the excellence & achievements of Asian, Black & Ethnic communities.

The awards are handed out to winners by celebrity guests at a perfect setting for networking in a uniquely cultural environment at the Bristol Marriott Hotel. The venue is transformed into a glittering gala evening with a starstudded line up of entertainment, exquisite dining and celebrity guests, all present to raise the profile of the event to a global audience.

MTM Awards has helped create awareness for various projects and charities, since 2012 we have created awareness for Help For Heroes and supported and created awareness

for a number of charities both in the UK and across international waters, that include; Campaign Against The Slaughter of the African Elephant, where in 2017 we organised a 10 day Awareness Walk from London to Bristol to create awareness, in 2018 we supported Prostate Cancer UK. We also supported and officially launched Plastic Pollution Awareness & Action Project and supported Families Relief UK, a charity that helps and supports people in conflict zones and in 2019 our Chosen Charity was Dementia UK.

grabs which include National and International Awards for Excellence & Achievement.

MTM Awards provides you with the opportunity to engage with thriving business cultures, spanning International waters, as well as those on our doorstep. We’re on a mission to change perceptions and give exposure opportunities to small and medium businesses, attract new talent in media and music showcasing the potential of diverse communities.

MTM Awards will give you an opportunity to network with diverse communities, opening new avenues for your already established brand and organisation.

Special Recognition awards are presented to businesses and communities, other than the Asian, Black and Ethnic Community groups.

Since inception in August 2012 the community response has been phenomenal.

Our brand Ambassadors in different towns and cities further market our partners at every possible opportunity, and are always on hand to assist our nominees all the way through from initial nomination to the Glittering Gala Award Evening.

The awards are spread over seven categories with all the awards up for

The categories have been carefully crafted based on our thriving Asian, Black and Ethnic businesses and community organisations, also extended to our stand-out citizens, supporting our young people, services, culture, and environment.

All the awards, across seven categories are available for sponsorship, and are open for nominations.

We are unrivalled in that we receive a remarkable number of nominations each year, and our voting is in the thousands via our online system.

Become an MTM Awards Partner to enjoy imminent exposure, and substantial promotional opportunities.

Our partnership prides itself on concentrated diligence towards our partners, taking extreme care in promotions, marketing, exposure, idea generation and implementation.

MTM Awards 2020 nominations: please contact admin@mtmawards.co.uk

MTM

Celebrating the excellence & achievements of the Asian, Black & Ethnic communities.

AWARDS

#GottaBeInItToWinIt

People & Places

Bristol Gem Anndeloris Chacon, who hails from these islands, takes us on a tour of these beautiful heavens.

Visited the hospital and hostel where I trained. San Fernando General Hospital. This is the original building but there are more with its expansion over the years. The hostel is closed and the sign brings back memories.

Trinidad and Tobago The islands of Trinidad and Tobago both have tropical beaches, steamy rain forest and amazing wildlife but are far from identical twins.

Day out after the rain with my batch mates. We have started the count of knowing each other for almost 40 years which will be on 7th January 2020.

Thank you Lord for our friendship with each person in our BCNP 15.

Went out walking today , shopped a little, then bought some Street food doubles, aloo pie and saheena, with coconut icecream. The sun is shining bright. Love it!!

The two parts of this twin-island nation in many ways couldn’t be more different.

Trinidad, multicultural heartland of the southern Caribbean, is busy, developed and partly industrialised. Port of Spain, its cosmopolitan capital, lays on the Caribbean’s largest and wildest carnival, an amazing spectacle and an intense experience.

When I did my art exam I drew a plant like this. Memories of being in secondary school.

Boarding the ferry to Tobago

Memories saw me starting my Saturday morning with roast corn at the market with my friends. Breakfast was fruit salad - watermelon on the side with pineapple, cucumber and apple salad seasoned with lemon and chadon beni/bhandhania.

This is Harris Promenade plenty changes but great to see the last train to San Fernando in 1965 is still there. Photos taken after 18.00

What a beautiful day for soaking in the sea water. I definitely went in, it was fun,

The goats strolling in the street, trees protecting the coast line through their nature as we cannot touch those trees, the birds on the table, then the sky showing two faces - clear and cloudy.

Trinidad also has some of the world’s best birdwatching, notably in the rainforest at the Asa Wright Nature Centre and the Caroni Bird Sanctuary swamp, a roosting spot for thousands of scarlet ibises. With frequent, short flights between the islands, holidays combining Trinidad and Tobago are easy.

Trinidad and Tobago is well known for its African and Indian cultures, reflected in its large and famous Carnival and Diwali celebrations, as well being the birthplace of steelpan, the limbo, and music styles such as calypso, soca, and chutney soca.

Jamaica has jerk and Cuba criollo, but Trinidad trumps both with its unique blend of Indian heat and Caribbean soul food. The most authentic place to sample local favourites including doubles (doughy flatbread wrapped around chickpea curry) and buss-up-shut (crab or pigtail served with roti ripped like a “busted up shirt”) can be found on the streets of Port of Spain.

ARE SANITARY PADS A LUXURY? Students at schools, colleges and universities across Scotland will have access to free sanitary products as part of a £5.2m scheme to fight period poverty.

The Scottish government is the first in the world to make sanitary products available free to all of its 395,000 pupils and students to help “banish the scourge of period poverty” - when girls and women struggle to pay for basic sanitary products on a monthly basis, significantly affecting their hygiene, health and wellbeing.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will promise to axe the widely-unpopular levy when the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, ‘tampon tax’ will be abolished in the Budget with VAT no longer charged on sanitary products from the start of next year.

Menstruation is perhaps one of the most ordinary individual female experiences but, in subSaharan Africa, the experience often impacts society as a whole negatively due to the absence of clean water, sanitation, and products to cope with menstrual flow.

The natural process of menstruation comes as a big problem to women and girls in many parts of Africa, contributing to both disempowerment and health risks. For young girls, menstruation is an addition to the heap of gender disparities they have to face in life.

In order to stem the flow of monthly periods, the women and girls use anything from rags, tree leaves, old clothes, toilet paper, newspapers, cotton wool, cloths or literally anything that can do the job.

Most girls from poor, rural communities do not use anything at all.

Menstruation is perhaps one of the most regular individual female experiences, but in sub-Saharan Africa, the experience impacts general society negatively due to the absence of products required by women and girls to cope with menstrual flow.

To state it bluntly, menstruation has become like a curse not only to the women and girls but to society in general on the continent. Because menstruation is largely a private act, the social damage is hidden and never makes the news headlines. Also, there are cultural and social attitudes that render discussion of menstruation almost impossible.

Najma the Founder of We4she is a Community based organisation that aims at empowering the girl child to achieve her maximum potential, this by partnering with local schools in the Mombasa County, Kenya to distribute sanitary towels in an effort to reduce deliberate absenteeism caused by menstrual related issues.

The organisation engages girls on menstrual health management, taboos associated with menstruation, early pregnancies and provide a safe space where girls can open up and talk about issues affecting them. Affordable and hygienic sanitary protection is not available to many women and girls in the Indian sub-continent and Africa, where menstruation is considered a taboo and women often victimised when they have their menstrual periods. Governments is these countries have done very little to address this reproductive health issue which has serious public health consequences.

Converting users of rags and the like must therefore be sustainable, and to reach the stage of sustainability, we must tackle the stigma at home and abroad.

This is where clever use of social media comes in – being able to drive conversation teaches us all that menstruation is nothing to be afraid of can in fact be comfortably discussed in the open.

In speaking about menstruation, the goal is not to arrive at one unanimous world view point about it; instead the goal is to spark global conversations about something that affects 50% of the population in various ways.

The goal is arrive at a place where menstruation is not something that holds women back but instead could even be a common bonding point for women across various nationalities and borders.

Talking is the first step towards de-stigmatization, Najma Mohammed Bunu of We4She Kenya is one of the hundreds of campaigners around=d the world that is creating awareness of menstruation and driving governments and the private sector into sponsoring workshops and donation towards the cost of sanitary pads for those that cannot afford.

We all can play a part to overcome the myth of menstruation, treat women equally and respect and not to bar them from places when they have menstrual periods.

According to statistics in Kenya, 1 in every 15 year olds engages in sexual activities in exchange for money to buy sanitary towels. Also, 1 in 10 girls miss school five days every month during menstruation. This leads to poor performance, school drop outs and early pregnancies.

Converting women and girls into users of sanitary pads is therefore difficult when these products are so expensive making them an unaffordable luxury for women rather than a basic necessity.

Najma Mohammed MTM finalist Spearheading the campaign for free sanitary pads for all in Mombasa County Kenya

We feel honoured to have won the MTM Restaurant Award.

It is a testament to our chefs, bar staff, waiters and of course our loyal customers

TRANSYLVANIA RESTAURANT Serving the people of Bristol mouth-watering Romanian dishes with a sprinkle of our iconic culture for a dining experience that goes beyond the food on your plate

At the Transylvania Restaurant, we aim to bring the rich taste of Romanian culture to Bristol, with our exquisite cuisine.

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Scores on the Doors How do I get a 5* Rating?

A study of the food businesses in Bristol revealed that there are over 300 businesses that have a 3* star or lower rating, further analysis of this data shows that a disproportionate percentage are BAME businesses.

In this series of 4 articles I will help your business be ready for the next inspection from Environmental Heath Officers from your local authority who carry out the audits on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.

I am Ken Simpson owner of Make More Margin Ltd and Five Star Food Safety Services; I have spent over 45 years working in the food sector at one team leading a team of technicians for food safety and health and safety in an £8bn turnover business that encompassed 1,700 stores, bakeries, cafes, butchers, fishmongers and more plus 21 regional warehouses.

Studies from Booker and Makro indicate that restaurants with a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 have up to 36% higher weekly orders than those with a 1. The following research taken from Talking Retail conducted on behalf of NFU Mutual 2A fresh Look at Food Hygiene” surveyed more than 2100 adults and analysed hygiene rating from the FSA. Scarily it shows that more than 12,000 businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has a separate scheme) have a rating of 3 or lower, the survey indicates that 34% of people would not use outlets with such a low ranking.

If that itself isn’t enough to grab your attention, then perhaps the next paragraph with help to focus attention on this hugely important aspect of your business.

In 2017 Two men were arrested over the death of a teenager who suffered a severe allergic reaction to a takeaway meal. In 2016 a restaurant owner was jailed for 6 years for the manslaughter of a customer who had an allergic reaction to a curry. A Birmingham restaurant owner is likely to be jailed over hygiene offences. A restaurant in Leeds is fined for second time over food hygiene offences.

The reports left by the Environmental Health Officers are in three sections:

Food Hygiene and Safety Structural Compliance Confidence in management In the next three issues of the magazine I will take each of these sections and explain what is required in each to achieve the 5* rating, that will not only grow your sales, but also protect your business reputation and potentially save a jail sentence.

Ken Simpson www.makemoremargin.com ken@makemoremargin.com

Healthy eating with Big Q

The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable.

The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple.

You will not make a mistake at all if you replace the ordinary potato with the sweet; a sweet potato is a starchy, sweet-tasting root vegetable. They have a thin, brown skin on the outside with coloured flesh inside – most commonly orange in colour, but other varieties are white, purple or yellow. You can eat sweet potatoes whole or peeled, and the leaves of the plant are edible, too.

This potato is massively grown in America, Africa, and Asia.

They may both be called ‘potatoes’, but sweet and white potatoes are not actually related, the sweet potato belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, whereas the white potato sits in the nightshade family.

Sweet potatoes are a rich source of fibre as well as containing an array of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, selenium, and they’re a good source of most of our B vitamins and vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are high in fibre, though much of the research so far has been conducted on animals, but it would appear that the high phytosterol content of sweet potatoes does have a protective effect on the digestive system and may be important in the prevention and management of duodenal and gastric ulcers.

On the whole, sweet potatoes are an excellent addition to a balanced diet. However, they do contain something known as oxalates which bind calcium and other minerals. Too many oxalates in the diet may cause kidney stones and so should be eaten in moderation if you have existing kidney stones or are at high risk of developing them. If you are concerned, check with your GP. Cooking sweet potato does reduce its beta-carotene levels, although boiling appears to have a higher retention compared to baking.

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ENTERTAINMENT British Asian sensation Gaurika delivers “I’m Alive” feat Sean Kingston Gaurika’s debut single ‘I’m Alive’ brings together her Indian/English roots with a commercial world pop sound perfectly blended with the Caribbean twist of Sean Kingston’s featured vocals. Gaurika is no newcomer to the music world having previously collaborated with Fashion TV to perform nationwide at renown venues throughout the UK. Her track record of performing at exclusive venues like Selfridges alongside the likes of the Pussycat Dolls amongst others is unheard of as an independent artist.

Gaurika has worked with several organisations including the BBC !

“A triple threat with her multiple talents”

“Mesmerising beauty and emotive delivery”

“A naturally gifted star in the making”

“Performing as a worldwide star performer”

Romaan - Straight Outta Manchester Straight outta Manchester, 19-year-old Romaan is ready to show what he’s made of with the release of his slick debut track ‘Frozen Heart’.

Romaan hasn’t just entered the music arena, he’s been writing since the age of 13, moving on to develop his passion for rap a few years later. Meeting his current producers, Dale and Akib allowed him to refine his style and direction. Frozen Heart is the end result of that journey but the first step into what promises to be a dazzling future.

“My older brother and his best friend were a hip-hop duo and I guess that was a real inspiration for me, that’s where I began.”

Romaan hasn’t just entered the music arena, he’s been writing since the age of 13, moving on to develop his passion for rap a few years later. Meeting his current producers, Dale and Akib allowed him to refine his style and direction. Frozen Heart is the end result of that journey but the first step into what promises to be a dazzling future.

Romaan has talent on tap. He’s very versatile which is an invaluable strength for music artists. In an industry hungry for new talent and surrounded by many unpolished gems, we may have just found a diamond....

Indira Roman & AJI PA’TI Román and her husband, Colombian songwriter Julián Segura bring an Irresistible pulse of a superb band – this is a stomping live set, of insistent riffs, pure groove, furious percussion and tropical melodies. Fresh and hot, sweet and spicy. Ají Pa’Ti means “Chilli for you”.

The band has had great success in the UK, particularly in Bristol where they live. Performances in major international festival such as Glastonbury Festival in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (shows this is one of the top Tropical Latin bands in the U.K. producing amazing original material.

Not to be missed!

“One of the things we really like about Bristol is its multiculturalism. Our music has been well received by the community since we started back in 2010. We try to create a cultural bridge between Latin America and U.K. with one of the most important aspects of our culture, which is music and dance”, Says Indira.

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In our countries music and dance is also use to unify and create peace between communities that have been affected by internal wars or that have been displaced by violence.

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A pretty true reflection of our times by Malkit Rooprai

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets.

We rode our bikes without helmets, gloves and guards. As children we would ride in cars which had no child safety door locks, seat belts or

A short story of Indians in East Africa Asians migrated to East Africa in the 1890’s as coolies to

build the Kenya –Uganda railway. Once the railway was complete many if not all made East Africa their home, some inter-marrying and others travelling back to India to get married and move back to Africa to start a family. The first Asian exodus was in 1969 after Kenya attainted independence in 1963 President Kenyatta directed that all civil service positions of matter be taken over by Africans and that Asians surrender their shops to the Africans. The second major exodus was in 1972, Idi Amin’s Expulsion of Asians. On 4th August 1972, the President of Uganda, Idi Amin, announced that Asians in Uganda had ninety days to leave the country.

Amin stated that God had ordered him to do this in a dream.

The expulsion order forced 50,000 Asians to leave Uganda; 20,000 of those were Ugandan passport holders.

The rest is history.

This is how we Indians grew up in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania!

What a life it was! We were innocent, frank and straight with people at home, at school and within the community and society.

Our childhood was like an adventure, exploration, expedition and an unassigned project to accomplish without the present time luxury, hi fi tools, unbelievable facilities and with not so much help provided.

No school loans, grants, financial aid or scholarships.

Instead it was filled with lots of fun, excitement, enthusiasm, trust, expectation, commitment and responsibility.

Although not so very easy - always and filled with some hardship, life was beautiful and excellent.

Our love and respect for our parents was second to none, and our respect for our teachers and elders in the community and society was in our genes we gladly looked after our younger brothers and sisters without any selfish motive and fuss. We felt it was our prime and moral duty.

We attended temples, Gurudwaras, Churches, Mosques, Jamat Khannas and prayed regularly and respected all religions We integrated socially and culturally with people from all religions, class or creed. In essence, we enjoyed life.

To all the wonderful kids who were born in the wonderful East Africa and survived the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's.

We had mothers who did not check blood pressure or the temperature every few minutes. We never saw or wore the present time diapers, nappies and liners. We bounced ourselves without a bouncer and peacefully slept without a baby cot. We sucked cow milk from a soda bottle without being sterilized or warmed in a bottle warmer. We slept during our sleep times be it day or night without monitors or blippers. There were no nurses or doctors to pamper the mums, babies and children all the time.

Our baby cribs and bassinets were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

airbags. Sometimes we sat on each other's laps for God's sake.

We shared one soft drink with juugus (nuts) in it, among four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from that.

We would share bhajia’s (Bhaji’s), mix, Mogo (cassava) chips and dips or a eat chapatti and rice from someone else's plate of curry without batting an eyelid. We ate jam sandwiches or pickle

on bread and butter, raw mangoes with salt that set our teeth on edge or a grilled Makai (roasted maize cob) and deep fried (cassava) Mogo and drank orange squash.

We were innovative and creative making and building things from and out of scraps and junk of old pram wheels and bicycle rims, made kites with old newspapers, playing traditional Indian games such as santa kukdi, pakda pakdi, nagel, khokho, hutuutu, thappo. Cricket, rounders’ and football was an everyday thing, with regular tournaments organised at the railway clubs and community grounds.

Luxury and things related to it were far beyond our imagination, expectation and reach. We were taught and groomed to be content. We were sent on school trips to the National parks and game reserves and weekends for those that lived by the coastline were spent at the seaside public beaches.

We played, ran and walked barefoot without even being concerned about it, if we got cut and bled we used tincture of iodine or spirit on the wound and it was ok and fine with us. We did not wash our hands ten times a day. And we were OK! We fell from the trees numerous times, got cut, hurt, bled, broke bones and teeth and there were no compensation claims, but only to be strong, rise again and move on upon consolation.

We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no desk top pc, no lap tops, no I-Pods or I Pads, no internet or internet chat rooms, no TV, no hi fi and Wi fi.

We just simply had a BUSH, PYE, PHILLIPS, MURPHY OR a GRUNDIG 2 OR 3 band Radio placed in the family sitting room to be shared by all.

We did not have parents, who would ask us questions like......

What would you like to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner?

We ate what was put in front of us. No menu, no choice, no fuss, no waste and no leftovers. After dinner every night in almost every household the school going children must recite all the times tables from 1 up to 25 before going to sleep.

We had very loving, caring and wonderful friends. Their loving parents whom we very fondly called UNCLE and AUNTY, and we were not treated any different from their own children by them. We ate fruits fallen on the ground, never washed them and yet never had any viruses or infections of any kind.

We used to bath using a bucket, a koppo(jar) and Lifebuoy soap. We did not know what shampoo, conditioner or a bath and body wash...

We ate at roadside stalls, drank madaffu (Coconut) water, ate everything that was bad for us yet we weren't overweight and falling sick as we were always outside playing freely and burning our calories keeping fit, fine and happy.

During holidays we would leave home in the morning and play out all day, we were never ever "bored" and were allowed freedom all day, as long as we were back home at a given time and would dare not be late.

We rode bicycles everywhere in the town with someone sitting on the carrier or cross bar to school, cinema or playgrounds.

Knocked on the door of a friend's house and were welcomed without any hesitation and would be treated with some goodies.

This generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, inventors, winners and the most successful people ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas with some failures and most successes.

We had patience, understanding, discipline, respect, maturity, wisdom, motivation, commitment and responsibility.

And above all!

We learned and survived the hard way and had our parents and grandparents who were overseeing us, with their experience, guidance and blessings.

Those were the days.

Indian Fashion ancient fashion in India Indian fashion varies, from village to village and city to city. Indian fashion is rich in tradition, vibrant colours and prepossessing. The bold colours created by the inventive drapes of textile catch the eye like no other contemporary clothing.

The ancient fashion garments in India were generally not stitched though sewing was known to Indians. As they left the loom most clothes were ready to wear, the traditional Indian Dhoti, the scarf for uttaiya or the popular Turban are still a visible feature in India and continue to be part of Indian fashion.

The Sari remains the traditional, ceremonial and most elegant fashion out of India, the garment is not cut or tailored to a particular size yet when won it looks like it’s a made to measure outfit. Saris combined with the Stanpatta forms the basic ensemble as the Sari or Dhoti is wrapped from the hips and the Stanpatta is simply fastened to cover the top body and is tied with a knot at the back.

This forms the beauty of Indian dressing, so elegant and unique. The Sari is worn covering both legs or in the alternative with one end passing between the legs and tucked at the back, this style is still prevalent in large areas of India and popular on Bollywood screens.

The other popular attire of women out of the Indian Sub-Continent is the Salwar-Kameez. This Indian dress that originated from the Kashmir and Punjab region has evolved as a comfortable and very respectable Indian Garment.

The Salwar are pyjama like trousers worn the waist down, drawn tightly at the waist and ankles, though the fashion icons from the movie industry have even created a flare and baggy versions. Over these Salwar women wear a long loose tunic known as Kameez. Some women prefer to wear the Churidar instead of the Salwar; this is similar to a Salwar except that it is tightly fitting at the Hips, thighs and ankles. These are worn with a mandarin or collarless tunic called a Kurta.

Jewellery in Indian fashion play great role in women dressing. Gold ornaments are usually worn against the skin at all times. In Indian tradition and dressing, Gold metal is believed to have purifying powers for anything it touches.

Gold and other metal ornaments often have either precious or semi precious gems and beads and are popular with both men and women in Indian culture.

The nose pin more common than a nose ring is a symbol of purity and marriage though in this age and time all girls wear them as a fashion.

Necklaces form a great part of Indian fashion made from materials ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace that is worth mentioning is the Mangalsutra; this is worn only by married women. A Mangalsutra is equivalent to a western wedding ring. A woman will wear it during her wedding ceremony and only take it off when he spouse passes on.

Besides these ornaments is the Mangatika or Tikli, an ornament worn at top of the forehead in the parting of the hair, is a small pendant on the end of a chain that is clasped to the hair. Kajal commonly known as eyeliner is another significant part of Indian beauty. From a time when a child is six days old, its mother applies Kajal and a black dot on the forehead to mar the child’s beauty thus protecting the child from evil.

Finally is the Sindoor, a dot on the forehead indicating a woman status as married. It is applied as part of a wedding ceremony.

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WASUP a letter from Coventry Coventry Mercia Lions Club in action with its first environmental workshop as a part of WASUP(Coventry) - supervised by Professor Rashid Gatrad OBE Deputy Lieutenant for H M The Queen - what an amazing experience.

Coventry Mercia Lions Club held the launch event of WASUP(Coventry) in which Lord Bishop Christoper of Coventry officially marked the begining of our environmental campaign to help City of Coventry with its preparation for 2021 when our city will be crowned with the status of City of Culture in UK. We held our first workshop in which we were allowed to invite only limited number of volunteers because we were going to use a boat to clean Canal - both inside the running water and on the side pathways by the canal. Professor Rashid Gatrad, who had an eye surgery a few days ago, decided to be at the venue of our choice - hump bridge by Coutaulds bus stop on Foleshill Road.

Mrs Balbir Shiemar, who manages the campaign for Prof Gatrad also accompanied him and they were the first ones to arrive at our assembly point - Guru Nanak Prakash Gurudwara.

We chose this Holy Sikh temple because of the interest and support shown to us by the management committee and the congregation. They are so warm to us and we are treated with love and respect. The best part was that our volunteers came from all the faiths - Hindu, Muslims, Nirankaris, Sikhs and Christians but the management committee are very open minded and regularly host so many Interfaith events aimed towards community cohesion and peace in our communities.

We joined the congregation in prayers, and also joined in sharing the holy food - Langar, the temple serves hundereds of worshippers on the weekend. An English family were visiting a Sikh Temple for the first time and they loved the expereince.

We then reached the hump bridge where our colleagues - Nick, Dan and Iand from National Rivers and Canals trust, were waiting for us with a boat, everyone in the group got really excited. Professor Gatrad gave us an initial induction about health and safety, we were divided into two groups - one group given responsibility for litter picking on the side of the canal while the other group were asked to board the boat to undertake cleaning of the canal. We were given nets, pickers and black-bin-bags to collect the rubbish. Everyone in the group were over excited and were like school children on a boat trip. We started picking the litter lying on the off side of the canal. My wife and grand daughter joined the volunteers who did the litter picking by the walkway. Our group were loving the expereince and my best moment was when Lion Dial Masih & Lion Rakesh Sachdev picked up a huge duvet from the canal. We collected so much rubbish dumped by irresponsible citizens in the canal.

All the volunteers loved our first expereince of Canal cleaning, it was great to be in the company of one another and the elements, water, greenery, ducks swimming in the water and the fishermen were busy catching the fish. We all decided to to this excercide every month and Mrs Daljit Kaur from GNP Sikh temple said that she will bring youth members of her temple next time we organised the canal cleaning event. My wife loved the expereince and grand daughter was asking when is the next canal cleaning because she wants to bring her friends to take part in this fun activity.

Karam Bharij

TRENDING CAMPAIGNING AGAINST SINGLE USE PLASTICS IN KENYA. Over a year later the effort to keep our beautiful beaches clean continues...the Manji family are at Bofa Beach in Kilifi and part of the family holiday is devoted to help pick up as much garbage as they can and, at the same time encourage the local residents to do the same. The effort seems to have worked as this time around there is a lot less garbage strewn on the beach than the previous year...but a major issue is the garbage being washed ashore...the ocean is not our dumping ground!

AL-MUQTADAIR ASSOCIATION KENYA. A lot was shared amongst the members aiming at ways of taking this organization forward in matters empowering Persons Living with Disabilities as the group attended the Entrepreneurship Training at the American Space(MEWA) The organization took the role of representing the voice of Persons Living with Disabilities.

RWANDA GENOCIDE MEMORIAL “This memorial has names of all those were killed during genocide, a very touching place. I said my prayers to all those innocent people who were killed for nothing and when I visited the genocide memorial centre here in Rwanda and the photos of four month old babies killed, Lord have mercy”, Abdul Yakub

TIM – THE JUMBO TUSKER. An elephant bull of 51 years old, who called the Amboseli ecosystem home with his preferred haunt the Kimana Sanctuary. Tim became a household name

admired by many Kenyans and tourists alike. His body is to be transported to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya for taxidermy so that he might forever preside over the Nairobi National Museum of Kenya, and his memory never dims.

Tim lived a life that saw him become an icon for his species. Photographs, videos and stories focusing on this grand old boy have been taken and told for years and with that, he has helped influence the world’s understanding and attitude towards elephants. One of his iconic images was bought by Mayor Tim Bowles at the MTM Awards 2017 to support the fight against poaching.

COVENTRY MERCIA LIONS CLUB attended Rugby Rokeby 52nd Charter evening held at Masonic hall Rugby. In his capacity as President, Karam Baraj hosted the event.

Greta in Bristol March 2020 Standing by collage green and reflecting on Bristol’s youth climate change protest, I have to say it was an inspiration to see so many young people out in force, braving the cold and rain to make their voices heard.

I filmed the crowds march past for nearly twenty minutes, and the state of the green showed just how many people descended on Bristol’s city centre.

Yes, many came to see Greta Thunberg, but we can’t forget the inspirational speeches given by Bristol’s youth, none more so than our very own Maya Rose, aka Bird Girl. This one really stood out for me, not only calling for action on climate change, but the now honorary doctor pointed out the harm of our consumer driven economy to the environment and the human cost of the goods we all feel we must have.

Talking about her own family’s clothing business in Bangladesh to children in central Africa mining for Cobalt needed to build smart phones, she reminded me that there is so much more to the issue of climate change.

Junior Sheikh

Out & About High Sheriff Bristol 2020-2021

Clean-up Swindon

Welcome to our new High Sheriff for Bristol Dr John Manley. We welcome his focus on supporting our communities, emergency services and judicial system.

Nowroz celebrations at the Palace of Westminster London organised by the Centre of Kurdish Progress UK

Natural selections Award evening Thank you to all of you who attended the event on Saturday where we managed to raise an amazing total of £209 through the raffle for Women’s Aid!

“Be the change you want to see in the world” - said Mahatma Gandhi, who has inspired millions across continents and generations. As communities and citizens, there is a lot more we can do to improve our neighbourhoods, towns & cities. Not only that we must take greater responsibility, we should also take great pride in community service.

Mother Theresa’s charity

Although Natural Selection Salon won the award, it is our community that bolsters us and supports us so it is important for us to make sure we give back. All leftover food was donated to the Salvation Army.

A huge thank you to the MTM Awards , the Deputy Mayor and his wife and Emma from the Women’s refuge for joining us for this celebration of community.

Kurdish Nowroz London

Miss England visits Mother Theresa’s charity in Jallandhar that looks after seriously mentally challenged children Coventry Mercia Lions Club has been supporting Mother Theresa’s Charity that looks after mentally handicapped children who are abandoned by their parents because they find it difficult to look after them.

Somaliland

For most people, March 20 is just another day on the calendar. Another Wednesday of morning coffees, rush hours, late meetings and daily chores; But for Persians around the world March 20 is a day of celebration, feast and joy.

The first day of the spring season marks the Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz -- that is a combination of two Persian words: no, which means “new,” and rouz, which means “day.” Together they mean “New Day.”

Khyber Kindness

We maybe closed but the NHS 🏥 are not. We are proud to deliver freshly made curry and rice individual meals to more wards: linnet ward, Intensive care unit, Orchard ward at the immediate care unit.

The Director -General of Ministry of Planning & National Development of Somaliland Republic Mubarik Abdilahi Daljir visit Bristol.

H.E. Dr. Morie Manyeh, the high Commissioner of Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom, with the executive director of the MTM Wards, Junior Sheikh.

Out & About 40th Anniversary of Prospect House

“It was a great honour, joy and privilege for me to meet and speak to Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House as we celebrated 40th anniversary of Prospect Hospice. As president, HRH unveiled a commemorative plaque and beautiful embroidery hand-sewn by 30 women over 4 years.”

Pradeep Bhardwaj

“Remembering Srebrenica” launch

The camp provided the opportunity for all those who wished to avail the services of the Indian High Commission for Indian visas, passports, overseas citizen of India applications and consular services.

The Queens Exhibition

Bristol Deputy Mayor Asher Craig revisiting the Queens Exhibition with Marie-Annick Gournet and Christelle Pellecuer at the Emperor Haile Selassie’s house at Fairfield House, Bath.

UK Curry Connnect

Lawrence Hoo

Mr Lawrence Hoo, MTM Music, Art & Culture Award Winner 2018 HOO at the screening of The Windrush Journey of Mental Health. “To say it was emotional is an understatement”

Polish Association Gloucestershire

PAG serve over 60 guests in Gloucester.

Well done to all volunteers and Gloucester City Mission team for your amazing work and thank you for financial support HaVinG charity, Gloucester and Biedronki store, Gloucester.

Coalition

“Every Action Matters” - at the Houses of Parliament. Farooq Siddique and Zia Haq of Bristol were in attendance.

UK Curry Connect was selected as a finalist in the ‘Skills For Growth’ category at the Weston Business Awards 2020. The group was recognised for championing both young and emerging talent as well as upskilling the existing workforce within the catering industry.

BMFF

Naseem Talukdar

The Indian High Commission’s Consular Camp held at Bradley Stoke, Bristol by Mayor Tom Aditya as part of Bristol MultiFaith Forum’s (BMFF) Community Cohesion Campaign was a big success.

Memorandum of Understanding between The Care Forum (TCF), Healthwatch Swindon and The MTM Community Group Award Winners 2019, Nepalese Association of Wiltshire (NAW).

This is an agreement between Healthwatch and NAW to undertake some research with the NAW to record their views of health and social care services.

BACWG

Congratulations Naseem Talukdar an MTM Mukhtyar Singh Community Award winner for receiving High Sheriff of Bristol’s award a reception hosted by the High Sheriff, Charles Wyld.

Bristol & Avon Chinese Women’s Group’s Mental Health workshop organised by Chinese Lantern Project and co-hosted

by Student Services, University of Exeter (Penryn Campus) and Rethink.

Display of Freedom

39th Signals Regiment exercised its Freedom of the City to parade along the City’s streets with bayonets and swords drawn and banners flying.

When GOODFELLAS MEET!

World Against Single Use Plastic

East African Asian Community

East African Asian community, Nairobi SOUTH “C” Boys Night Out In Leicester.

Phoolmala Presented to HRH

Over 200 reservists, regulars, Cadets and veterans were on parade. Such a privilege to take the salute on behalf of the Boss and to inspect the troops.

MTM National Award For Excellence Winners 2016 Coventry Mercia Lions Club join Founder of WASUP Professor Gatrad OBE DL for launching a great project World Against Single Use Plastic aiming to protect the oceans and improve environmental wellness.

Honour for the Nepalese Community to present Phoolmala to HRH Prince of Wales.

It was historic and proud moment for members attended and the VCP, who are providing excellent support to the needy Veterans and their families.

Consulate of Romania Providing consular services to the Bristol Romanian community.

Over 500.000 Romanian citizens have successfully applied for UK settled status

BHYC

Lions Club

All the Lions Clubs celebrate their Annual Charter night with pomp and show and invite various dignitaries on this important day.

Seen here are members of the Lion club at BBC Coventry.

Year of the Rat

Gang prevention workshop with Bristol Horn Youth Concern, The young people in Bristol benefited from the workshop. Thanks, BBC Bristol for interviewed the participants and the BHYC management.

Chinese New Year in Coventry with Chinese Godiva sister Margaret Tse, the Coventry Chinese community Godiva sisters and brothers the wider community. Attended by deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Ann Lucas OBE amongst many.

Mother Tongue Day South West

The people of Swindon paid glowing tribute to the language movement martyrs who laid down their lives for the mother tongue in 1952,Hundreds of people from all walks of life including High Sheriff of Wiltshire, the Mayor of Swindon, the Police and Crime Commissioner of Swindon and Wiltshire, Swindon Borough Councillors, the Central South Swindon Parish Councillors, the Community Leaders from the local area, across the County swarmed to the newly purpose build International Mother Language Monument at GWR Park, Swindon.

Swindon Fundraiser

Ashley Community Housing

An evening with Swindon Mayor at a fund raiser for Swindon & North Wiltshire Deaf Children’s society and Calm Charity, a local Swindon children’s cancer charity.

ACH move to a new office in Birmingham to further serve the fantastic community of staff and supporters the organisation has built.

invited John Wesley to preach in the Chapel, after the Bishop of Bristol refused him permission to preach in any of the city’s churches.

The Chapel is the only place of worship in the UK belonging to a Lord Mayor and Commonality, and is thus designated a ‘Civic Peculiar’.

Celebrating Commonwealth Day

Celebration of Achievement

Lord Mayors Annual Civic Service

A great celebration of the achievement of graduates from all over the world, who will be achievers in their fields and hopefully ambassadors for Bristol.

Really interesting visit with the Lord Mayor of Bristol to Avon & Somerset Police training establishment at Clevedon

Mya-Rose Craig At 17, Mya-Rose Craig became the youngest Briton to receive an honorary degree.

It recognises her activism and pioneering

work to engage more children from minority ethnic backgrounds in conservation. Well done Mya-Rose!

Lord Mayor of Bristol Jos Clark Annual Civic Service. At the Lord Mayors Chapel!

HMS Prince of Wales Reception The Chapel is the only remaining building of the 13th century Hospital of Saint Mark.

The Hospital was founded in 1220 as a daughter house of Saint Augustine’s Abbey (Bristol Cathedral), by Maurice de Gaunt. A decade later, the Hospital was reformed into a fully independent religious community to provide food and care for 100 poor people per day. The Hospital continued this work for 300 years, until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, and shortly afterwards the Hospital and its lands were purchased by the City Council. The City Council granted the use of the buildings and land to the newly-formed Queen Elizabeth Hospital school for boys (founded 1586), and later for the girls of Red Maids School (founded 1634). In 1687, the Chapel was granted as a place of worship for French Huguenots who had settled in Bristol after fleeing persecution in France. They continued using the building until 1722, when they moved to a new building just around the corner.

At that time, the City Council decided to make the Chapel their official place of worship, following a dispute with the Cathedral. In 1788, the Mayor of the time

HMS Prince of Wales evening and meeting the Commodore, the Captain and all other officers and cadets on board, Also present guest from various parts of the country. And the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Anna Rothery!

Route 8 Barbers

Route 8 Barbers Swindon doing the brave cuts and head shaves for Asda Walmart who are raising money for the prospect hospice.

Jaspers Big Plans

Refugee Women of Bristol A fantastic day in Bristol with Refugee Women of Bristol at our Zero Tolerance event.

For the 11th year in a row, we celebrated our community engagement programme and bringing together the work of key agencies, communities and individuals. We shared importance of cultural empathy and collaboration to end FGM, safeguard our children and end violence against women and girls.

A tribute to Sir Mohinder Dhillon

SWA Survivor Jasper in Newark New Jersey where he addressed members of the city office and met with the Mayor of the city and people who work with homelessness, who are also planning Shipping Containers, for the homeless.

Feed The Homeless

Feed The Homeless Bristol the last Friday of February 2020 Team lead by Gary Webber and Samantha Purnell providing a 100 home cooked meals, hot drinks, desserts and basic essentials for our friends on the streets of Bristol in a cold wet windy weather.

Bristol Pakistani Cricket Club The annual BPCC prize giving day organised by the club chair Mazhar Iqbal attended by MTM Batook Pandya Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and organ donation icon Amjid Ali. Abdul Malik, Bristol’s first Muslim councillor was chief guest.

SWA Survivor are a domestic abuse service, supporting residents in the Swindon area.

Behind every Domestic Abuse statistic, there is a heart-wrenching story. Together we have to root out this menace from our society.

Launch ceremony of the Ambassadors programme of SWA Survivor attended by Nicky Alberry , Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP , the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Kevin Parry

A Tribute to Jack Simonian

A wonderful human being who arrived in Kenya in 1947 from rural Punjab, India, with his two sisters and six brothers, and mother, Kartar . He was just about 17 years, the same age his father, Tek Singh was when he left his village for Kenya, to seek work.

Mohinder built a formidable international reputation as pioneer photographer, news cameraman and film maker.

Sir Mo was Courageous, he became a dear friend to many. I met Mohinder just as I stepped into the Broadcast College in Nairobi through an icon film maker Martin Billy Motta of the Voice of Kenya who was a close friend of Sir Mo. His biography an inspiring trilogy, MY CAMERA, MY LIFE that reads like history.

In the last two years he was working on his next book WITNESS TO HISTORY – an exciting pictorial anthology of pre- and postindependence East Africa which he hoped to publish. He fought ill health with a fierce determination and humour. We shall miss him.

A tribute to Fuad Nahdi

We both hail from Kenya. I enjoyed watching him play for Sikh Union and he later went on to play for Kenya in Olympics. He was

The prominent journalist and activist Fuad Nahdi, who was one of the major figures in British Islam in the last 30 years, passed away in a London hospital. our role model, Rally driver, Motorcycle enthusiastic, hockey player and adventurer.

I meet him in Coventry through my friends Satwant Singh Ghatuare and soon, Jack and I became very good friends. He would attend Sikh temple where he was greeted by his Sikh fans by hugs.

I took his last photographs at Spenser Hockey Club where he was honoured by Sikh Olympians and hockey players.by Karam Bharij Coventry

Nahdi, was the publisher of the pioneering Muslim news magazine Q-News which he founded in 1992.

He later became the Executive Director of the Radical Middle Way organisation which provided faith-inspired guidance to combat exclusion and violence and encourage positive civic action.

In 2018 as a chair of Families Relief Charity UK he offered the group’s support to the MTM Awards.

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