Browse Sections

• Education
• Business
• Blog
• Special reports

Friends are wheel achievers

Shelina Begum
28/12/2007

DRIVING ambition has led two Oldham women to a national record – becoming the first female Muslim bus drivers in the country.

After completing an extensive course, friends Mubeen Shahid and Shahbana Hussain are now employed by local charity Highway to Opportunities (H2), for whom they steer specially adapted double-decker outreach buses through the borough’s Asian communities.

The vehicle – equipped with a mini computer suite, classrooms and a creche – enables women to learn English, apply for jobs or enroll on a training course.

For Mubeen, completing the driving course was extra special as it was through the very bus she now drives that she first learned English and found a route into employment.

"When I came from Pakistan in 1985 I couldn’t speak any English and my chances of getting a job were exceptionally slim," she said.

"However, in 1991 I moved to Oldham and began to learn English on this bus. My advisors at the time are now my colleagues.

"I was interested in a career in childcare so once I had learnt English my tutors suggested I move onto a course – and again it was done on the bus.

"After that I found work as a creche worker with Oldham Council and then a job for a creche worker came up on the bus, which I got.

She added: "I can identify with the women coming on the bus who have little confidence because of language barriers. That was me once, but it is rewarding to see them move into employment or training at the end of it."

Three information, advice and guidance workers are based on the bus with two creche-workers who speak a range of languages including Urdu, Punjabi and Bangla. Among the free employment services are CV writing, IT training and language classes.

The H20 bus is open five days a week. To find out where it will be contact H20 on 0161 621 9200.

Most recent 1 of 1 user comments