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Exciting new challenge ahead

22/ 5/2008

A COMMUNITY worker from Haslingden is looking forward to bringing together women of all races and backgrounds as she embarks on a new venture.

Nusrat Rahman, pictured, has left her post as outreach practitioner at Haslingden Community Link and Children’s Centre on Bury Road after a year of promoting its invaluable work.

Now the 35-year-old is keen to get started on her next challenge – setting up the new Rossendale Valley Women’s Trust.

Born and bred in Haslingden, Nusrat had worked in community development throughout East Lancashire for a number of years – including work with East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT) accident prevention team and for Sure Start in Brierfield – before she got the job in her home town.

Her role at Community Link involved bringing more families into the centre and ensuring it offered all the services they wanted, as well as running the parent and toddler group, Dinky Links.

Nusrat’s outreach work also brought many Muslim women into contact with the centre, who were keen to learn English but struggled to find classes where they could learn the basics.

With her support, the women – who became Haslingden Asian Women’s Group – were able to apply for funding to further their ideas, which included providing chances to socialise as well as learn.

There are now 52 members who meet regularly; past events have included an Eid party, organised with help from Rawtenstall-based Positive Start and Rossendale Leisure Trust.

But the group has now decided to expand to include women of all races and backgrounds.

Nusrat, who will be the chairman of the new trust on a voluntary basis, said: ‘We want to be more inclusive and help all women in the area progress as they want to.

‘One of our big aims is to promote racial harmony with women in Rossendale, because we know everything starts with women.

‘We want to access funding to make improvements in the lives of women, help them into employment and help them follow their dreams and realise their potential.’

She added: ‘I’ve always worked in Pendle and Burnley before and I wanted to do something in my community. My big dream would be to open a women’s centre further down the line.’