Weekly Column: Mayor Mohammed Zaman

Date published: 26 April 2019

This weekly column from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Mohammed Zaman, is about the places he has been and the people he has met during the week commencing Monday 15 April to Sunday 21 April 2019.

Week commencing Monday 15 April – Sunday 21 April

Monday, I delivered some of the Mayor’s Charity Ball raffle prizes to the winners. We sold around 3,000 tickets around the borough for my big raffle, with all money raised going to local causes. I went to Number One Riverside to thank the staff who supported me and bought a large number of tickets.

I really appreciate all of the support from the local community and businesses, the charity ball was only made possible by everyone’s help. Thank you to all who gave generously and to Rochdale Town Hall staff, the chair of the Mayor’s Charity Committee John Kay for making sure the night ran smoothly and to councillor Peter Rush who organised entertainment.

 

 

I was invited to Half Acre Care Home for an Easter bonnet celebration, where I judged the best bonnet. The home is a family business and has been in Rochdale for a very long time, maintaining a good rating for their care services.

It was special for me to witness how lovingly the people in the home are looked after with entertainment and Easter decorations organised for the residents to enjoy themselves. All were sharing old stories from good memories whilst music played.

It was hard to judge the competition as all the residents decorated their bonnets beautifully, but I managed to choose a winner and runners up. Thank you to the home for inviting me, I enjoyed this celebration along with the residents.

 

 

I visited the Pakeeza Women’s Group at their weekly meeting. The group was formed after the Rochdale Asian Ladies group, run by Age Concern, could no longer run after funding was withdrawn.

Pakeeza Women’s Group helps hundreds of women in Rochdale with advice on housing, health and social issues, as well as other personal problems. This meeting was to think of a young girl who has recently been in hospital, so the ladies grouped together to say prayers and I joined.

These and other community groups do so much work in Rochdale to change peoples lives for the better on a daily basis. They really work together as a team to make a change in the community, so I would like to thank all the Pakeeza members for their hard work.

 

 

Finally, on Monday, I had a last-minute visitor at Rochdale Town Hall - Allama Maqsood Madni, a religious scholar from Pakistan. I invited him to visit Rochdale Town Hall whilst he was on visit to the UK and we had a meeting in the council chambers.

 

 

Tuesday, I was invited to Oldham Town Hall for the British Empire Awards along with all the Greater Manchester mayors. Local residents were named on the 2019 New Year’s Honours list, recognised by the Queen for their outstanding achievements across a range of services.

Dorothy Brierley was one of those named for her services to children in the borough. Now retired, she was the head teacher of All Saints Primary School and received a BEM for her tireless efforts and campaign for a new building on the school, which she successfully planned and led.

Andrew Walker was another local resident awarded an MBE for his services to people with disabilities.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/125115/new-year’s-honours-local-residents-appointed-to-order-of-british-empire-for-outstanding-services

 

 

Wednesday, I had a meeting with Johnathan Kazembe, an engagement worker from Refugee Action. This group work with refugees and asylum seekers to ensure they can earn a living for themselves when they come to the UK. We met so he could highlight some of the main issues asylum seekers and refugees have in Rochdale at the moment.

Later, I had the monthly Citizenship ceremony at the town hall. Again, this was well attended as people were officially handed their British Citizenship.

Attendees took their oaths and pledges to be loyal to the Queen and country. This ceremony always interests me seeing new arrivals in our town who are so happy to finally receive their citizenship. I always enjoy the smiles on their faces.

Thursday, I visited the Macmillan Bus parked on Gracie Island. It was a nice day, so a lot of visitors came to have a chat and get information leaflets.

I spoke to the volunteers on hand who are venturing to different areas and venues on the bus to raise awareness on the symptoms of cancer to hopefully help others.

 

 

I was invited on a business visit to Kleen Strike, Heywood, which I had heard a lot about, but this was the first time I went to the premises. Kleen Strike are an award-winning recycling company; remanufacture toner cartridges and refilling inkjets as well as other printer consumables and school supplies. I was given a tour of the building and shown the whole process of recycling and reusing.

The company are doing very well in the borough with partnerships with local schools and business, developing a good reputation within the community. Thank you to Laura Heywood, the owner of Kleen Strike, for inviting me and to the staff for their hospitality.

 

 

I went to Deeplish Community Centre for the Deeplish Playscheme initiative. The playscheme provided fun and physical activities, including outdoor visits, supported by Rochdale Hornets Community Foundation, Rochdale Football Club and Link4Life throughout the Easter holidays. Deeplish also run sessions in the summer holidays too.

I was invited on Thursday for their Easter playscheme party and to celebrate this scheme which if not run, children would not have anywhere to go within the holidays. The volunteers and young people told me how they have visited local parks and had visits from different guests, such as a Marie Curie volunteer who told the children about the charity.

Playschemes are such a positive initiative for the young people in our town, however the only one I am aware of is the one in Deeplish, which is self-funded. Thank you to the manager of Deeplish Community Centre, Sohail Ahmed, and the management committee for spending quality time helping these children.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127391/mayor-mayoress-and-mp-visit-deeplish-playscheme

 

 

I had a visitor all the way from Spain who joined me in the Mayor’s Parlour. Mr Soul Torres Monsoon is son of one of the chief secretaries in Alicante and is currently working in Manchester. I invited him to Rochdale Town Hall as when I went to Spain, I had a tour with his father of the Town Hall of Alicante. It was interesting to see their set up of mayoralty team and how we are different.

I’m really pleased that he visited. He liked Rochdale very much and said the town hall is a beautiful treasure.

 

 

Thursday evening, Rochdale Council of Mosques and the Al-Mahmood Foundation very kindly organised a dinner for the Mayor’s Charities at Rochdale Town Hall. The members have been working very hard to ensure sponsorship for this event, which was a successful evening.

The town hall was packed with sold out tables and a number of items were received for an auction and raffle to raise funds for the six local causes I have chosen this year: Petrus, Springhill Hospice, Moor End Trust, British Heart Foundation, Parkinson’s UK and Rochdale Community Partnership.

I want to say a big thank you to all the mosques who joined the evening, as well as the sponsors, community organisations, businesses and individuals who bought tickets and raised funds.

Thank you to Tahir Mahmood, chairperson of RCM and the Al-Mahmood Foundation, for bringing everyone together at this evening. We raised an amazing £21,600, which is brilliant news for all the local causes.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127413/rochdale-council-of-mosques-raises-over-£21000-for-rochdale-mayors-charity-appeal

 

 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I had no engagements due to Easter break.

Mayoral Invitations

​​​​The Mayor welcomes invitations to events held by local organisations and individuals. Due to demand, it may not be possible for the Mayor to attend every event he is invited to.

To invite the Mayor to your event please complete the Mayor attendance form and return it to the Mayor's Officer.

Visit: www.rochdale.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/mayors/Pages/mayoral-invitations.aspx

Email: mayoral@rochdale.gov.uk

Tel: 01706 924773

The next Mayor of Rochdale will be councillor Billy Sheerin who will be sworn in at the next full council meeting on Wednesday 22 May 2019