We Grow Together Stronger
Our TEam
“REN is the strategic lead for the ethnically diverse Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Bradford district. We collaborate with key stakeholders from across all sectors to eliminate racism, inequalities and barriers faced by individuals and communities when attempting to access services, leading to equitable outcomes for everyone. My hope for the future is for people to live joyously side-by-side and provide mutual aid, cooperation and care for each other in a culturally diverse district where difference is accepted and celebrated. I am proud of all we have achieved in the last two years and I hope that our work develops further to create a national network of allies, individuals, communities and organisations who are passionate about racial justice, equity and inclusion.”
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Our Staff
The existence of institutional and structural racism is evident in many aspects of UK society which has resulted in multiple inequalities faced by ethnically diverse communities that live and work in Bradford district and beyond. These inequalities can no longer be ignored if we are to create a fairer, more equal society where everyone can realise their full potential and thrive in their endeavours. At Race Equality Network (REN), the fight for inclusion and racial equity is at the core of what we do, and I believe that we are playing a small but important part in a much larger movement towards racial justice and liberation.
Executive Director
Humma Nizami
Humma is qualified in Youth & Community Development and has over 15 years’ experience of working in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to manage projects focussing on mental health, employment, advice & guidance, looked-after children, suicide prevention, refugee resettlement, organ donation, cancer screening and health inequalities. She has worked with a number of organisations including Womenzone Community Centre, Lancashire BME Network, The Children’s Society and Leeds City Council.
Humma is currently a member of the Bradford District VCS Assembly Steering Group, co-chair of both the Equalities Forum, and the Race Equality Mental Health Collaborative in Bradford.
Programme Manager
Fatima Mahmood
Manager
Piers
Volunteer
Volunteer
Volunteer
Our Board
Race Equality Network has been challenging institutional racism and inequalities over the last 20 years and our focus is on rooting out racism at all levels of society and across all organisations. At REN, we really value our partnerships and we continue to actively work with our grassroots members and a range of organisations including Bradford Metropolitan Council, Bradford Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and VCS, to improve their services and become more inclusive for ethnically diverse communities. As the Chair of Race Equality Network, I feel that we have achieved so much but there is still much work to do before our city and institutions are free from racial inequalities; therefore if we continue to work together, we can achieve equitable outcomes for those living and working in Bradford which is a young, vibrant and diverse district.
Chair
Yusuf Karolia
Yusuf was the General Secretary of REN since its inception. He is the Treasurer of Budhay Buddies, an organisation whose objective is to provide access to services, support and facilities for older people living in and around the Horton Grange Area. This includes the provision of a range of services, access to a range of activities and organised outings, visits and information sessions relevant to older people.
Yusuf is also Company Secretary of the Grange Interlink Centre and Head of Service at Bradford Council.
Vice Chair
Peter Tate
Peter Tate is the chair of West Bowling Youth Initiative and MAPA Bradford. He is a founding member of Bradford Youth Development Partnership and has recently joined the REN Board. He has seven years’ experience as a Support Officer at Bradford Community & Voluntary Services. Peter is a school governor at Newby Primary School and has 14 years teaching experience, 20 years of youth & community work experience in Bradford, has been a youth work Ofsted Inspector and was Director of Bradford & District Safer City Project for five years. His voluntary work is extensive, exemplified by being a volunteer for the Princes Trust from 1988 to the present day.
Secretary
Dr Mohammed Salam
Haji Dr Mohammed Salam, JP, M.Sc, MBIM, AMITD was the founder member and first Chair of COEMO now REN. He served COEMO as its Chief executive for 16 years until his retirement recently. He was the Chair of Bradford Racial Equality Council, Chair of Bradford C-Net for over 10 years, Chair and trustee of Carlisle Business Centre. He was a magistrate for Bradford bench for over 20 years. He has received many awards locally, nationally and internationally. In 2009, Salam was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford for his contribution to the City..
Board Member
Ann-Marie Smith
Ann-Marie Smith is a mother of six children and has volunteered as a parent governor at her children’s school. Once completing a Nursery Nurse qualification,
Ann-Marie wanted to give back to the community and got involved in ACAP’s mentor programme, allowing her to further her skills by working with young people who the school system did not accommodate for.
In September 2015 with the help of ACAP, Ann-Marie started ‘Girls Gotta Ride’ cycling club, who meet weekly to keep women fit and healthy and promote cycling to African Caribbean women who tend to be missing from these events. Ann-Marie wanted to start a club that made a difference and successfully achieved this. Following this year’s AGM in January, Ann-Marie was elected as the Treasurer of ACAP.
Board Member
Charles Dacres
Charles is Director of Bradford Hate Crime Alliance (BHCA). His role is to ensure that there is a robust partnership in place to address hate crime and hate crime reporting across the district. Much of his work and experience addresses complex equality and diversity issues that impact on individuals, communities and organisations, developing approaches that enable leaders to better understand the needs of the people they serve.
Currently chairing the statues and monuments review across the Bradford district, Charles is working with community members and key stakeholders who are central to a successful outcome.
Board Member
Abdul Ismail
Abdul Hamid Ismail has lived in Bradford for over 50 years. He has vast experience of the voluntary and statutory sector and has worked for Bradford Council for over 18 years, Building Society Industry for 14 years and the legal field for 10 years. He has worked as a Grants and Commissioning Officer for Bradford & District CNet for over 12 years, and as a Coordinator for Bradford’s Big Local programme. Abdul has served on the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Panel of National Lotteries Charities Board, BBC North Regional Advisory Council, Community Health Council, Public and Patient Involvement Forum, Brunel Housing Association and as a Trustee of Community Development Foundation. He has served as a Governor of Bradford Hospitals Trust Foundation for over seven years. Abdul is currently a member of People’s Board, part of the CCG, Patient Partnership Network and his local GP Patient Partnership Group.
Board Member
Humayun Islam BEM BCAc
Humayun Islam is the Chief Executive of BEAP Community Partnership. He has extensive experience in partnership-working and developing organisations, for example developing a male domestic abuse service and the Bangla Bantams, a multicultural football supporters’ group.
Humayun is currently a Board Member of the Bradford City FC Community Foundation and West Riding Country Football Association, and is actively involved in the Believing in Bradford initiative.
Board Member
Mohammed Hamayun Arshad
Hamayun Arshad has experience working in the Environmental Health Division of Bradford Council, is a registered trainer with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and has significant experience in Employment Law.
He is currently the Director of Action for Businesses Limited (ABL) based at Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham and works for his own consultancy practice specialising in Human Resources/Food Safety/Health and Safety and Risk Management. In his spare time, Hamayun teaches young people how to cook simple Asian dishes and is an expert advisor to the BBC on Indian food.
Board Member
Ashok Nair
Ashok Nair is an active member of the Hindu Community and has served the voluntary community and multiple agencies for the past 45 years. Ashok is currently the Assistant Secretary of the Hindu Cultural Society of Bradford and Honorary Secretary of Bradford Punjabi Cultural Society. He was previously an active member and Vice Chair of COEMO.
Board Member
Manjit Kaur
Manjit Kaur is a born and bred Yorkshire lady. She has worked in the Interfaith sector for almost 30 years, continuing to work for the Interfaith and Diversity team in the council. Manjit is a family-orientated person and very passionate about faith, with “Equality between all” as her moto, regardless of colour, caste, creed, faith, gender. Manjit joined REN in the COVID-19 crisis and has been very active in keeping the Sikh community and other communities aware of the changes during this pandemic through volunteering. She is a holding trustee at one gurdwara and is also a member of the Board Representative of Bradford Gurdwaras (BRBG).
Board Member
Denise Sterling
Denise is an Occupational Therapist working in the NHS and has held a number of clinical, managerial and professional leadership positions. She is currently a non-executive director of Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust.
Denise is involved in the education sector as a chair of governors and trustee of Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust. She is an active member of Windrush Generations UK and strategically involved in the planning and delivery of community engagement projects.
Board Member
Shadim Hussain MBE
Shadim Hussain is the CEO of My Foster Family, an organisation in Bradford that ensures foster children obtain a caring, culturally competent placement. As as REN, Shadim is a Board member of Children England, Bradford Foundation Trust and Bradford4Better. He is passionate about family, kids in care, community and refugees.
Board Member
Sajad Hussain
Sajad Hussain works closely with REN through his role at Grange Interlink Community Centre, one of REN’s key community anchors and the location of its offices. He coordinates several of the activities that Grange Interlink hosts for families and young people, as well as operating the REN Helpline that has been crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Board Member
Nadera Amini
Nadera Amini is the founder of NAFS (Nutrition, Advice, Fitness, Self-care) an organisation in Bradford that supports predominantly Muslim women and girls to take part in sports and healthy eating. NAFS also provides hot meals to refugee, asylum seekers and migrant communities.
