ASHA Neighbourhood Project’s CEO Alia Nessa was amongst third sector partners who met recently with Ed Whiting, new Chief Executive of Leeds City Council to discuss issues and concerns impacting South Leeds.
The meeting, hosted by Hamara, focused on difficulties that residents, local communities, women, and families are experiencing, including societal inequalities such as the cost of living, health disparities, mental health challenges, and a lack of employment opportunities and decent living conditions.
Beeston-based ASHA is a neighbourhood centre providing support and education to a diverse community of women with the aim of making life better for women and children. With ASHA celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Alia introduced the wide range of work the centre does in hosting English language classes, IT training, friendship groups and providing advice and advocacy on health and wellbeing, housing, education, welfare benefits, training and employment.
“ASHA is about truly making a difference for women. We advocate for racial justice and give a voice to their concerns—issues that many struggle to express due to language barriers and cultural differences,” she explained.
“The emerging themes from discussions at our meeting were productive, as we aim to strengthen partnerships across the sector. We explored further collaboration and the potential support from larger organisations that can provide resources and skills to smaller organisations by sharing contacts and expertise.”
Alia added: “We appreciated Ed Whiting taking time out of his busy schedule to genuinely listen to the pressing challenges we face as leaders in the third sector. I hope to invite him to visit the ASHA Centre to speak directly with service users and to see first-hand the incredible work we deliver.”
This post is based on a press release issued by ASHA Neighbourhood Project
Photo: Alia Nessa (8th from left) with Leeds City Council CEO Ed Whiting and fellow third sector leaders who met at Hamara recently.
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