This year Beeston’s Asha Neighbourhood Project will be celebrating it’s 40th anniversary and has appointed a CEO, Alia Nessa to strengthen its work with families and predominantly women in South Leeds.
Alia Nessa, who was born and raised in Beeston, says her new role is like “coming home again.” Having used the youth club as an 11 year old girl to build her own self esteem and confidence, she has first hand experience of how Asha’s uniqueness drove her own ambition to work to empower women, reducing health inequalities and social isolation. She brings over 23 years of experience in the charity sector and this year was selected as a UN delegate participant for the 69th Status of Women Commission discussing gender equality and women’s empowerment on a global level.
“My vision is to strengthen its foundation and enhance its resilience, ensuring that it can continue to serve its community for many more years. I want to help Asha expand, develop and evolve to meet the needs of all women and families in the area.”
As a practising integrative psychotherapist, Alia hopes to offer specialist creative therapies to women and families in South Leeds, more mental health support for young people and offer leadership and coaching programmes for young women to become tomorrow’s leaders as the Centre boasts 26 different languages currently.
As a finalist in last year’s Yorkshire Business Woman of the Year awards, she knows only too well the importance of diverse and inspiring role models for South Leeds families. She is hoping to offer more flexibility to opening times so the centre can be utilised and maximised more than ever as well as more entrepreneurship and mentoring and coaching programmes.
From April the Centre will be starting a series of celebrations, workshop and themed weeks to celebrate the 40th anniversary with a big event in July and November so watch this space!
Asha Neighbourhood Project is based at 43 Stratford Street, LS11 6JG. For more information visit their website, or Facebook page, or phone: 0113 270 4600.
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