Mayor's Column: Councillor Aasim Rashid

Date published: 10 August 2021

Councillor Aasim Rashid was sworn in as the Mayor of Rochdale on Wednesday 19 May 2021.

This weekly column is about the places he has been and the people he has met from 3 July – 12 July 2021.

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Saturday 3 July was International Co-op Day, on which I visited Rochdale’s very own Co-operative at 31 Toad Lane, now known as Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

Hosted in the room that was first opened on Saturday 21 December 1844 when 28 local workers began trading as a co-operative at Toad Lane, this was the first time the museum had been open to visitors since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the event marked the return to full opening hours.

Family friendly activities such as banner making, trails, modelling, and food and drink were provided, as well as conversations about how the museum can 'Rebuild Better, Together'. The day was also Co-operatives Fortnight, so The Co-operative Heritage Trust asked residents how the museum can better tell the story of co-operation by choosing objects and helping decide what sort of events to host in the building.

Rochdale is the proud home of co-operation, and I am certainly proud of its financial revolution not only in UK, but the ideals of the Co-operative society which have been shared across the world.

 

 

There was a record-breaking number of 99 candidates for the annual Children’s Champion elections this year, which are held in all primary schools across Rochdale.

From the 99 candidates, the election results were declared at Moss Street Youth Centre on 7 July, where I gave out awards to the newly elected 10-year-old Grace Butterworth from Whittaker Moss Primary School in Norden.

Being named the new children’s champion for 2021/22, Grace secured 1,752 votes from a total of 7,651 cast in this year’s elections. 

10-year-old Hashim Hussain from Belfield Primary School was elected deputy children’s champion. I wish them both all the best in their new roles and am really looking forward to seeing the work they complete over the next year.
 

Read more: New children’s champion elected following record breaking entriesPublished: 15 July 2021

 

 

The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Diane Mary Hawkins JP DL, invited all ten Greater Manchester mayors to an afternoon tea on Thursday 8 July so we could all finally meet and discuss various things, such as how we can exchange different projects and programmes across the region.

We joined together at Bibbys Farm Scout Camp Site & Activity Centre in Chorley, as the High Sheriff is proud to chair Bolton Scout Trust, which owns and operates Bibbys Farm. This was an ideal place to entertain us all in an environment with lots of fresh air and space.

The High Sheriff expressed her interest in visiting Rochdale and seeing it through my eyes as the mayor. She has attended citizenship ceremonies at Rochdale Town Hall in the past, and hopes to attend again as the High Sheriff. I will be glad to take her up on her offer and will be inviting the High Sheriff to tour our town to see the best of Rochdale.

 

 

My next event was the Lee Rigby, Scott Hetherington, and Manchester 22 memorial ride on Sunday 11 July. Approximately 400 riders plus dignitaries came together at Rochdale Sports Club for the annual ride at 9am, ready for the convoy to depart at 11am. Before this, a memorial service was hosted by Revd Gavin Vitler, and a truck naming ceremony in memory of Fusilier Lee Rigby was held.
 

Read more: Hundreds gather to remember Lee Rigby, Scott Hetherington and the Manchester 22 with annual memorial ride and truck namingPublished: 12 July 2021

Read more: Veterans into Logistics pay tribute to Fusilier Lee Rigby at truck namingPublished: 23 July 2021

 

 

Sunday evening brought the England v Italy Euro 2020 final, and the mayoress and I watched in anticipation in support of the England team who played very well. There is always going to be one loser and one winner, and I strongly believe that the England team emerged as heroes. They brought the nation together after some challenging times; what an achievement to have reached the Euro 2020 final.

 

Come on @England – let’s do this! Fingers crossed for an England v Italy final 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ItsComingHome @aasimrashid11 @RochdaleMayor #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/e5Nt7t2vbN

— Rochdale Borough Council (@RochdaleCouncil) July 7, 2021

 

The 12 July marked the opening ceremony for Springside School’s health and wellbeing week, promoting mindfulness and mental health. Each class from the school, based on Albert Royds Street which caters for young people with learning difficulties, represented a country from the Olympic games and learnt about that country.

I was welcomed for the opening ceremony, and I was delighted to see one of the classes perform with Skylight Circus Arts, as well as a performance of the New Zealand Haka.

Carole Kelly, who works at the school and the founder of Jolly Josh – one of the local charities I am supporting this year – gave me a tour of the premises and a briefing on assessments in classrooms as a lot of the pupils are high risk children.

I strongly believe Springside School are doing wonderful work in the community, providing much needed support, care and attention to those children that need it, enabling them to have more independent lives in future.

 

 

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The Mayor’s Charity Appeal for 2021/22 is raising funds for Springhill Hospice, Parkinson’s UK, Petrus Rochdale, Jolly Josh, and Rochdale Shopmobility. All donations are gratefully received and will go to these fantastic local causes.

You can donate to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal (registered charity number 1043910) by:

BACS or bank transfer:
Barclays Bank Rochdale Branch
Account Name: Mayor of Rochdale's Charity Appeal
Account Number: 53356159
Sort code: 20-72-67

Cheque: make cheques payable to The Mayor's Charity. You can drop them off at the front desk at Number One Riverside or post them to:

​​The Mayor's Office
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale
OL16 1XU​​​​

Phone (one-off text giving): Text ROCHDALE to 70085 to donate £5. Texts costs £5 plus one standard rate message.

 

 

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 924890