Mayor’s Column: Councillor Aasim Rashid

Date published: 22 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 Thursday 5 August to Sunday 15 August.

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I want to start this column by explaining my main aim for the next year as the Mayor of Rochdale. I would hope to leave a legacy after my twelve months in the mayoral role – one that eliminates any kind of racism or discrimination within our home, the borough of Rochdale. I want to create a very positive atmosphere within our varying communities, so we can build stronger together. I need the help from each and every community to achieve this mission and spread the positive message of stronger integration.

I am proud to not only be a mayor from the BAME community, but a mayor for everyone.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom competition was welcomed back to Rochdale on Thursday 5 August for regional judging day. Judges Bernard Pendleton and Maxine Lord toured the town to examine the visual presentation and efforts of the local Rochdale in Bloom group.

I welcomed them to the town centre at Rochdale Riverside before they toured the Riverside shopping and leisure complex – a new town centre entry in the competition - and Baillie Street Quarter and ginnels including Bull Brow, The Butts Avenue, and The Bank steps.

I have high hopes that Rochdale can go for gold again this year. Thank you to all those involved in Rochdale in Bloom for keeping our town vibrant and welcoming.
 

Read more: Rochdale in Bloom shows its roots in the community on regional judging dayPublished: 06 August 2021

 

 

On Friday 6 August I went to Heywood Cricket Club for the end of an annual walk for Parkinson’s UK, which is one of my chosen charities this year. This walk has been completed annually since 2006 to raise money for the charity, with a group walking around 20 miles each day over a week

I welcomed the participants to the cricket club at the end of the challenge and presented them with awards for their journey. Well done to all involved.

 

 

It was Springhill Hospice’s annual summer garden celebration on Sunday 8 August, which the Mayor of Whitworth, Councillor Maureen Jones, also attended. As the hospice is another of my local chosen charities, I was delighted to attend and witness the fundraising, which totalled around £4,000 on the day.

I enjoyed a tour of the hospice gardens and spent time with volunteers and local families as they shared stories and admired the efforts of our local hospice.

 

Read more: Springhill Hospice celebrates with summer garden celebrationPublished: 18 August 2021

 

 

It was Pakistan Independence Day on 14 August, and I started the celebrations with a flag raising at 10am in front of the Number One Riverside building. Pakistan Independence Day commemorates the declaration of Pakistan as a sovereign nation, following the end of the British Raj in 1947 and is a national holiday in Pakistan.

 

 

Later, a cricket match was also arranged to celebrate on the day. The match was played on the Bamford Fieldhouse ground where Rochdale XI won the cricket cup.

 

 

I attended an open day at Recovery Republic in Heywood, where I enjoyed and tried to play some music. The founder, Dr Michael Taylor, opened Recovery Republic in 2012 when he realised that people suffering from drug and alcohol misuse or abuse had no support from the NHS once they were discharged. He bought premises on York Street and with the help of volunteers has built up the establishment to be a place of warmth and love where you can get additional help.

He is a very passionate man who has achieved so many amazing things. I hope he can continue his work for many years to come. It is a great initiative, especially for those who really are suffering so they can be given back some sort of normality.

 

 

To remember and thank all those from the many nations who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today, I attended Heywood Memorial Gardens with fellow councillors to commemorate the 76th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day.

Whilst VE Day (Victory in Europe) marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East, known as the Burma Campaign. VJ Day marks the day Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which in effect ended the Second World War.

To all those who sacrificed their lives in the war, they shall never be forgotten. Lest we forget.

 

Read more: Remembering the 76th anniversary of VJ DayPublished: 18 August 2021

 

 

I visited the Pakeeza Women’s Group on Monday 16 August. 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 a community event bringing everyone together. Thank you to all the Pakeeza members for their hard work.

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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