**PRESS RELEASE**

Aawaz charity celebrates International Womens Day!

AAWAZ, Accrington based women’s charity celebrated in style the International Womens Day by holding a glittering celebration attended by 275 guests from across the county.

This year’s event marks the charity’s seventeen years of services to the communities. Jean Battle AAWAZ Patron said: “we are very pleased to have the Mayor of Hyndburn Councillor Judith Addison and the Mayoress, Mayor of Preston Councillor Veronica Affrin and the Chairman  Lancashire County Council County, Councillor Michael Devaney, Chairman of Preston and Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council, Mr Makhlusar Rehman and the leader of Hyndburn Council, Miles Parkinson to have witnessed firsthand the charity’s good work”.

The Mayor of Hyndburn Councillor Judith Addison, commended the AAWAZ team for their good work and said “this is a real example of a voluntary sector organisation helping communities to make a positive difference”.

This year’s highlight was the work of young people who are involved in an oral history project which depicts the achievement of south Asian women who arrived in East Lancashire during the period 1965-1985.

The charity recognised the achievement of a number of women for their voluntary and community work and presented them with the Women of Achievement awards.

   

This year’s winners are:

• Mrs Zubeda Bi of Accrington for her dedication and commitment to learning the English language

• Ms Doreen Lawton, for spearheading the Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club and involvement and commitment to community work.

•  Heather Slater (Burnley) for her voluntary work with St Peters Church

• Delia Johnson (Preston) for her voluntary work with African Caribbean communities

• Hafez BiBi Padia (Preston) for her community and voluntary work within the south Asian communities in Preston.

• An extra special award was presented to Accrington’s Pam Barton, who was described “as someone who always has time for others”.

•Young people awards were given to – Aaminah-Azra Ahme Tutu Mukelabaid , Jamila Digankar and Adam Suleman for their outstanding achievement in helping others.

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Carmel Cunliffe , Project Officer