By Joshua Robinson –
Former Mayor of Kirklees, Masood Ahmed, has been appointed as community engagement officer at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
Having chosen Forget Me Not as his mayoral charity of the year (2022-23), he will now be working to continue building relationships, raising awareness, and seeking financial support across the diverse communities the charity serves.
Masood said: “As mayor I was able to make connections across the region – with community groups, schools, mosques, churches, scout groups, businesses and more. Those, alongside my network of contacts built in my previous roles working in education, training and development, children’s services and youth work, will open up new opportunities for raising awareness and vital funds for Forget Me Not.”
“I want to highlight all the fantastic work that the hospice does, particularly within South Asian communities. While around 60% of the families Forget Me Not supports are from ethnic minority backgrounds, its work is not well-known amongst these communities. My role is to raise awareness and understanding so that more families are able to get the support they need. I want to show people that the hospice isn’t like a hospital or a place where sick children go to die. It’s more like somewhere you can feel at home, surrounded by people who can support you through the challenges you face.”
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Talking about his own experience of loss, Masood said: “One of my sons had an underlying health condition and we were in and out of hospital regularly. We spent more time in the intensive care unit than anywhere else. Forget Me Not didn’t exist at the time and there was no support for us as a family, no one to talk to, no one to help us deal with the situation.”
“When I visited the hospice 10 years ago, I was taken aback by what they offered. My heart melted and I was drawn like a magnet to this amazing charity.
Masood added: “Of course, Forget Me Not can only be there for families in need with the support of the whole community. This year, the charity needs to raise £5.5million and so relies on donations and fundraising from people, groups and businesses across West Yorkshire. I’m excited by the opportunity this role offers me to go out there, spread the word and raise as much money as possible.”
“It’s not just a job, it’s personal to me.”
Georgia Lane, Fundraising Manager at Forget Me Not said: “We’re delighted to welcome Masood to the team – although it feels like he’s been part of the family for a long time already! His support as mayor was invaluable, enabling us to develop partnerships with community groups, businesses and organisations that we wouldn’t have reached without him opening those doors. We look forward to his continuing that vital work as a member of staff!”
For more information about Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice please visit www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk