COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (045) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 9 March 2009
The Muslim
Women's Advisory group have today kicked off a project to get
more Muslim Women' involved in politics.
There are at least 800,000 Muslim women living in Britain today
but they are under-represented in positions of influence in
British civic society including roles such as school governors and
local councillors. The Muslim Women's Advisory Group
therefore wants to provide the support to increase the skills,
knowledge, and confidence, of Muslim women to enable more to seek
positions in civic society and public office.
The project 'Play Your Part - Make Your Mark' will work
with women that are already starting to get involved in public
life in order to give them the extra support that they need to
progress as far as possible; and it will also work with women who
have not yet put themselves into the public sphere but who want to
do so.
The project will involve:
* A residential weekend at a leading UK university which will
focus on developing networking and communication skills and giving
the participants the opportunity to meet with a range of existing
mentors and role models such as established magistrates,
councillors, school governors and public appointment recruitment specialists
* Two follow up one day programmes. The first will specialise in
the finer skills of power and influence, pace and timing,
leadership and teamwork, adapting to new environments, knowing
your strengths, broadening your vision, courage and caution and
preparing to lead change. The second day will develop public
speaking skills such as negotiation and debating.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
"I am delighted to see this project getting off the ground,
and I hope that as many Muslim women as possible will take
advantage of the opportunity to increase their skills. Muslim
women can be a powerful force and as local leaders are vitally
important in making their communities stronger. But, we need to
see more Muslim women getting involved in politics at all levels -
from school governors and local councillor's right through to
the national level.
"In my work with the Muslim Women's Advisory Group I
see women who are empowered and confident and who have achieved
great things. This month is international women's month - so
let's lead the way, and through this project help even more
women to gain the confidence to step into the public arena."
Reedah Al-Saie, a member of the Muslim Women's advisory
group said:
"Muslim Women are significantly under-represented in civic
life. Like other women, they have a wide variety of skills which
are under-utilised; they multi-task, balance family, home,
community and work needs on a regular basis. Our Civic Skills
Project 'Play Your Part - Make Your Mark' aims to
encourage, highlight and celebrate the contribution that Muslim
women are making to Britain. We aim to nurture the skills, talents
and confidence of women on the programme and make progressive
change by enhancing their networks within, and appointing mentors
from, mainstream civic and political life in order to ensure more
MPs, councillors, magistrates, schools governors and public
appointments are secured."
For details of how to apply for the project please visit the
website http://www.localleadership.gov.uk
for an application form, to apply for a free place on this unique
course, the deadline for applications is March 23 2009.
In addition if you have any queries please contact Paul Wheeler
paul.wheeler@politicalskills.com or your Regional National Muslim
Women's Advisory Group member details below:
East Midlands: Parvin Ali - info@fatima-network.com
London: Reedah Nijabat El-Saie - reedah@IslamicArtandDesign.com
North West: Siddika Ahmed - siddika.ahmed@gonw.gsi.gov.uk
Scotland: Farkhanda Chaudhry - ummhashim04@yahoo.co.uk
Yorkshire andHumber: Naheed Arshad-Mather - naheed.a-m@ntlworld.com
Notes to editors
1. The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) was
formed in November 2007 and is made up of 19 Muslim women from all
over country representing a wide spectrum of communities,
professions and traditions.
2. The MWAG meets several times a year and are an independent
informal group advising on issues to empower Muslim women and
increase their participation in civic, economic and social life.
NMWAG has been set up by Communities and Local Government as part
of its work to prevent violent extremism.
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