Oldham MBE recipient Najma - 'It has been an honour and privilege to help and support individuals and communities'

Najma Khalid has been awarded and MBE for her services in engaging, developing and empowering communities in Oldham.

For over 25 years, Najma has worked with some of the most disadvantaged communities in Oldham.

Through her long-standing commitment, she has raised awareness locally, nationally and internationally.

With experiential knowledge and a management studies background, Najma has designed and delivered projects rooted in the creative arts, that have both drawn on and inspired academic thinking.

Notable projects include the British Council Active Citizens Programme, which saw 36 women undertake social action projects; the healthy cookbook, Chapatti and Chat, which aimed to tackle obesity and isolation.

Najma’s personal journey inspired her to provide support to women.

In 2011 she founded the renowned Women’s CHAI Project -Care, Help and Inspire; a widespread wellbeing project which has developed and empowered thousands of women locally, nationally and internationally over the years.

The project reaches out to an average of 100 women a week, helping them to make a difference in their lives, their children’s lives and in communities

In 2019 Najma was selected as the lead Organiser of Parent Power Oldham.

This is a collaborative project which empowers parents to improve their children’s access to higher education.

The project involves DfE Opportunity Area Oldham, Greater Manchester Higher, Women’s Chai Project, The Brilliant Club and Trinity College Cambridge.

It is based on the community organising-based model for parental engagement developed by Kings College London and Citizens UK.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Parent Power Oldham has gone from strength to strength.

Collaborative projects include, successful campaigns for bespoke open days at Edgehill University and Trinity College Cambridge, digital divide campaign, a monthly podcast, empowered & developed parents and young people.

Najma volunteers on many boards across Greater Manchester, and uses her voice and experience to voice issues and bring about change to benefit communities.

Najma works to impact social change; her work centres on celebrating diversity, cohesion, building bridges, bringing communities together and developing inter-cultural dialogue.

Her work has won national awards including an Honorary Master’s Degree from the Open University.

Najma is committed to developing community initiatives that make a real difference

Najma said: “It has been an honour and privilege, to help and support individuals and communities.

"There have been many struggles and challenges and a lot of hard work but it is an amazing journey, food for the soul, community service is embedded in my character, values that have been passed down generationally in my family.

“I don’t know which individual or organisation nominated me, and I know a lot of hard work goes into this type of nomination.

"I am truly honoured and humbled for this amazing recognition - it means so much to me, my family and my community.

“Community service is always about collaboration, united we make a difference.

"I couldn’t have got to where I am in life without the love and support of my faith, my family, my friends, my colleagues at Parent Power Oldham and the Women’s CHAI project, the amazing organisations and individuals we have worked with locally, nationally and internationally, and the Oldham community.

"I dedicate this honour to all of them."

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