Sabina takes on new role in community

Sabina Akhtar pictured with Liz McIlroy and Father Nick Smeeton, at Holy Trinity, Coldhurst

A community worker from Barnardo’s Asha project is leaving to become a community worker at two local churches.

Sabina Akhtar will be a community development worker in Coldhurst after being recruited by the team parish of Holy Trinity, Coldhurst, and St Stephen’s, Lowermoor.

She will work in partnership with her former employers, the Barnardo’s Asha Project in Westwood, where she has been helping individuals take up training to seek employment.

In her new role, starting on August 1, she will focus on parents with children at the Holy Cross and Saint Hilda’s primary schools.

Father Nick Smeeton, team vicar of Holy Trinity and chairman of the community project, said: ‘We were well aware of the fantastic work that Sabina was doing with Barnardo’s, and so when the funding for her employment came to an end we were delighted that she applied to work for our project.

“Our partnership work with the Asha Project has already been extremely productive and we are all very excited about the next stage.”

Liz McIlroy, children’s services manager for the Asha Project, said: ‘We’re so pleased that Sabina has been recruited by the Church Community Project.

“Her work with Barnardo’s was funded through the Learning Skills Council for a short period only but people in Westwood and Coldhurst took full advantage of the learning opportunities she helped make available.

“It’s great news that she is now able to continue this excellent work and we look forward to extending our partnership with the church, schools and local community.”