Honorary fellowship for former councillor

Arooj Shah

AN award-winning former councillor is to receive an honorary fellowship from University Campus Oldham.

Arooj Shah, who stood in the race to become Oldham Council leader before dramatically losing her seat, will receive the honour for outstanding work in the community.

It will be presented at UCO's graduation ceremony at Oldham Parish Church tomorrow.

Honorary fellowships will also be given to Dr Ian Wilkinson, head of NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, and former UCO head Debbie Bridge for their outstanding contributions to health and wellbeing and higher education respectively.

They follow in the footsteps of Professor Brian Cox, "Coronation Street" actresses Shobna Gulati and Sarah Lancashire, and world-renowned stained glass artists Brian Clarke, who are among those to have been honoured by UCO.

Ms Shah was elected as a councillor for St Mary's Ward in 2012, was a cabinet member and had stood to become the council leader before losing her seat to an independent candidate in May.

She won a Young Councillor of the Year Award in 2013, led a successful energy switching campaign, and is chairman of Labour Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women North-West.

Ms Shah also made the headlines in March when she revealed the harassment and intimidation she suffered as a female Asian councillor.

"It is such a huge honour to be receiving the honorary fellowship," said Ms Shah, who is communication and diary secretary for Oldham MP Jim McMahon.

Important

"It's a generous recognition for the work I have done and I will continue with my commitment to improving the borough and life opportunities for residents as my past, my present and my future is all about Oldham. It is important for politics and democracy to create conditions where people feel that they can come forward to play a part and that will be a cause that I will continue to pursue."

Wilkinson is a senior partner at Woodlands Medical Practice, Chadderton, and trained at the Institute forHealthcare Improvement in the USA and the World Health Organisation.

He has had many high-profile roles, has a particular interest in renal services and is chief clinical officer and accountable officer of the commissioning group which decides how more than £300 million of taxpayers' money is spent on health services in Oldham.

He said: "I was born and raised in Oldham and have worked for 39 years here. Improving the health of the people of Oldham has been a passion and it is with real pride that I will be receiving this recognition."

Ms Bridge became director of higher education at Oldham Business Management School in 2003 and oversaw the creation of University Campus Oldham, which aimed to encourage more people from different backgrounds to go to university.

Opened by Hollywood actor Sir Patrick Stewart in 2005, it was originally part of Huddersfield University before being taken over and saved from closure by Oldham College.

Ms Bridge was head until her retirement last year and said: "Graduation ceremonies at UCO are such special occasions, and I really am delighted to have been given the opportunity to share this year's ceremony with so many successful graduates and their families and friends.

"Being able to access a university education locally in Oldham offers a life-changing experience for the students and it is a privilege to have been associated with the development of UCO."

The trio will join around around 130 people who are graduating from ten courses in subjects such as performing arts, psychological studies, digital arts and construction.

The traditional graduation parade will leave the High Street at 10.30am before the ceremony at 11am.