It has been a few weeks since I had the great honour of becoming Mayor of Rochdale. It is a huge privilege to serve the community, along with my wife, Mayoress of Rochdale Iram Faisal.
Since May I have already visited so many wonderful organisations, charities, schools, businesses and events in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines, and Rochdale. I am so proud to be your mayor. It has been quite the journey for me; one I am very proud of. My service began in Lahore, my place of birth. After completing my secondary education, I served as a commissioned officer in the Pakistan Navy. My background as a retired veteran remains the cornerstone of my strong work ethic, something I will bring to the role of mayor. I am truly humbled. Rochdale is my home, and I am proud Rochdalian, working hard for improved services and the wellbeing of all residents.
For my mayoral year I am proud to have chosen five causes that are extremely close to my heart: Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association; SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society); Springhill Hospice; The Christie; The Rochdale Veterans Breakfast Club.
Springhill Hospice is an incredible organisation, caring for patients and loved ones across the borough of Rochdale who are affected by life limiting conditions like cancer, motor neurone disease, and heart failure. The specialist care provided helps people enjoy the best possible quality of life, to the end of life. I know from personal experience, when my brother was diagnosed with cancer, what an important job Springhill Hospice do supporting and caring for people during their illness. I have also seen at first hand, from my visits in a personal and professional capacity, what a wonderful, dedicated and committed team of staff Springhill Hospice has. We are blessed to have Springhill in our borough and long may they continue to make every moment count.
The Christie is, for the same reason, particularly close to my heart. As a family we have a strong and emotional connection with this wonderful facility. The Christie is the largest single site cancer facility in Europe and the first in the UK to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre. The support they provided my brother was truly inspiring, from the heartfelt conversations, the blood tests, operations, and chemotherapy. Anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis will know how important it is to receive high-quality treatment, support and that dedicated personal touch. The Christie never fails to provide this, and I can’t speak highly enough of this organisation and the staff who work there. Truly world class. I am proud to be support The Christie throughout my mayoral year and beyond. They will never be forgotten.
I am also extremely proud to support SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society). Again, this is an organisation I have a deep emotional connection with, as my daughter tragically lost a child at stillbirth. They were there for my daughter and my family in our time of need. We will never forget. SANDS is the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity. They are always there to support everyone touched by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. It’s a sobering thought that in the UK 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth. At least one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage. Thousands of parents and families are experiencing the heartbreak of pregnancy and baby loss every year in the UK. For more than 40 years, SANDS has provided a safe, understanding, and caring community for anyone touched by pregnancy or baby loss. Long may they continue to do so. I will be doing my utmost to support their wonderful work.
My 15 years in the Armed Forces were some of the most fulfilling of my life. We have always prided ourselves in Rochdale on our work to support veterans. We never forget the service and sacrifice of those who help to keep us safe and to protect our shores. I didn’t hesitate to choose the Rochdale Veterans’ Breakfast Club as one of my charities. The breakfast club does an inspiring job, in bringing veterans together every week over a breakfast and brew. There are so many wider benefits to the breakfast club, not least in helping to boost veterans’ wellbeing and to reduce social isolation. Since it began around a decade ago, it’s gone from strength to strength, bringing together veterans at the Flying Horse Hotel to swap stories, reminisce and remember their service. Thousands of breakfasts are plated up every year, with over 50 vets a week being supported through the club. We do so much as a council to support our veterans and, through the mayor’s charity, this will enable the breakfast club to keep going from strength to strength.
My fifth charity is Rochdale’s Women’s Welfare Association (RWWA). RWWA is a dedicated women led organisation striving to empower all women, in particular black and minoritised women to reach their potential. This wonderful organisation tackles inequalities and works towards the elimination of violence against women and girls. They provide holistic support in a safe, culturally appropriate environment. Quite simply, they are inspirational. Every person has the right to be safe, empowered, and free from violence and the fear of violence. RWWA is in the heart of the community and delivering important and highly valued work, helping to empower the powerless and giving a voice to those who refuse to be silenced. I am honoured to be supporting the association as one of my charities.
Throughout my mayoral year the mayoress and I hope we can rely on your support, across the community, to raise important funds for these charities. Working together, we can all play our part in supporting what they do to improve people’s lives. I look forward to meeting as many people as possible over the coming 12 months, as I serve our wonderful borough as its civic head and first citizen.
Donations to my charities can be sent to:
The Mayor’s Office, Rochdale Borough Council, Floor 2, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU. If any organisation would like a visit, please ring 01706 924834 and my team will be happy to help. Further information on my charities and the work I will be undertaking can be found at rochdale.gov.uk/mayor
Councillor Faisal Rana
Mayor of Rochdale
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