Reflections of a \’Mission Driven\’ Leader

2022 turned out to be a great year for Waltham Forest Community Hub despite our anticipations of being severely affected by loss of earned income and an increase in the demand for our services. Fortunately, we had been prepared to focus all our energies towards fundraising to continue existing work as well as expanding those services that were in the greatest demand.

The beautiful `Community Hub\’ located in the heart of Walthamstow Village

This year I was also approached by Kate Burley who was keen to shadow me as part of her Masters in Voluntary Sector Leadership Course, which she was undertaking at Bayes Business School. This was a first for me, and I really didn\’t know what to expect except that I was hopeful for critical feedback as a great learning opportunity for me. It was a tough decision for me as I had to make room in my busy schedule for someone to watch my every move so that they could analyse my behaviour. My role as CEO at the Community Hub is a very busy one, but what tipped the balance was my need to fulfil social responsibility. I saw my decision to allow another woman studying leadership to shadow me as a way of increasing capacity within the voluntary sector. Kate interviewed me Live on LinkedIn too. You can listen to the interview here:

You have to be a visible public face to have influence in policy making, which is crucial in leading an organisation even if it feels uncomfortable and hasn\’t always been the most favourable approach in our overstretched and under resourced sector. Following attendance of several meetings organised by our Local Authority, I found myself contributing towards the borough\’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and participating on the Health Inequalities Advisory Board. These are important forums that usually have very little engagement from the voluntary sector. By engaging with the process I was able to point out the obvious. Voluntary sector leaders like me don\’t get paid to attend meetings that are often organised by paid public sector staff. The solution is simple – pay voluntary sector leaders for their time and expertise.

Knowing that Waltham Forest as a borough has the second highest level of fuel poverty out of 32 London boroughs meant our small charity had to pivot once again to prepare ourselves for the cost of living crisis. In the summer we fortunately came to the attention of the Cadent Gas Network who were keen to collaborate with us. By September we had developed a remarkable partnership with Cadent Gas who agreed to fund our charity to set up an Energy Warmth Centre from October, for the residents of Waltham Forest.

Cadent Gas donated Winter Coats & Jackets for the community

In November I plucked up the courage to go away to Bangladesh for 3 weeks knowing that I would be missing one of my favourite events – the Christmas Lunch for Pensioners. Although my team always give me great reassurance, it was tough for me to detach myself from something that is very close to my heart. The first time the Christmas Lunch took place I was able to add my little twist of making it a \’Halal Christmas\’, which was an attempt to be inclusive and welcoming for the Muslim population of the borough. Residents living in sheltered housing and feeling isolated was the initial motivation behind setting up such an event. Upon my return from holiday, it was a great joy to receive all the wonderful feedback from attendees and sponsors.

The staff team reflected great teamwork and leadership. They had to work really hard this year due to staff shortage, enabling particular staff members to step up and rise to the occasion. I am incredibly proud of their passion and commitment in making it so special for our elderly service users and the young people who supported the event as volunteers.

People say great leaders make their Team feel safe knowing that their leader has their back, but on this occasion my Team have taught me `that it is a TEAM that provides the safety for a CEO or Director to shoulder responsibility, especially when the going gets tough!\’

As the quote above by Andy Rooney suggests – I did climb Ben Nevis in September 2022. However, during the weeks leading up to the climb, my gut told me it might be too challenging for me. I wasn\’t fit enough and neither was I prepared to face my lifelong fear of heights (which I once naively assumed I had overcome). Yet I thought I could overcome my fears just as I have most of my life. My stints of work with prisoners on Death Row and the Metropolitan Police (when I had to wear a bullet proof vest) got me pretty accustomed to taking risks.

`Team Ben Nevis\’ – fundraising for Stow Inspire CIC

Climbing Ben Nevis was an ambition I just couldn\’t give up on – especially after building excitement and enthusiasm in 12 other people to make a difference in the lives of 3 women living in a poverty stricken area of Bangladesh.

The first shelters that were turned into homes for widows and divorcees in Bangladesh, from 2017 – 2019.

The ultimate outcome of a Fundraiser can be a great motivator for any difficult challenge and in this case money raised would enable us to help turn Beauty Begum and her daughters\’ shelter into a home. Team Ben Nevis managed to raise £2,830, exceeding our original target of £2,500! https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/teambennevisfundraiser

After raising the money in September, Stow Inspire wanted the house to be built during November/December time, which is dry season in Bangladesh and the best time for it. Although I was born in Bangladesh, I had never been to Noakhali before. This time however, when Parvin – one of the Directors – mentioned that they were travelling to Bangladesh, I felt a strong desire to also visit. This grew from my sudden wish to physically see the proceeds of the fundraiser reach the beneficiaries.

I travelled on 17th November and reached Bangladesh on 18th December, travelling straight to Noakhali (5 hour journey from Dhaka airport) with Parvin and her mum. The very next day, Parvin and I visited Beauty Begum as well as 4 other women that Stow Inspire had helped to build houses for between 2017 – 2019. I met the first recipient of our support – Bali (a divorcee), whose shelter was turned into a home in 2017 – the one that set the precedent for the rest. At that time somebody had donated leftover bricks for Bali\’s home, which was not a part of the original plan. However, that example sparked the idea of having bricks as foundation for the houses.

Our Project Manager Rasel also introduced me to a group of young men in their late teens and early 20s who were the volunteers that usually helped with any Stow Inspire charity work. When I called them the `Noakhali Team\’ they started beaming with pride. From listening to them I realised that beyond Primary or Secondary School young men in the villages usually have very little to do and the volunteering had clearly given them a purpose and a sense of belonging. I felt gratitude for their support, but other than buying them chocolates, I didn\’t know how else to give them recognition, but I made a mental note to think of something when I get back to the UK.

Beauty Begum and her daughters\’ new home being built in December 2022

The money we raised stretched even further than we could have imagined. We were able to contribute a large amount of the donations towards the building of a house for 102 year old Amina and her daughter, who live in extreme poverty. Until 2 years ago the mother and daughter survived on 100 year Amina\’s begging income. Both mother and daughter are overwhelmed with gratitude to the wonderful donors whose generosity has enabled them to live with dignity.

When I was in Bangladesh last month I met 2 other mothers; Maya and Meena, both of whom are single parents in desperate need of financial assistance to build homes.

When I met Amina and Fadibun Begum

During the last week of December, I made a call out for young women who want to help fundraise to build two homes in 2023. My intention was to bring together a group of young women, who I would personally mentor as part of a Group Leadership Programme. I met with a group of 7 who have now formed a Team (they call themselves Team SLAY) that will go on to create multiple outcomes that touch hundreds of lives as \’Young Trailblazers\’. These young women are now organising a fundraising event to raise funds to build homes this year.

You\’ll soon hear about Tickets for a Women Only event – Watch this space!

I wonder if the visionary young woman Anne Frank could imagine how many of us she would continue to inspire when she said? \”How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world\”. – Anne Frank

My Strategic Plan for 2023

Engage with me if you want to:

1. Join my Community Network via LinkedIn, my YouTube Channel: Monwara Ali on YouTube or this Blog,
2. Sign up for my two Leadership Programmes in May & Sept 2023,
3. Donate to any of our Fundraisers for Stow Inspire,
4. Buy a Ticket to attend the Ladies Night being organised by my Young Stow Inspirers or donate a Raffle Prize,
5. Sponsor a house for single parent women living in Bangladesh, or
6. Pay for a Sewing Machine (£90) for my Women\’s Learning Centre in Bangladesh,
7. Book me up as a Motivational Speaker.