Press Release - 6 April 2004

Celebration dinner for successful Regen Matters Network

A significant milestone has been achieved by The Regen Matters Network (RMN) and members are invited to celebrate in style.

The Regen Matters Network is a 3-year project run by QED, the national charity dedicated to improving the economic and social position of disadvantaged South Asian communities. The project is supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and aims to bring enthusiastic individuals, who want to make a difference to their community, together with regional policy-making bodies so that they can be involved with the decisions directly affecting their communities. QED offer a supportive mentoring service giving advice and guidance to those who require it and members receive regular bulletins informing them of opportunities and news.

The celebrations mark the recruitment of over 40 members from South Asian communities who are encouraged to sit on policy making boards, trusts, strategic partnerships and committees and to have a say in how their community is run.

"This will be a splendid event with excellent speakers who will share their experiences with the group!" said Mohammed Ali, OBE, chief executive of QED-UK "It will also be a great opportunity to network and to find out what each other is doing. We are inviting members of the Network and potential new members who feel that they can make a difference to find out about this unique initiative."

The event will be held from 6pm on Thursday 8th April 2004 at the Aakash Restaurant, Cleckheaton, Bradford. Speakers will include Iqbal Bhana, who is Regional Manager, Commission for Public Patient Involvement and previously held the post of Head of Equal Opportunities in Wakefield MDC and Mohammed Ajeeb CBE, chairman of a Primary Care Trust and former first Asian Lord Mayer.

For further details about the event please contact Mohammed Ali, OBE on 01274 483267