Our community initiative is a reflection of our deep-seated values. As the Covid-19 pandemic started reshaping lives, its ripple effects touched every corner of our community. We dedicated resources to serve those most vulnerable in these challenging times, making a conscious effort to reach out to isolated individuals and families. We are immensely proud of our collaborative role with Trafford Council Sale West Hub, enabling us to participate in the essential “pick up and deliver” service. This meant delivering necessities like food parcels, weekly groceries, and prescriptions directly to people’s homes.
The local community of Trafford and the Three Meem Foundation acknowledged the tireless work of the NHS frontline staff. In gratitude, Three Meem raised £1089.46, which we donated to the Manchester University Foundation Trust Charity.
The response to our food bank appeal was remarkable. The local community faced our recent “winter appeal” challenge head-on, contributing clothes, food, and gifts for needy and vulnerable families. This successful endeavour was associated with the “Trafford south food bank”.
We also offer free legal consultation on various civil matters and guide our community members towards relevant support services that could benefit them, their friends, and their families.
We celebrate the community’s efforts and contributions through our annual awards ceremony. This year in March, we had the honour of hosting guests from different organisations, including the leader of the house Trafford Council as the chief guest. The event was well attended, with over 600 community members joining with their families and children.
One of our proudest moments was bringing together more than 19 diverse nationalities at an international food festival. This vibrant, colourful event featured a range of international cuisines and was attended by over 500 community members. It was heartening to witness people from diverse ethnic backgrounds working in harmony.
As we look ahead, the Three Meem Foundation remains committed to enhancing our community through various projects and forming partnerships with other organisations. We hold monthly community meetings to facilitate connections among community members and provide networking opportunities for families. In collaboration with other organisations such as the Rotary Club, Trafford Leisure, Trafford Council, and Sale West, we strive to maximise the benefits to our community.
Free Legal Counsel Initiative
Local legal experts have graciously volunteered their time and knowledge to support this endeavour. They are prepared to advise on various subjects, including employment, family matters, housing and welfare, consumer rights, contract law, issues affecting small businesses, wills and probate, and immigration law. Please be aware that these consultations aim to provide preliminary guidance only. Given our status as a charitable entity, we can only finance continued assistance after the initial consultation. The Three Meem Foundation organises this free and impartial legal counsel. We assure you that all advice is unbiased, confidential, and offered without discrimination. However, kindly note that advice on criminal matters will not be available.
Matrimonial Service
A significant component of community-building revolves around individuals coming together to form families. However, we’re currently faced with a substantial issue related to Muslim marriages. Many men and women keen to tie the knot encounter various challenges when finding a suitable life partner. The report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission states that Asian women are more likely to occupy professional roles compared to their male counterparts. This fact further narrows down the pool of potential partners who are intellectual and economic equals. Complicating the situation further, forced marriages are also an issue as parents grapple to find suitable matches for their children. To counteract these challenges, a complimentary matrimonial service was established. This service facilitates introductions to families within the community, offering support to both parents and women. One of the key objectives of this initiative is to increase awareness about forced marriages. The service operates entirely voluntarily.
You can contact Fozia Bilal directly on Monday to Thursday between 8-9 pm on
07458308012.
International Culinary Extravaganza: A Fusion of Flavors and Cultures
The International Food Festival recently unfolded as a grand spectacle of culinary delights, drawing participation from 19 countries spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia. It wasn’t just a celebration of global flavours and the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and communities.
Each participating country proudly displayed its flag, transforming the festival into a riot of colours. The participants, dressed in their vibrant traditional attire, added another layer of authenticity to the event. The visuals were as delightful as the Flavors that wafted through the air, enticing everyone present.
Andrew Western, the esteemed guest of honour, eloquently expressed his admiration and thoughts. He observed, “Seeing phenomenal food festival 3 Meem has arranged with a collection of different international cuisines, but the heart of this event is a real sense of community, bringing people of diverse backgrounds together, working with the community and empowering and engaging the community. It’s heartening to see that such values align closely with the priorities of Trafford Council.”
The festival was not just about food. It was a wholesome, family-friendly affair. Children, their faces lit up with joy, made a beeline for the bouncy castle while adults perused many stalls. These stalls, set up by local small businesses, showcased various products, drawing keen interest from attendees. The community displayed immense support, making purchases and promoting the spirit of local entrepreneurship.
But of course, at its heart, the mouth-watering international cuisines stole the show. Attendees were seen relishing familiar and exotic dishes, but all were universally appreciated for their tantalising taste.
The International Food Festival was more than just a gastronomic gathering. It celebrated community, tradition, and the beautiful diversity that uniquely enriches our world.
2nd Annual Awards and Community Dinner
Three Meem Foundation recently hosted its 2nd annual awards and dinner event. Tom Ross, the leader of the house, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
Several esteemed guests were in attendance, including George Devlin, Jane Dennison along with her team from Trafford Collective, Karen Wroe from Rotary Club, Ralph Rudden representing Firs Community Benefit Society, Frida Ayden, Samuel Cooper, Atvar Diggwa, Jonathan Francis from Sale Leisure Centre, and Dave Hannigan from Sale Scouts.
The event witnessed a massive turnout of over 650 attendees, encompassing families and children. The community had 15 diverse local business stalls, all bustling with enthusiastic shoppers. The children were particularly entertained by a bouncy castle, overseen by dedicated volunteers, ensuring they had a delightful time.
The community’s unity and familial bond were palpable, with various attractions like a Taekwondo display for girls led by Sister Safia Florence and a martial arts presentation by the boys under the tutelage of Adeel Khan. A standout moment was Aidh’s demonstration of karate board breaking.
Tom Ross lauded the Three Meem Foundation for its many activities in his address. He then had the honour of presenting certificates to the winners from the Speakers Club, outstanding students from both junior and senior divisions of the 3meem School, the top-performing 3meem School teacher, the most dedicated youth volunteer, the exceptional volunteer in women’s services, and the standout volunteers in community projects.
The awards ceremony followed a community dinner where guests mingled, fostering connections and strengthening community ties.
Career Guidance Webinars
Often, both students and parents grapple with obtaining relevant career guidance. Such counsel can significantly streamline the decision-making process as students navigate their educational journey and approach the threshold of entering the workforce. Key insights many seek include understanding how to embark on a professional career and the essential tips for navigating the university application process. Recognising this need, Three Meem liaised with various professional institutions. As a result, a sequence of informative workshops was organised and executed, covering fields such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Accounting & Finance, Pharmacy, IT and Computer Science, Teaching, Architecture, and the Civil Service. All these sessions can be accessed on the 3Meem YouTube channel, offering invaluable guidance for parents and students and aiding them in making informed university degree choices.
English Language Classes ESOL
The Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper from March 2018 reveals that a higher percentage of women, compared to men, from various ethnic backgrounds, especially South East Asia, report having limited or no English proficiency. Insufficient English language skills can significantly limit one’s job prospects, social integration, participation in community activities, and accessibility to essential services. This, in turn, can prevent individuals from achieving independence, self-confidence, and autonomy. The UK government promotes English learning even for non-native speakers, a stance supported by the Trafford Council. Three Meem has initiated English language classes, led by Shahida Awan every Tuesday. These classes, held at Coppice Library, will continue after the summer holidays and are open to any woman seeking to enhance her English proficiency.
Community and Women’s Social Events
The Women’s Social Group provided a lifeline during the pandemic, hosting weekly interactive Zoom sessions where participants could ask questions and share ideas. This virtual gathering was a beacon of hope amidst the isolation, proving enjoyable and beneficial for mental well-being. Once restrictions were lifted, this tight-knit community celebrated their newfound bond with an Eid lunch party at a local park. With home-cooked dishes in tow, it was a heartwarming experience to meet in person those they had only known digitally finally.
Starting October 29, 2022, Three Meem began organising monthly community gatherings. These casual events invite residents, particularly newcomers, to mingle, expand their social circles, and learn about various community programs and resources. We encourage feedback, suggestions, and addressing concerns as we believe in the pivotal role of each voice in moulding our community. Partner organisations and groups are also invited to showcase their contributions that benefit the community. These gatherings are enriched by families who contribute food for everyone to relish. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received underscores the importance and success of these events in our community
Eid Milan & Community Gathering, 2021
In 2021, one of the most heartwarming sights was witnessing the joyous faces of our community members coming together after an extended lockdown. The collective emotion, the relief, and the celebration were unlike anything we’d ever experienced, especially given the backdrop of the pandemic. This was more than a long-awaited event for Three Meem; it was a milestone.
Beyond just an Eid Festival, the gathering showcased the community’s remarkable accomplishments. It was a testament to unity and determination. Demand for the event was high, with 300 tickets sold out quickly. We went above and beyond to ensure an entertaining and luxurious atmosphere with activities like henna decorating and face painting, not to mention the array of delicious Asian delicacies that added to the vibrancy.
We were honoured to have distinguished community figures join us. Our special guests were Kate Green, MP and Shadow Minister for Education, and Andrew Western, Leader of Trafford Council. Mayor Laurence Walsh, Councillor Waseem Hassan, Councillor Steven Longden, and Jonathan Francis, the Business Head of Sale Leisure. Their presence signified the commitment to community welfare shared by them and Three Meem.
The pride and admiration they felt in seeing the community’s growth, even amidst the challenges of the pandemic, were palpable. It was a joyous atmosphere filled with laughter, lively conversations, and impeccably dressed attendees. We hope to recreate such moments in our future gatherings. Kate Green graciously autographed copies of the “Hamara Heritage Anthology” and handed them and certificates to the contributing authors. Awards from Three Meem School, GCSC Urdu, and young creative writers were presented by Kate Green, spotlighting the talents and achievements within our community. The Three Meem Foundation remains dedicated to uplifting and encouraging the diverse groups within our community.
Mayor Steven Laurence, in his speech, appreciated efforts by the Three Meem Foundation on 21st August 2021
“We share the founding principle of the Three Meem Foundation
to respond to the needs of any individual in the community, regardless
of their faith, ethnic background or social status.”
“Three Meem Foundation aims to conduct multi-purpose non-discriminatory community activities which will serve the needs of all members of their community. I look forward to working with the foundation.”
Andrew Western
“As the Traffic Council leader, ” thank you and congratulations. The activities you are undertaking are very much the activities that we in the council are trying to undertake to help all our residents.”
“We appreciate the work that we want to work very closely with you across Trafford in the months and years ahead and that we wish you every success as an organisation.”
“Two things that matter to me as the leader of the council and that is enabling families and communities to thrive, but we do that by working with organisations such as Three Meem who recognise, as we heard from the good doctor, that the best of us are those who serve and the service that you are giving to the community is fantastic.”
Kate Green, MP and shadow education secretary
“What a wonderful evening it’s been to hear about so many of the projects and programmes you’re running for the people of this community. I’m like, Mr Mayor and Andrew Western. I also want to thank you for the difference you are making.”
“And I want to say to you, particularly, as Muslims in our community, it’s fascinating that you’re a growing and increasingly important part of the community. And one of the reasons is that you’re a young community, and it’s very much to your credit; I think you are investing in your young people to take the leadership roles we will need from you in the coming years. It’s one of the great strengths of Trafford that we can draw on the talents and the potential of young people. And that’s why I have so much hope for the future, that you’re committing to the programmes you’re running here.”
