WomenZone

My name is Mehjabeen and I’m a Youth Engagement Officer at WomenZone. My role at WomenZone entails engaging with young people in a variety of ways, through different and exciting activities. I also work with schools, delivering mental health workshops to young people.

I am also a qualified and experienced secondary maths teacher, and in my spare time I still like to teach. Aside from this, I enjoy shopping and spending time with my family and my pet cat.

If I was to be an animal I would be a tiger- I would look pretty but would be fierce!!

I graduated and worked in Marketing/Digital Marketing in London and moved to Bradford in 2022.
I’m in charge of Marketing & Communications at WomenZone, and enjoy the vibe and atmosphere I’m exposed to. The team is brilliant and I’m very proud to be working for an organisation that is supporting women and constantly thinking of new ways to empower them in every possible aspect.
My hobbies are gym, going for long walks, shopping, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and streaming online.

If I could choose to be an animal, I would want to be a bird and fly around!

Hi, my name is Mazish Ahmed I am the project coordinator for Genetics in Communities. My role is to provide information to the community on genetics and how this can affect health. As part of my role, I also support families in accessing health services. I advocate for equal services for all people and feel very passionate about this.

I enjoy cooking, shopping, exploring new places, and taking care of my three children which keeps me on my toes.

If I was an animal I would be an Octopus so I could have 8 arms to get all my jobs for the day done.

Hi, I’m Shahana, I started working at WomenZone as an admin and have been promoted as an Office Manager with more responsibilities. My main role is to keep the centre running smoothly and making sure everything is in place. All the staff & volunteers at WomenZone are fantastic and make me feel welcome and at ease. The atmosphere is incredible and always full of positivity, and hope to grow within this job role. My hobbies are DIY, watching movies and tv series, going bowling, eating out and spending time with family.

If I was an animal I would be a Leopard because I like their fierce courage and sense of loyalty.

I am the Kitchen Assistant at WomenZone. I enjoy exercising and in my spare time I like to go walking.

Sadia Sajid, Co-CEO has been instrumental in Womenzone’s growth model. Sadia has streamlined Womenzone’s finances leading to a more sustainable organisation going forward. Her business acumen coupled with her wealth of experience in asset-based community development and restorative practise has put her in good stead.

With 20 years of experience working in the voluntary and community sector, Sadia is passionate about reducing health inequalities and ensuring underserved communities are supported to achieve positive destinations. One of the many highlights of my career at Womenzone has to be securing £335k from Sport England supporting families to be active together.

Born and bred in bred in Bradford, Sadia holds a BSc in Chemistry with Pharmaceuticals and Forensic Science but soon decided her heart was within the community. Sadia is a Therapist

in Behavioural Activation and a PTTLS qualified trainer as well as an ambassador for approachable parenting.

She leads Projects ranging from Training and Employability, Physical Health and fitness to Youth and Maternal Health, leading a team of staff, sessional workers and volunteers in a harmonious manner.

As a young mother of 5 beautiful children, Sadia enjoys reading, swimming and walking (when she gets the time!).

Mareena joined WomenZone in a voluntary capacity supporting the centre as a Covid Response Worker, she is responsible for overseeing the distribution of food parcels, clothing and hot meals.

Mareena has recently achieved a level two qualification in Childcare and is looking to progress onto the next stage.

Mareena is a creative person and enjoys painting and sewing.

I am the playworker at WomenZone. I am passionate about working with children. In my spare time I like watching films and I enjoy baking and jewellery making.

Abida is currently the Centre Coordinator for WomenZone, running several projects, including English for Everyone, Go Higher and The YEF Project.

In her own time Abida is a mum to two wonderful children, and her hobbies include reading and music.

“The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, to see if they could become something more.” – The Avengers

My role is working with families engaging them in sport and physically activities.

I like music and watching films.

In my spare time I do knitting and trying new recipes.

I am an ESOL Tutor at WomenZone, where they have been running an English For Everyone course (EFE) which I’ve been gladly been a part of.

In my spare time, I enjoy walking in nature, taking part in creative activities and being in tune with day-to-day life and my surroundings

Saadia has supported the centre for many years, initially as a volunteer supporting the wellbeing ladies. Since then Saadia has supported various projects throughout the years. Saadia is also a cook for the centre and is currently working on the Healthy Holidays programme.

Sadia loves socialising with friends and family, she also has a flair for creativity and enjoys fashion and make up in her spare time.

Khalida is our domestic worker and cook, she is responsible for keeping the centre clean and tidy. As an amazing cook. Khalida is also responsible for cooking meals, during the term time holidays Khalida has been known to cook up to 100 meals a day, ranging from pasta dishes to curries.

In her own time, Khalida is a shopaholic, and enjoys spending time with family, including her 5 grandchildren, she also enjoys cooking and watching Pakistani dramas. Faith is important to Khalida and she enjoys practicing and sharing it with others.

Shabbana is our Fitness instructor at WomenZone. She is all about staying active, making healthy eating choices and mental well-being. Shabbana has not only helped our members lose weight but has also inspired and encouraged women to make healthy living choices as a long-term lifestyle.

Shabbana’s other role involves working closely with families as a Sports England- Outreach Worker. Encouraging our families to get more active with their children and showing different ways they can incorporate this into their daily life.

In her spare time, Shabanna enjoys hiking and has successfully completed the Yorkshire three peaks, despite many obstacles. She believes no goal is too small to achieve and it’s just a case of ‘mind over matter.’

Rubina Khalid has been working as Development Manager at Womenzone since 2006. Within her job role she is responsible for the day to day management and future development of the organisation ensuring the Centre responds to current and emerging community needs following the aims and objectives of the business strategy by sourcing funding provisions.

Rubina’s role also requires her to source and generate other income streams to grow and develop the organisation by working with and developing trusting partnerships with health, education, social services and other statutory and voluntary services in Bradford.

She is passionate about mental and physical health and wellbeing of BAME communities, with her background of Psychology and interest in mental health & wellbeing she has always been keen on developing her skills and knowledge in mind sciences. Rubina is a qualified clinical hypnotherapist and has qualification in NLP, Fourth dimension, Reiki, Spiritual healing and kundalini yoga. She is very keen on healthy eating, walks in natural places, meditations and spiritual practices. Rubina also loves reading biographies, watching documentaries and listening to world renowned motivational speakers; Religion, spirituality and science are her favourite subjects.

I took a career leave in 2019 after teaching 28 years on FE courses as a lecturer at Bradford College.

I wanted to give back to my community in Bd3 so i joined Women Zone Centre in 2019 as a volunteer, I took responsibility

running a 50 pulse ladies group every week. We have 20/25 ladies each week.

We organise many health related activities and give support and guidance relating to any mental health issues.

I am also on the Women Zone Board as a trustee. We meet and discuss the issues relating to the centre .I am an enthusiastic, understanding and committed person who wishes to create positive environment and equality of opportunity enabling to fulfil potential in our W/Z centre.

I am also a Chair for the Roshni women’s group based in BD3. We work closely with W/Z and organise many activities.

This is a Gujarati women’s group which has been running for many years.

I am also volunteer teacing Esol at Laisterdyke library Masjid Usman through the NHS.

My hobbies are reading teaching related books , fact ,fiction singing, enjoy performing dramas, surfing on IT and finding more info on Islam.

Treasurer’s responsibility – To have a general financial oversight of the organisation’s finances ensuring all legal accounting practices are in order.

Board member for various not for profit organisations relating to mental health for children and adults. Also involved with the wellbeing of the elderly.

Worked in accountancy for forty years – Started out working for various industries and for the last 27 years running my own accountancy practice.

We look after small to medium size businesses in the Yorkshire area.

Hobbies – Walking especially coastal walks and reading short fictional stories.

WomenZone is in the unique position of being a women only community centre which was primarily set up to deliver provision for disadvantaged and vulnerable women in some of the most deprived areas in Bradford. One of my passions in standing for election as a Councillor is providing community leadership and empowerment for the women. I therefore welcomed the opportunity when invited to serve as a board member of Womenzone as the aims and priorities of the organisation resonate so closely to mine. I feel that my skills and community ties and links will help strengthen the organisation and work with the women in the community which require this provision. I feel proud to be part of this organisation and hope to continue working with Womenzone in the years to come in continuing the work of enabling and empowering women.

Lorna is an experienced retired health care professional who worked for the NHS for 45 years at clinical and managerial levels. She has also been a Justice of the Peace for 35 years.

Since retiring, she has been serving her community through voluntary activities at the Black Health Forum (Bradford) as Treasurer, St Paul’s Manningham Wellbeing Cafe as Coordinator and at WomenZone as the Vice Chair.

Her role as Deputy Chairperson is to support the Chairperson, other board members and staff in carrying out the work of the organisation to a high standard for the benefit of the community.

She is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Lorna is fun loving with a serious side when that is required. She likes to dance, keeping fit and healthy, cooking and all forms of singing. Lorna is an active member of her church and is an active member of the Celebration Choir.

She endeavours to continue to serve Womenzone by upholding its values at all times.