Cllr Nasim Ali ends mayoral year with fundraising success

Camden Newsroom | 18 May 2023

Cllr Nasim Ali OBE has completed a successful year of fundraising as the Mayor of Camden, raising over £55,000 for Hopscotch Women’s Centre.

At the council AGM on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 Cllr Ali passed the baton to Cllr Nazma Rahman, who will be Camden’s new Mayor for 2023-2024. Cllr Samata Khatoon will be the new Deputy Mayor of Camden.

During the past year, Cllr Ali took part in over 450 civic engagements and went above and beyond to meet his fundraising target. Highlights from his mayoral year include skydiving, abseiling down the side of a building in Euston and taking part in an event with author Monica Ali at Lauderdale House to raise money for his chosen charity.

Benaifer Bhandari, CEO of Hopscotch Women’s Centre thanked the Mayor for his work over the past year:

“

The whole team at Hopscotch, with Trustees and I – are thrilled at what the Mayor and the fundraising team have achieved for Hopscotch Women’s Centre this year. 

Given the cost of living crisis we are in, we thought fundraising would be really challenging. What we have learnt is that everyone cares about the state of those suffering who are most marginalised. Our work has touched people, and they have given and in doing so they have made a bold statement about the importance of caring for those most vulnerable in society. 

We are now focussed on building our team, eliminating waiting lists and driving our work forwards with an energy that matches the incredible work this year of Mayor Nasim Ali!

Benaifer Bhandari, CEO of Hopscotch Women’s Centre

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During his first term as Mayor of Camden 19 years ago, Cllr Ali was the UK’s first Bangladeshi and first Muslim Mayor as well as the youngest Mayor in the country at the time. Reflecting on his second successful term as Mayor of Camden he said:

“

It has been a privilege and honour to be the Mayor of Camden for the second time. These are very tough times with the cost of living crisis and I have visited so many amazing charities, schools, organisations and businesses doing fantastic work supporting our residents. Seeing the Mayor makes people happy, and I have been able to share the love during these tough times. People love to meet the Mayor; I have been invited to over 450 engagements and I have never disappointed.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported my fundraising for my outstanding Mayoral charity, Hopscotch Women’s Centre. We have raised over £55,000 pounds and the funds raised will make a massive difference. Thank you to everyone, who abseiled, skydived, sponsored or donated to my fundraising efforts.

Thank you also to my Mayoress, my office team, the Hopscotch team, all Councillors and everyone else who supported me during this amazing year. I am so, so proud of you all!

Councillor Nasim Ali OBE

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Cllr Ali navigated through a year of unprecedented circumstances: he celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and shortly after mourned her death in September. He proclaimed the new King and took part in the coronation celebrations for King Charles III and visited street parties organised by local residents.

As Mayor he attended cultural events across Camden’s diverse communities, celebrating Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah and Chinese New Year just to name a few. He also attended events in primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities.

Other highlights of Cllr Ali’s mayoral year include giving a speech at the Camden Schools Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, where 2,000 young people from Camden’s primary and secondary schools performed. He also particularly enjoyed citizenship ceremonies, where he presented British citizenship certificates to over 1,000 people from over 50 countries. Cllr Ali highlighted that Camden is a Borough of opportunities even for immigrants and gave his personal experience, having lived in Camden for over 47 years.