New role for town’s first Asian Mayoress - A real NEET job!

For a year she was feted in her high profile role as Rotherham’s first lady. Now, Wajida Naseem – the town’s first Asian Mayoress – has stepped out of the limelight. But she regards her new “day job” as even more important than her civic role which proved to be a big success.

She is helping to spearhead a project aimed at helping young people to make more of their potential. Wajida is one of a team of three mentoring teenagers as part of NEET – Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training. And she believes that her experience as Mayoress has been a big help in honing qualities that she needs as a tutor.

During her year in office, many engagements involved meeting and talking to young people and Wajida – then a finance officer – decided that she wanted eventually to work with young people.

She said: “As a volunteer attending Rotherham United Multi-Cultural Centre I found out that it had a contract through Independent Local Sulutions. They were recruiting mentors and I applied for that position because it was challenging and something different working with new people.”

Wajida took charge of her first class of ten after successfully completing a training course. And she has been amazed and delighted by their progress.

She said: “They are youngsters who for one reason or another have slipped through the net and have found themselves without any real direction. What we have tried to do is develop their confidence and self esteem so they can go forward into training or further education. And I’m delighted that most if not all are likely to follow one or the other by the time this course finishes in September.”

Wajida and her fellow mentors, Nadia Hussain and Peter Williamson, who are based at the United Multi-Cultural Centre, help the youngsters compile CVs and prepare for interviews and give them information on where to access information about agencies and organisations they will need as they strive for a better future.

She says: “The group lacked confidence and self esteem when they arrived. In fact some were terrified at what to expect. They really didn’t have much idea about anything to do with getting a job or getting into further education.

“Many didn’t even know where places like the jobcentre were. But in a short time there has been a really noticeable transformation. And that is down to the fact that they want to learn and have been really eager. I can see how well they have bonded. They really do care about each other.”

In fact, one of the biggest success stories is the progress of two Afghan nationals who could speak little English when they arrived in the UK a year ago but have now enrolled on a college course to further develop their knowledge.

They youngsters have to attend at least 16 hours a week although that target is generally exceeded by extra work they do outside the “classroom.”

Wajida says: “This is a chance for them. Before no-one was prepared to give them that. But that is what we are giving them now and they have grabbed it with both hands.”

She was also quick to recognise the contribution by the UMCC director, Parveen Qureshi, in the project.

But Wajida is not complacent. As well as continuing the NEET project she is undergoing a gruelling leadership course in September.

- Article written by Charlie Graves – as appeared in the Rotherham Advertiser.