NORTH KENT: Ethnic community heroes given achievement awards (From News Shopper)

NORTH KENT: Ethnic community heroes given achievement awards

7:10am Thursday 5th November 2009

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HEROES have been recognised for making outstanding contributions to their community.

Kent County Council's Black and Minority Ethnic Achievement Awards saw six people receive awards at a presentation at County Hall, Maidstone, with three of the winners coming from north Kent.

Sohaila Khan, from Dartford; Surinder Dhinsa and Nanak Singh, both from Gravesend, were all presented with framed certificates.

Mrs Khan, aged 62, of Oakfield Lane, Dartford, plays an active role in the Kent Muslim Women’s Group, the North West Kent Inter Faith Relations Council and the Thames Gateway Women’s Forum.

She is known as an informal agony aunt who helps Muslim women and girls when they have problems.

The former accounts worker for NHS West Kent said: “I enjoy doing a lot of work for Muslim women. I wanted to help our young generation to bring the community together.”

Surinder Dhinsa has been the driving force behind the Jugnu Bhangra Group for the past 25 years – teaching its 100 dancers in Gravesend five nights a week and most weekends without pay.

His latest innovation is bhangra aerobics.

Fifty-five-year-old Mr Dhinsa, a part time taxi driver who lives in Bronte View, Gravesend, said: “It’s tiring but because I enjoy it so much I carry on doing it.

“Banghra dancing is a folk dance from north India mainly done by men, but in England I’ve got girls involved as well.”

Gurdwara treasurer Nanak Singh has raised £7m from community and family donations towards the building of a new £13m Sikh temple in Gravesend.

The 51-year-old, of Artemis Close, Gravesend, also helps with the Asian Welfare Society and Guru Nanak Football Club with fundraising and advises older Sikh people seeking help from social services.

Chair of Kent County Council’s strategic equalities group Oliver Mills said: “All six people had very different inspirational stories about how they are helping their own and the wider community where they live.

“However, there was a common thread of selfless volunteering for the good of others.

“This celebratory event really demonstrated the positive role that black and minority ethnic communities play in diverse Kent today.”

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