NORMALLY it would be case of hats off to the Civic Mayor of Tameside, but when it came to her latest charity fund-raiser it’s most definitely a case of hats on.
To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Cllr Tafheen Sharif partnered with the Umeed (Hope) women’s group to host an Ascot-themed function at Dukinfield Town Hall
The event proved popular, raising £585 for her appeal fund, and gave the people of Tameside a chance to dress in their royal enclosure finery, complete with hats of course. The largely but not exclusively female gathering had a great deal of fun enjoying tasty treats on offer.
They also heard talks from Sharman Birtles, vice-lord lieutenant of Greater Manchester; Cllr Jacqueline North, Tameside Council’s first deputy (finance, resources and transformation); Cllr Eleanor Wills, the council’s executive member for population health and wellbeing; and Kay Baig, who set up the first south Asian women’s cricket team in Lancashire.
Cllr Sharif said: “Like myself, most women in the room had never been to Ascot, so I brought Ascot to Tameside. Judging by the comments I received, everyone loved it. Lots of people told me it was a nice thing to do and thanked me.
“It really was a spectacular afternoon and one which didn’t cost a penny thanks to generous donations.
“As befits International Women’s Day, we had some really inspirational women speakers and an audience made up of women from all walks of life and various communities.
“I would like to thank everyone who attended, all the speakers and Umeed women’s group. We raised a fantastic amount for my three chosen charities, for which I’m truly grateful.”
The Civic Mayor’s charity and local causes appeal fund comprises Home-Start (HOST), which offers expert support to families with young children that are going through difficult times; West African Development, which helps ethnic minority communities in Tameside, and Pauline Town’s We Shall Overcome, which provides assistance for the homeless.
