On the 24th April 2013, UpRisers got the chance to visit City Hall and to hear from various key individuals at the Naz Legacy Foundation’s annual event.
To begin the visit, we received a talk about the role of the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority. The speaker encouraged debate over controversial issues, and considering we shared the talk with a room of young teenagers, it was both interesting and positive to see how politically engaged and diverse the audience were. Before the first half of the day finished, we had the chance to meet Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community.
I look forward to an UpRiser being Mayor for London one day in the near future!
– Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP
That evening, we had the opportunity to attend the Naz Legacy Foundation’s second annual event, which was held in the Living Room of City Hall, with other participants and UpRising alumni. The Naz Legacy Foundation is an organisation set up in memory of Naz Bokhari: the first Muslim head teacher of a high school in London. The Foundation aims to continue Bokhari’s work of Positive Integration and in achieving Excellence in Education.
An array of guests spoke at the event, including the Mayor of London,Boris Johnson, Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP and HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Rt Hon Ed Davey, Attorney General Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP, Deputy Mayor Sir Edward Lister and Lynton Crosby were also present and spoke. Recorded messages of support were also played from HRH the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband.
The event also celebrated the work of Mosaic – a project which aims to improve the aspirations of young people from deprived communities by providing role models with their mentor programme.
It was fantastic to see such overwhelming support for the great work being done on these projects. The event was also a wonderful opportunity to speak to various interesting and active individuals about the work they do in their communities.
Rt Hon Sadiq Khan said:
“I am pleased that the brilliant UpRisers were able to visit City Hall and learn about how our great city, London, is governed. The first time I went was after I became a MP in 2005!
“The decisions made in City Hall every day affect us all and I am pleased that these young people have had such a great opportunity to see democracy in action. I look forward to an UpRiser being Mayor for London one day in the near future!
“It was great to see even more UpRisers present at the Naz Legacy Foundation evening reception.
“Naz Bokhari was an inspirational figure and role model for many, including myself, and the fantastic work that Uprising does as an organisation reflects his belief in the importance of community, and ensuring that our public services reflect the people that they represent.”
Nikita Hayden is a Bedford UpRiser, 2012-13. Photos by N Jamal Design –www.njamaldesign.com
