London Mentor of the year Paul Bellamy with Mosaic Ambassador Rear-Admiral Amjad Hussain CB and London & South East Regional Chairman Uzair Bawany

Inspirational business leaders, mentors and teachers gathered at the UK offices of Lendlease in London to celebrate a successful year for Mosaic in the capital.

Keynote speaker was Mosaic ambassador Rear-Admiral Amjad Mazhar Hussain CB, who has done a variety of jobs throughout his life ranging from inspecting fishing catches in UK waters to operations in an aircraft carrier in the Gulf, whilst postings ashore have included training, buying missile systems and Whitehall strategy/finance positions.

More recently he was the Naval Base Commander Portsmouth and then the Director General Weapons, responsible for all UK missiles, ammunition and artillery.  This was followed by three years as Controller of the Navy, an executive member of the Main Board of the Royal Navy and responsible for planning all future warships, submarines, combat jets and missile systems.

He was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in the New Years Honours List of 2011. He said:

“It was a great honour to be in the company of so many inspirational mentors and to see what a positive impact their work is having on young people across London. I’m a great believer in the power of mentoring and it is encouraging to see such positive outcomes from the Mosaic programme in the local community. Long may it continue.”

Other special guests included inspirational youth mentor Efe Ezekiel and Uzair Bawany, Mosaic Regional Chairman.

A number of outstanding mentors were also honoured with awards. Paul Bellamy was presented with the London Mentor of the Year award. Special commendations were also given to Mosaic volunteer mentors Joshna Raghwani, Marian St Guillaume and Eddie Mir. Guests were also treated to performances from Mayville Primary School and Westminster Academy.

Outstanding achievements in London during the past academic year:

• Working with 55 schools across Tower Hamlets, Newham, Wandsworth, Greenwich, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing and 6 prisons.
• Thanks to the support of over 300 mentors, its programmes have impacted on the lives of over 1500 beneficiaries.
• Skinners’ Academy in Hackney winning the national Mosaic Enterprise Challenge.
• USA Ambassador to the UK Embassy visiting Little Ilford School.
• 90 Mosaic senior supporters attended a special lunch event at the Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton in support of the ex-offender mentoring programme. The event was generously hosted by Kevin McGrath, the High Sheriff of Greater London in what was his final day in the role.
• Students from Mosaic schools joined the Naz Legacy Foundation’s 2015 Diversity Programme that saw them visit Clarence House, Number 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.