Mosaic is thrilled that the Chairman of our Yorkshire region, Sarah Khan Bashir, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her work with Mosaic in the region and other public service.
Sarah Khan Bashir grew up in humble circumstances in Bradford. Having achieved outstanding business success as a qualified lawyer and founder of Shire Solicitors, she has used her position powerfully to champion, lead and support important charitable causes in Yorkshire and nationally. She even runs her own business – the Atticus Coffee House in Shipley!
Sarah Khan Bashir was one of the founding members of Mosaic. Sarah assembled a small and significant group of business professionals in her local area to kick-start Mosaic in Yorkshire, the first region in which it was established outside London. Sarah led by example, personally volunteering for both Mosaic’s secondary school programme and by mentoring girls and their mothers at two local primary schools.
Sarah went on to convene the Mosaic Bradford Local Delivery Group to drive local delivery, which led to the formation of the region-wide Mosaic Yorkshire Leadership Group of which she is now Chairman. Under Sarah’s leadership in Yorkshire, Mosaic now operates in 40 schools in Bradford, Leeds, Rotherham and Huddersfield, as well as in four prisons. This year, the region has supported an amazing 1000 young people with the support of almost 200 mentors.
Mosaic Chairman, Khawar Mann OBE, commenting on Sarah’s recognition, said:
“Sarah very much embodies the Mosaic cause, passionate in her determination to help young people from tough backgrounds to realise their potential. We are hugely grateful to Sarah and delighted that her efforts have been recognised in this way.”
Sarah is a hugely powerful role model and her passion and commitment to Mosaic and her local community is an inspiration to others. As well as her voluntary work with Mosaic, Sarah supports local achievement by acting as Governor at Cottingley Primary School, she is a member of West Yorkshire Police Bradford South Independent Advisory Group, and a Board member of Bradford Youth Development Partnership.
The seeds of Mosaic were sown a few years before the official launch in 2007, when I was amongst several people invited to listen to an idea. HRH The Prince of Wales wanted to find a way of getting young British Muslims, often living in disadvantaged areas, to fulfil their...