Alok Sharma MP Comments on INSAAN AGM 2014

INSAAN Patron Alok Sharma MP comments on our recent AGM. Click Read More to find out what he said.

‘Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, on Sunday 22nd June 2014, spoke at the first INSAAN charity AGM dinner at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

The Integrated Network for Special And Additional Needs (INSAAN) is an independent charity and volunteer group supporting families facing disability, of which Alok is a patron. The charity particularly focuses on providing support and advice to members of ethnic minority communities within the Greater Reading area.

Around 170 people attended the sold out AGM dinner, where Alok met with INSAAN’s members, supporters and other health advisers. The meeting was also attended by representatives from local government, civic society, community leaders and heads of specialist schools, including Dame Sue Bourne, headteacher at The Avenue School. A keynote speech was made by Dr Masih Kader, a renowned paediatric consultant from the United States, with extensive experience in the area of children’s disability.

Alok Sharma said: “I was pleased to attend the AGM and INSAAN does excellent work locally, helping children and families cope with disability issues. Respect for INSAAN’s work was reflected in the high turnout at the AGM, which was the most number of people I have ever seen at the first AGM of a charity. I am delighted with the collaboration that INSAAN has with The Avenue School and Brookfields School in my constituency and I look forward to continuing to support the charity for many years to come.”

Dame Sue Bourne, Headteacher at The Avenue School said: “It was a wonderful event in support of a very worthy charity. The work that they do is really important for families who struggle to deal with a disabled child and I am particularly pleased to be able to support them in all they do. I was given the opportunity to speak about the relationship The Avenue School has with INSAAN and the fact that it complements our ethos and values and helps us to celebrate and support the vibrant cultural diversity of our small but special community. The evening commenced with a lengthy and faultless recital or Talawat, by one of our pupils Naeem Choudhury and it was a brilliant performance. I was very proud of him.”

Ruby Butt, Chair of INSAAN said: “The AGM dinner event was sold out within 4 days of being announced. At INSAAN we are very grateful for the continued support and encouragement we have received from Reading residents over the last year. As chairperson, I would like to extend my personal thanks to Alok Sharma, MP, for his invaluable contributions to the efforts of INSAAN. We are also proud and privileged to be working with three of the leading SEN schools in Greater Reading, namely, The Avenue School, Brookfields School and Addington School. INSAAN is going from strength to strength as we continue to deliver on raising awareness about disability and helping families coping with disability on a daily basis.”’

Photo: Ruby and Asif Butt (Co-Chairman of INSAAN), Dr Masih Kader, Dame Sue Bourne, Alok Sharma MP and Cllr Shahid Younis (INSAAN Trustee)

Article Published: 24th June 2014

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