Shanara

My name is Shanara. I am 54 years old and have four children. I have lived in Beeston since 1985. I come
from Sylhet in Bangladesh. My first job after school was in a sewing factory making swimming costumes.
I joined Kushy Dil womens group in 2007, so have attended for nearly 20 years. I receive great support
from other women, relieving stress and helping me relax, learning new things, the highlight of my week.
We’ve even travelled to London to see a British Bangladeshi exhibition we helped with ‘Our Stories, Our Lives’ in the British Library! Eight years ago I started helping support our older women’s group Kushy Nanas, with two lovely volunteers, Marsheda and Shahina. The older ladies don’t go anywhere else. It’s their only social outlet. They confide in me, I listen and respond in their own language. The group helps them take better care of themselves, have their flu jabs, eat healthily, take gentle exercise together. The group means so much to them, makes them feel happy and independent. Beeston is an area of poverty and low income, we see every day effects of the cost of living crisis on people. I am happy and proud to be serving my community.”