Anjum ‘humbled’ by nomination

Date published: 01 October 2013


ANJUM Raza is the first person to achieve the feat of three Pride in Oldham nominations — for three different roles.

The 38-year-old from Hathershaw has already been honoured for his work with the People’s Carnival.

And he was also a finalist with wife Bharti for his work to set up the group Oldham Deaf and Diverse Community.

Now he has chalked up an amazing hat-trick for his role as a pastoral manager at Hathershaw College.

He said: “Wow. You just do what you do. If people think you are doing something good and nominate you, that’s overwhelming. I am humbled.”

Anjum has had various roles since he started at the Bellfield Avenue school 13 years ago, from a learning mentor to intervention manager.

As a pastoral manager, he said: “The beauty of this job is we have a really strong team in school. There is another pastoral manager and five year managers.

“We deal with students who do not always get it right but we also deal with those who do get it right, encouraging them to be role models.”

As well as supporting pupils, Anjum co-ordinates a restorative justice panel and co-ordinates the school council which has also been nominated for a Pride in Oldham Award this year.

He also organises the school’s charity campaigns and after-school activities with the council.

He was nominated for a Pride in Oldham award by assistant principal Lorna Philip who said: “Raz speaks four languages and signs. He is very well known and respected in the local community, and his energy and enthusiasm for everything he does is evident to all who meet him.

“He immediately puts parents and pupils who are having problems at ease and shows tremendous empathy and emotional intelligence.”