Embracing Diversity Together

“I have been working on the concept of Cultural Awareness, Cultural Diversity and Integration for over twenty years.”

“At that time, I had formed an organisation called Global Unity, which eventually evolved to be renamed as Common Thread Vision, just as Covid kicked in, in March 2019.

The main people involved at the time were Aredaman Singh Jassal and Iain Stewart along with myself. As Covid kicked in, we were not able to have face-to-face meetings or any meaningful events. All our activities were on Zoom.

After Covid in 2022, we decided to have face-to-face meetings and events. Our first main event was at the Grand Ole Opry, Paisley Road West at the end of May, a fundraising event for the Turkey Earthquake. This event was a big hit with the community. We raised and contributed £1700 for the earthquake fund after expenses.

After the success of this project, we formed another Board to take Common Thread Vision forward. Saj Sabri was the Vice Chair, his sister Tahira Sabri the Secretary, Aredaman Singh Jassal the Treasurer, and Priya Varma was the assistant Treasurer and myself as the Chairperson.

Since then, CTV has organised many very successful community awareness, diversity and integration projects. Such as a collective celebration of India and Pakistan Independence Day in August in 2022 and 2023.

Due to popular demand from the community, we put together and started a High Chai Lunch project, called “Khaana aur Gaana”, in July 2023. This project gives our elderly members, particularly women over fifty, a safe space to get together to reduce isolation, loneliness and helps them with any mental wellbeing issues or other problems which they may have. This project is run and managed by people of their own community and of the same age range who may have experienced similar issues or problems themselves.

In December 2023, there was a change of CTV Board Members. Rehana Khawar was elected the new General Secretary, with subsequent changes bringing Rajkamal Srivastava as Treasurer and Aredaman Singh Jassal as Assistant Treasurer.

Our Valued Supporters

CTV are greatly thankful to our local businesses and close friends for their continued invaluable support, including Trespass (Afzal and Akmal Khushi), Shabaz Minhas, Strawberry Gardens, HDFS Albert Drive and Day-To-Day Shields Road, along with others who prefer not to be mentioned.

We’ve received tremendous support from Iain Stewart from Edinburgh Interfaith, David Nallaratnam from Cross Ethnic Community based in Royston Glasgow, Frank John New from Hope Community Drumchapel and our local Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib on Albert Drive Pollokshields.

It is very important to mention that without the help of Nadeem Hanif, our Capacity Building Consultant from CEMVO Scotland, we would not be where we are today. His support helped us achieve our Charitable Status on the 5th of March 2024, and secure the Lottery Fund Award for All as well as the Age Scotland funding in August 2024. Special thanks to Jaime Lee from Age Scotland for her advice and support.

I must acknowledge our dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly without financial rewards: Kausar, Shamim, Polie, and Shamshad. Their commitment has been invaluable to our success.

Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all past and present Trustees, Board Members, Volunteers, Clients, and Members who have supported us directly or indirectly, financially or in any other way. Without their help and support, we would not be where we are today.”