26 January 2012
Improving Londoners’ mental health
City of London’s City Bridge Trust – which uses surpluses from
the City bridges to help London causes - has granted The Afghan
Association Paiwand, £90,000 to help improve the lives of
London-based Afghan refugees and asylum seekers suffering from
trauma.
‘Paiwand’ meaning ‘unity’ is the Association’s principal
objective in providing support to Afghan and other refugee
communities living in London - helping to integrate those
communities into wider UK society.
Billy Dove MBE JP, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s
City Bridge Trust Committee said: “Many Afghan people now live in
north west London, some having had to flee their homeland for fear
of retribution for their work alongside the Western forces. City
Bridge Trust funding is for a mental health worker to assist Afghan
and other refugee communities that have experienced trauma to
overcome their difficulties. The project will work closely
with healthcare professionals so that people can get the best
possible support.”
Since the war in Afghanistan, the number of refugees living in
North West London has increased substantially. It is estimated
there are now 9,000 Afghans in the three boroughs of Brent, Harrow
and Ealing. Many Afghans view mental health problems as a
‘weakness’ and so are reluctant to admit to having difficulties or
seek help.
Farid Mall of the Afghan Association Paiwand, said: “This
grant will help us to make a real difference to the mental health
of Afghan refugees who are overcoming trauma and distress and
re-building their lives.”
Last year the City Bridge Trust made 228 grants to London
charities, totalling £16.8milion and between 1995 and 2011 it
granted over £250 million to London charities.
The Trust’s origins can be traced back to 1097 when William
Rufus, second son of William the Conqueror, raised a special tax to
help repair the wooden London bridge. In 1176 the first stone
bridge across the river Thames began and that bridge, with its 19
arches, was completed 33 years later in 1209.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. Press enquiries
Nick McClelland,
City of London Corporation
Tel 020 7332 1754
Email
nicholas.mcclelland@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Ciaran Rafferty, City Bridge Trust, City of London
Corporation
Tel: 020 7332 3186
Email
ciaran.rafferty@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Afghan Association
Farid Mall, Director
Tel 020 8905 8770
Email
faridmall@paiwand.com
2. About the City of London
Corporation
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse
organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world
leader in international finance and business services and provides
local services and policing for those working in, living in and
visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to
London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and
the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library
and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; a range of
education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames
bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the
Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open
spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three
wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health
Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.
It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the
regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which
it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.
3. The City Bridge Trust
The City Bridge Trust is London’s largest independent grant-making
trust, and its sole trustee is the City of London Corporation.
Through grant-making and strategic initiatives, the City Bridge
Trust works closely with voluntary groups and charities to reduce
disadvantage in London. The City Bridge Trust was set up in 1995 as
the grant making arm of Bridge House Estates whose original purpose
was to maintain the first stone bridge across the River Thames –
London Bridge. Its funds date from the 12th century when tolls were
first charged. www.citybridgetrust.org.uk
4. Afghan Association
Paiwand
PAIWAND means unity, which is the principal aim of the Afghan
Association Paiwand. It works to unite and improve the
quality of life of the Afghan refugee community living in the
United Kingdom.
It provides advice and support in respect of health issues, social
services, education, counselling, career advice, translation
services, welfare support, advocacy and legal issues and the
promotion of Afghani arts, culture and traditions for refugees of
all ages, irrespective of their creed, spiritual and political
beliefs or their social background.
www.paiwand.com