SPONSORSHIPS / CHARITY
Bradford Cathedral Sponsorship
Yorkshire Champions Group
The community champions personal background and situations may be different, but every single child has one thing in common; with the right direction and support, they have the potential to succeed. In our mainstream schools, some pupils seem to breezze through. They turn up, listen, take part, complete homework, pass exams and leave equipped to go onto better things. Then there are those students who struggle and have a very different view of school life altogether; whether it be through immaturity, lack of self-esteem, little or no family support, motivation or just the general inability to grasp the importance of what is on offer.
Often with that kind of attitude comes disruption and disrespect in the classroom, ending in total frustration and hours of wasted time. The teachers who have prepared and planned specific lessons are sometimes almost considered a nuisance or perhaps someone there to spoil their social interaction. instead of teaching, it can end up policing a class, which then has a knock-on effect on those students who do grasp the point of education and want to learn.
Our aim is solely to support the school and the teachers. We all understand and appreciate what a difficult and stressful profession teaching can be. When a community champion is invited into a school they will talk about their own journeys but also endeavour to inspire, encourage and motivate their audience. We would like to try and change the attitude and the way some students feel about education in general.
The community champions help and support the 'Educational Bank Account'. Every bit of effort and knowledge they retain now is almost like banking invisible money, and without realising it, they are already preparing and contributing to this 'Educational Bank Account' which will pay dividends at a later date. This will give them something to offer and enable them to have choices in life. In addition, it will prepare them to stand on their own two feet, take care of their families and feel like a worthwhile member of society.
Furthermore, if our team members can help just some of these young people, to see the connection between, the value, effort and hard work they put in today and the opportunities that will open on leaving school with a full 'Educational Bank Account', our initiative has been a success.
The Business Champions The Business Champions section of the Yorkshire Champions group is in its early stage of development and will be formed as a natural progression and follow on from the community Champions. The Business Champions will be made up of thousands of businesses across the region. We are fully supported by the North West Chamber of commerce (who represent 40 of the city's most important organisations, both private and public sector.)
Our website will create a platform for all our schools, colleges and universities to form a lasting and constructive relationship with businesses across the region. it will open a gateway for businesses/companies to offer a unique service. They can provide an insight both visually and hands on, into the world of work today. This will give our young people a realistic opportunity to understand and appreciate the world of business and its opportunities. It will enable them to understand how the business function on many levels. And now, with the new technology and 'artificial intelligence' many of the career paths, they may have taken, will cease to exist.
The Business Champions, will help to focus their minds, expectations and ambitions. There will be visits to businesses, hands on experience, mentoring, business representatives visiting schools, colleges etc, which will open a whole new and exciting world for the students. Schools will play a full and active part in requesting what they need, as well as embracing offers proposed by businesses. They can base that need on curriculum, interests, age, and the individual strengths if students. And this service is 'free'! Students will meet, and be able to have a rapport with real people in business. And form a safe and continuous relationship if needed, over the school years. Long term mentoring can take place, with a view to possible apprenticeships, work placements, and future employers. The Businesses can offer sound guidance, experience and the opportunity, to see first-hand, what they produce, or what services they provide.
Through our website, and its facilitator's, our schools and businesses can reach each other through a simple format. It will also allow us to take on board their individual needs, suggestions and feedback, which we will be constantly monitoring, and striving to improve as we go along.
Our aim is for this new, amazing and exciting initiative, to benefit both the young people in the region and the business world. In addition to that, the businesses will not only fulfil their 'corporate Social Responsibility' which is hugely important, especially in today's current economic climate. They will without doubt, be contributing to the successful future of our next generation.
The Sports Champions
The Yorkshire Sports Champions will motivate and inspire children and young people focusing on their sporting achievements, they will relate their personal sporting journey to resilience, mental and physical health and well-being and the importance of leaving education with a full 'Educational Bank Account'.
Chardi Kala Nirmal ji and Simmy
Nirmal Singh MBE FRSA Honorary Fellow University of Bradford, Chairman of Sekhon Group and Founder & Chairman of Yorkshire Sikh Forum, Simmy Sekhon LLB, CEO of Sekhon Group, Dr Manoj Joshi MBE DL, gathered with Gill Arnold JP DL Founder of Yorkshire Champions Group today at City Park, Bradford with fellow Business, Community and sports Champions for a Photo shoot to promote the work of Yorkshire Champions Group.
Nirmal Singh and Simmy Sekhon are leading and driving force of YCG with their continued support and assistance.
For Further information, please contact Nirmal Singh MBE FRSA Hon Fellow UoB Mobile 0780735123
Parklane Foundation's Golf-a-thon
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
On Wednesday 22nd June six men will be taking up the challenge of playing 4 rounds of golf in a day in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer, yes that's right 72 holes in a day!
Naveen Ahmed along with five fellow golfers will be taking on the incredibly hard challenge of tackling four rounds of golf in one single day!
Tackling 72 holes in one day will really test your golfing prowess but with a bunch of mates by your side and the knowledge that it's all for a great cause it should be a fantastic day!
Thank you for your support
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
COMPASSION UK
Mr Sekhon is proud to be acknowledged for his very generous financial support to the charity, which to date totals £178,372 and the donation growing rate of £27k per tax year.
A MESSAGE FROM SIMMY SEKHON
"Thank you, thank you, thank you to the universe that we have an opportunity to give something back to people less fortunate to ourselves. Thank you, thank you, thank you for lovely business partners call to so many nice things on our special day. Do something great for someone else today, next week, next month and all through the year… Please feel rewarded… This is giving gratitude to the universe for all that we have… Stay on the positive frequency… This is the secret to manifest your dreams and your visualisations.... Love Simmy Sekhon ❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you, thank you, thank you to my mum and dad who have inspired me from foundations to the present day. Best wishes and blessings from parents are always a successful formula. ❤️❤️❤️"
THE RISING
Mr Simmy Sekhon is proud to sponsor The Rising with a £2000 annual contribution. Founded by Mr. Tarun Sharma, with the support of a group of dedicated individuals, The Rising reaches out to children by conducting Life Skill programs, to save them from Suicides and Stress-related problems.
The Rising, primarily focuses on addressing the Emotional health needs of the community and provides Counseling. Seminars and support to people in crisis. We also started working for underprivileged children in 2008, with the aim to educated them and make them feel confident enough to live their life positively. We started with 2 special schools to provide them primary level education and vocational training to girls. Now we have 4 special Schools under the banner of “National Child labour Project” (Indian Labour Ministry) in Faridabad with app. 200 children.
CHARITABLE
HUMANITARIAN
SERVICES
Mr Simmy Sekhon has significantly sponsored the Uganda Lodge & Ruhanga Resource Centre nursery and primary school since 2015 which provides education food and other resources for 80 children in association with Ann McCarthy being the founder of the Uganda Lodge & Ruhanga Resource Centre nursery and primary school.
This support has been particularly vital during the Covid period where education for about 18 months has been almost non-existent and has adversely affected families of the region.
Mr Simmy Sekhon was instrumental in assisting SACAR charity supporting people with autism and Asperger Syndrome disorders. It has assisted people with Asperger’s syndrome and autism to lead near normal and independent lives and assisted them to integrate into normal society.At the time of their inception, they would not have been able to commence the charity without the support of Mr Sekhon as offices were given without any cost to them including utilities until they were able to function independently.
During the journey Mr Sekhon was instrumental in persuading Asquith Properties, a property development company to donate £15,000.00 to the charity which was the initial lifeline and gateway to future funding. this provided the essential platform to develop and support their services for children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
Mr Sekhon provided offices for this charitable organisation for over 14 years and has been proud to have been instrumental in assisting so many youngsters to once again live as normal life as possible. In or around 2017, the charity had over 100 employees and support workers and were encouraged to proceed to purchase their own premises without being reliant on any third-party landlord.
SACAR
THE SCHOOL OF ROCK AND MEDIA
Once again in 2016, Mr Sekhon was instrumental in assisting The School of Rock and Media now situated at 5 Cater Street Bradford BD1 5AS. Together with the founder directors Tony Saunders, John Bolton and Michelle Bolton. Mr Sekhon assisted the organisation during its infancy providing offices and a building to facilitate the charity by providing a substantial rent free period making this organisation possible. The organisation specialises in having a unique approach to music delivery using a unique blend of social enterprise and “play it forward ideology” to bring people together from all walks of life and abilities.
The organisation has caught the attention of the Local Authority and achieved significant funding to push forward its core values and this would not have been possible, had Mr Sekhon not stepped in to assist the organisation which has provided such an excellent facility for underprivileged autistic children in their lives. In fact, the organisation is so grateful that they have named one of the studios after the family.
Mr Sekhon has assisted countless charities and made countless donations to charities of worth however a noteworthy charitable donation which is close to his heart is the Prince of Wales Hospice Pontefract where a substantial donation running in to thousands was made. He was greatly thanked by the charity and the hospice wanted to thank him publicly but due to hi many commitments he was unable to do so but is a supporter and continues to support cancer charities.
PRINCE OF WALES HOSPICE
FUND RAISING FOR BOMBING VICTIMS
Mr Sekhon raised £28,000 for the benefit of the injured during the 7th July 2015 London bombings when four suicide bombers with rucksacks full of explosives attack central London where 56 people were killed and a further 748 were injured whilst travelling on the public transport system in London These attacks happened on both the underground and on a London Bus in central London.
Mr Sekhon felt pain for those killed and injured and took it upon himself to raise those monies to help the victims of this horrific event which was reported on local media. Similarly, Mr Sekhon felt the same pain and reacted in a similar manner following yet another horrific bombing attack which took place after a concert at the Manchester Arena on the 22nd of May 2017 when an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel laden home-made bomb whilst concert goers were leaving the Manchester arena following the concert by American singer Ariana Grande. 23 people died including the attacker and more than 800 people were injured.
In 2005, Mr Sekhon, along with his family donated £20,000 worth of clothing, blankets and other essential textiles to the victims of the 8th October 2005 Kashmir earthquake which was described as the deadly deadliest earthquake to hit South Asia surpassing the 1935 Quetta earthquake. He sees no difference between colour and creed though he is from India and a Sikh. His cross-cultural humanitarian Support for all faiths is admirable.
KASHMIR EARHQUAKE APEAL
ROTARY
Mr Sekhon has participated as a member of the Rotary Club of Bradford and has participated significantly in charitable donations since and during his membership which has been since 2005. More recently the Rotary Club of Bradford has been instrumental and organise itself to eradicate polio and Mr Sekhon together with his family have generously donated and supported the cause during the Governorship of Manoj Joshi Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
DEC TSUNAMI
In addition, Mr Sekhon has supported the Disasters Emergency Committee on several occasions where there have been natural disasters affecting millions of people who have died been made homeless and missing as a result of cyclones, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The donations have been used to provide vital shelter clean water life-saving food and water purification tablets, blankets and clothing.
Mr Sekhon has become a board member and director of Oriental Arts (Bradford) Limited together with his colleague Mr Raymond Brown and Champak Limbachi, A 40 year old charity which has specialised in providing arts entertainment and culture to the South Asian community in England which has promoted and facilitated racial integration and cross-cultural harmony.
Mr Sekhon, along with two Co. Directors established Oikos Residential Family Centres Limited, a family assessment centre to support families who have had areas of concern but to provide a space to explore solutions and pathways identified their ability to parent their child or children effectively and safely and this vital information to be provided to the local authority so families can continue to be reunited rather than separated. This education in life skills enhances the parenting skills for life and creates the essential bond between the parents and the child.
EDUCATION
STUDENT ACCOMODATION
Mr Sekhon was a student of the award-winning University of Huddersfield and following his Graduation, became involved in acquiring and converting property within the Huddersfield HD1 area specialising in providing accommodation for the students of the Huddersfield University. Mr Sekhon, being a former student of the University felt that students living away from home could benefit from his knowledge, experience and legal qualification and provided a surgery one hour per week between 2009 and 2012. This pro bono activity was well received by international students who had a variety of problems including social and legal. He found this rewarding but due to his personal commitments could not continue after 2012.
Mr Sekhon has led in improving student accommodation in the town in which he has raised the standards of student accommodation unlike some other competitor organisations. Whilst he became involved in this area of business, he wanted to add value to students and to the accommodation life in which students lived as he remembered as a student himself the terrible accommodation that was available during his student days which was between 1994 and 1998.
He promised himself that if he could ever change the situation then he would. He made it his passion to improve the standard of accommodation within the town for the benefit of successor students, in particular those from the international community to make them feel more welcome and increase and enhance the reputation of Huddersfield which is consistent with the efforts of the award-winning University “the University of Huddersfield”.
Mr Sekhon is now one of the largest independent student residential providers in Huddersfield town and is extremely proud of his achievements and says that he only achieve this as a result of his academic attainment gained at the University. His achievements have recently been reported in the Examiner newspaper where it states that his assets which benefit the student population of Huddersfield are worth £20 million. Mr Sekhon wishes to invest more money in the town and has no intention of selling anything.
Mr Sekhon has become involved with the Bradford Community Champions over the last few years and has himself provided much needed encouragement and inspiration to students from non-privilege backgrounds. Over the years he has seen children and young adults in every situation, and he feels that every child should have the same opportunities as he has had. From humble beginnings when his father was a bus conductor and then subsequently became a textile manufacturer, he has recognised the importance of helping those who are less fortunate in society.
He is delighted to attend the schools and give inspirational talks to students who have taken on board Mr Sekhon‘s experience and improve themselves in their academic ability and have gone on to improve their social standing. Having spoken to some of the teachers who have witnessed the interaction, I am so pleased that the encouragement has motivated them to higher levels.
Mr Simmy Sekhon was recently privileged to deliver a presentation to the students at St Beads School in Bradford. He was proud to share both his life experiences, expertise and values with Bradfords next generation of entrepreneurial young minds.
BRADFORD COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Mr Sekhon, during his university academic education, became involved in the Multicultural Society and the Asian Society of the University of Huddersfield. He states that his commencement of education at the University was the first year when it became the Huddersfield University at the same time when the polytechnics were abolished.
It was difficult for British Asian students to persuade their parents for them to study at University and furthermore to live away from home. Mr Sekhon encouraged many parents to allow their children to stay at university to learn the important life skills which would form the basis for success in their future careers.
During this difficult period, sex grooming was a big issue, and it was suggested that Islamic gangs were grooming Indian girls. Mr Sekhon persuaded the parents that fear was not the way forward and that they should open their mind and educate their children and give trust to their young adult children.
Mr Sekhon states that whilst he was not able to overcome everyone’s doubts approximately 11 students were allowed to study at the university and live away from home to acquire the important life skills which has benefited them for future life who would otherwise have been deprived of the opportunity.
Mr Sekhon has become one of the largest independent student residential providers in the town of Huddersfield and possibly West Yorkshire.
Mr Sekhon recalls a time when he had to live in dingy accommodation with unscrupulous landlords who would take advantage of students who did not understand the law or their rights.
Mr Sekhon took it upon himself to ensure that he wished to raise the standard of accommodation in the town he loved so much and the town which gave him his academic education.
It has recently reported in the local media that Mr Sekhon owns £20 million worth of assets around the University of Huddersfield providing quality student accommodation, attracting international attention from students
The accommodation coupled with the excellent academic opportunities offered by the Huddersfield University, has had particular attention from international students which is the envy of other West Yorkshire Universities.
Mr Sekhon’s Business interests take him around the world and he has promoted the University of Huddersfield as he is proud of being an Alumni of the University of Huddersfield and has been able to offer Accommodation to match the excellent academic opportunities and facilities afforded by the University.
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
NATIONAL AWARD
In 2005, at the age of 31, Mr Sekhon brought back an award to his home city. Educated at Bradford grammar school and at the University of Huddersfield both of which he is proud of, he received at the National Business Enterprise Awards ceremony the awarded for the Entrepreneur of the year where he was assessed by high-ranking officials from HMRC, Institute of directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mr Sekhon between the years of 2002 and 2010 established a law practice employing over 140 people in the county of West Yorkshire over five branch offices and three Law Firms (Sekhon Firth Solicitors LLP, Runhams Solicitors LLP, Burtons Law LLP).
He rose to meteoric success due to his ability to provide an excellent quality legal service with honesty and integrity. He says that he was passionate about setting up a Law Firm as he wanted to serve the local community with legal services as a local solicitor.
He has always prided himself in being people’s person and a people’s person of West Yorkshire. He says that his work ethic, discipline, his family teaching from his father, and ability to work hard was learnt from his schooling and his university academic life.
Subsequently, he became property developer and has employs a regular team of over 100 construction staff & labourers and has maintained that level of employment over the last 10 years. He has confirmed that he will have added more than 1000 apartments to the portfolio which is exclusive of the rest of his family and their achievements.
EMPLOYMENT TO 140 EMPLOYEES
FACILITATED 180 STARTUP BUSINESSES
Through Mr Sekhon‘s business acumen and interest in business centres which he has established under the name of Enterprise Hub, he has facilitated 180 start-up businesses which have either remained with the Hub or gone onto larger premises as they have outgrown the incubation units that Mr Sekhon provided at their inception.
He has always been pleased to create opportunities for new businesses and has always encourage them to move on, providing space for new businesses for which Mr Sekhon’s business centres have had waiting lists.
Mr Sekhon states that his secret has been to keep costs of the business rent to low and to pass them on to his prospective tenants so that they can flourish by maximising income over expenditure.
Mr Sekhon became a team member/ambassador in attracting the Indian International film awards IIFA to bring Bollywood to Yorkshire providing a massive boost to tourism and business connectivity. This subsequently led to international Indian films being produced and directed in the city of Bradford (West Yorkshire) with Bollywood Gold and many others.
Mr Sekhon has been instrumental in providing filming locations through his property investment business and portfolio in Bradford in interesting and impressive buildings productions such as Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey ABC murders ( staring John Malkovich) Gentlemen Jack, Gold, Emmerdale and recently Jay’s repair shop which was greatly appreciated by the Bradford Business community and more particular by Bradford city council. Mr Sekhon has demonstrated that he is a true ambassador to our region in attracting inward investment.
Mr Sekhon and his team are currently attempting to attract the Marvel Films Franchise to the City to produce a new instalment. These producers are being attracted into the city and in particular the Little Germany area where Mr Sekhon has been instrumental in converting landmark Grade II listed buildings to host such productions and has enlisted the assistance of Professor David Wilson who is an Ambassador of the UNESCO City of Film which will be a huge boost to the economy of the Bradford City.
ATTRACTING MILLIONS IN FILM REVENUE TO BRADFORD
CHAIR BRADFORD ASIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Between 2002 and 2006 Mr Sekhon became the youngest business entrepreneur Chair for the Bradford Asian Business Association which prided itself to bring the professional business community closer to the South Asian business community and work closely with business Link, Yorkshire Forward and other business organisations including the Chambers of Commerce to facilitate best working practices for Bradford businesses.
This created excellent working relationships between the traditional businesses of Bradford and the new emerging businesses under British Asian ownership. HSBC Bank and the Lloyds banking group recognised and acknowledged these efforts.
Mr Sekhon has served as a Board member for the Yorkshire Asian Business Association and also serves as a member of the Local Enterprise Partnership under the chairmanship of Sir Roger Marsh.
MEMBER YABA
REGENERATION TO LISTED DISUSED BUILDINGS
Mr Sekhon has brought back into use several derelict disused and abandoned buildings in Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield. Mostly these buildings are Grade II listed in nature and it is said that if Mr Sekhon did not visualise an end use for them, they still probably would be in the same state i.e. unused, abandoned and derelict
Mr Sekhon has brought these buildings back into use providing much-needed residential accommodation contributing to the reduction of the national housing crisis and other much-needed uses.
Mr Sekhon has a regenerated many of the Grade II listed buildings in the Little Germany area of Bradford when other developers had tried and failed, including the Local Authority. There are listed buildings within the Little Germany area that are imploding due to the neglect and the failure of the Local Authority to take action. Mr Sekhon states that he feels it is his civic duty to ensure that these buildings are being used whether for profit or not.
These beautiful buildings cannot be wasted and furthermore he has worked closely with the Civic Society in various towns and cities but closely with Mr Chris Marsden when he developed the famous Palace Theatre where Harry Houdini performed in his heyday.
Mr Sekhon has managed to secure the ownership and converted an abandoned disused property where the first meeting of the Labour Party took place at 36 Peckover Street. This property is now occupied by 13 residential luxury apartments.
REGENERATION OF LITTLE GERMANY
1011 APARTMENT CONVERSION
Mr Sekhon recently acquired Stanley Mills Britannia Road Milnsbridge Huddersfield in This property will be converted to 42 luxury apartments which immediately adjoins the watercourse.
This property has been neglected for many years and is slowly dilapidating, but Mr Sekhon has rescued this building and in doing so, has also assisted scores of people who recovered their property from an unscrupulous furniture supplier and was held “the man of the people“ by the Examiner, a local Huddersfield newspaper.
