Asian LEADER
06 Asian LEADER
06
41Jan -- 17 Dec 2014
Dec 14 Jan 2013
Unveiling of Power list marks 2014’s
Council sets up £1m fund
101 leading British Asians
to tackle poverty
L
ast week The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg,
attended a gala
olton Council the
event, which unveiled has
approved honourGG2 Power List 101 a series
of measures as
ing teenage activist Malala
Yousafzai part of a £1m fund
with the number
to tackle
one spot. poverty.
In Power List, compiled
The February 2013, the
council Asian Media and
by The set aside £1m from
the budget to be (AMG),
Marketing Group spent on
anti-poverty top 101 and
features the measures most
carried out in-depth reinfluential Asians in the UK,
search from all reasons for
ranging on the walks of life.
poverty and debt amongst
Now in its third year, the list
residents of the borough.
honours some notable BritFollowing the research,
ish Asians who hold power
the influence not just in
and council has now approved but also globally.
Britain, a series of measures
aimed at both supportinglist
Malala tops this year’s an
individual orin raising awarefor her work family in immediate need; but empowerness for female also aimed
at putting in place an who
ment. The teenager, infrastructure to prevent Nobel
was nominated for thepeople
getting to a earlier this year,
Peace Prize point of crisis or
need.
is recognised for her courFirstly, the council aims
age and bravery in the face of
to set up As a powerful and
adversity. a high street presence, along spokesperson,
influential with the Bolton
credit union, Hoot, offering
with the ability to reach out
B
the purchase of white goods
derwritten by the council
at an affordable price and
and the household goods
rate of interest. The coun- will be supplied under excil’s research showed that isting arrangements already
many residents were getin place for the council’s
ting into debt by purchassupported housing service.
ing household appliances The council has allocated
from a high street chain of£300,000 for the delivery of
fering monthly payments at this high street offer, which
high rates of interest. When
is expected to take several
they were unable to make
months to develop.
the repayments, residents
The council will be allocatwould often then take a furing £90,000 to support local
ther loan from a payday loan
food banks, which are facing
company, creating further increased demand, as many
debt.
residents now rely on these
The aim is that residents
banks to fill in shortfall in
who apply to the council’s their weekly budget. The
Local Welfare Provision Fund funding from the council will
for assistance with the purprovide administrative supDeputy PM Nick Clegg with Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz
chase of Power List Unveiling
port to allow all three food
at the GG2household goods
would be directed to Money
banks in the borough to
Skills for financial advice, List alone sees some vital
function and provide a disto global audiences as well
and then will be given