GMB Magazine GMB24 Centre Point Spring 2016 | Page 28

HEROES

OF GMB

erence
Making a diff

NEPAL
APPEAL
Thank you to
GMB members
who contributed

In April 2015, the country of Nepal
was utterly devastated by a powerful
7.9 magnitude earthquake.
The quake struck between the cities
of Kathmandu and Pokhara, destroying
buildings, levelling landmarks and killing
thousands of people, with many more
people injured or displaced. Families
were separated and needed help, which
is why the British Red Cross launched
an appeal to assist those who have been
affected by the earthquake.
GMB in the Region raised £615 for the
appeal, which has now been sent to the
charity. GMB would like to thank everyone
who contributed to this worthy cause.
To find out more about the appeal,
please visit the British Red Cross website:
www.redcross.org.uk/

NEPAL DISASTER
GMB members gave
generously to the appeal.

AKE ACHI

DELCAN DOWNES

SUE CORFIELD

NEW STARTERS
GMB welcomes three new staff who are
here to help members in the Region…

T

hree new GMB members have
joined the Birmingham & West
Midlands Region. Please make them
all feel welcome in their new roles!

AKE ACHI

Regional Organiser

Ake has a long history of fighting for the
rights of working people. Since coming to
the UK, he has set up the Black and Minority
Ethnic (BME) Network.
In 2014, Ake gave a powerful speech at GMB
Congress about how he was a child labourer in
the cocoa fields of his home country. Thanks to
these early experiences, Ake understands the
importance of GMB and its work.
In the past few years, Ake has worked
as a GMB officer for the Southern Region
and organised various events for members.
Welcome to Birmingham, Ake!

DELCAN DOWNES

Organising Department

Delcan has been active in the trade union
movement for a number of years; most
recently he has been involved in equalities.
He’s had various jobs throughout the years
from factory work to retail, and recently
worked for Birmingham City Council. Delcan
wants to continue working hard and doing his
best for GMB members now he’s joined the
Region working in the organising department.

SUE CORFIELD
Secretary

Sue joined GMB in January 2016, working
in the secretarial department, providing
support for the Region’s officers on a
day-to-day basis. She’s looking forward
to a bright future with GMB!

Meet ALFIE
GMB helps out a local lad who’s
a talented canoeist

When GMB heard about Alfie Boot, a local
boy who suffers from asthma, night epilepsy
and Asperger’s syndrome, the Region decided
to help him out.
Alfie is a member of his local canoe club
in Stafford and Stone; he loves his sport
of slalom canoeing and is now good enough
to compete in competitions.
But Alfie’s conditions mean that he can only
compete for short bursts at a time before

having to stop to take his medication. Hearing
this, the Region decided to raise money for
Alfie and wrote to GMB branches for donations.
In total, GMB raised an incredible £1,100 for
Alfie, which assists him with travelling costs
and equipment for his canoeing events, which
includes a helmet with the GMB logo on.
The Region would like to thank all who have
donated to Alfie, and allowed him to carry on
compe [