Honour for prison campaigner Farida Anderson MBE
Wednesday 13 July 2016
A MANCHESTER woman’s selfless work with the ‘forgotten victims of justice’ is to be recognised by the University of Salford.
Farida Anderson, MBE, will be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University for services to the loved ones of those in prison and for improving access for BME communities to support services.
Farida, from Prestwich, the daughter of a Somali immigrant, founded the charity Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group in the 1990s and has chaired the National Body of Black Prisoners’ Support Group.
She also heads a successful Caribbean catering business, Buzzrocks - former winner of the Best Black Urban Business in the North West award, and is co-founder of FACT (Fit After Cancer Treatment), having herself survived the illness.
Compassion
Farida, who has a women’s centre named after her in Rochdale, is a compassionate speaker about the plight of partners and children of prisoners, saying: “When a parent is sent to jail it often means the loss of a large part of the family income. The emotional impact can be even greater. For a partner left behind the separation can feel like a bereavement and many choose to pretend they have split-up, rather than admit their husband or wife is in prison.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Marshall, said: “Farida is one of the most inspiring and humbling women, who offers a 'can do' attitude in the face of adversity and is a wonderful and real role model for many of our students.”
And Dr Julie Wray, of the School of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Social Sciences, where Farida has often visited to speak to students, said: “She reflects our values in practice and in all that she does. She is inclusive and compassionate and her strong humanistic attributes and role modelling offer what is possible even when one may have had a 'poor' start in life.
Inspire
“Our students are already being inspired by Farida, who sends out a clear message that 'real people' who are ordinary and special can reach such potential.”
Farida will be made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the Lowry Theatre, Salford on Thursday, July 21 at 1.30pm.
