Ikram in Seville, by Royal Appointment
Scratching Shed author and Leeds Rugby Foundation Connecting Communities manager Ikram Butt will be a principal speaker at the Mosaic Speakers Bureau Conference in Seville, Spain, on Friday April 1.
The Mosaic organisation, set up by HRH the Prince of Wales – who will be in attendance – is a charity which has, as its principle aim, working towards a more integrated and thriving society where all individuals, regardless of background, are supported in realising their potential.
The Conference, which is organised by the British Embassy in Madrid to coincide with the visit of Prince Charles, will take place in the Three Cultures Foundation in Seville and centres on the integration of Muslim communities in Spain and the UK.
Ikram will be one of four speakers in a seminar entitled, ‘Unlocking Muslim Potential: Diversity for Competitive Advantage’ which will bring together practitioners and opinion-shapers working in the fields of education, employment, the media, politics and civil society.
The objective is to share best practice on integration and public policies affecting Muslim communities and to learn from each other’s experiences.
His address will focus on the work of the Leeds Rugby Foundation and specifically the Connecting Communities Project and will outline case studies that use sport as a vehicle for change, while also talking about his own experience in professional sport and the challenges he faced.
Afterwards he will partake in a debate on the issues raised, sharing the platform with former African Footballer of the Year Frederick Kanoute, who currently plays for Seville.
Ikram, the first Asian rugby league international when he played for England in 1995 says: “I am honoured to be asked to attend and address such an august body. The conference and the vital networking events that surround it enable me to promote the core values of rugby league, the invaluable and wide ranging work of the foundation and the city of Leeds.”
Other delegates and representatives travelling over from the UK on behalf of MOSAIC include; National Director Jonathan Freeman, Aleena Ahmed of the BBC, Cllr Mahroof Hussain, MBE Rotherham cabinet member and Birmingham Councillor Nargis Rashid.
Ikram’s critically-acclaimed autobiography, Tries and Prejudice, published by Scratching Shed, can be purchased here.
Fair words never hurt the tongue.