For those who missed my investigation yesterday you can read it here
If you want to talk to me in complete confidence you can email me using the email address at the bottom of the article
Sumayyaβs on her way to
@AllSaintsSchBD5
primary school in Bradford (incidentally itβs the same primary school I attended)
Sheβs not alone, 10 other Afghan refugee children are joining her on this new adventure as they settle into their new life in England
More
@BBCLookNorth
Now 96yrs old, my grandad was a teen when he joined the British Indian Army.
He fought in WW2, saw some of his friends die on the front line.
The ones tht survived never recovered from PTSD.
We can never forget, because those who fought for our freedom, never will.
Both my grandads served in WW2, as did my great uncle & many men of tht generation in my family
My grandad (who turns 98 soon) still won't talk about some of the things he saw at war. His eyes flood with tears as he remembers
So as we mark
#VEDay75
we have to remember them all.
I was 10 when the race riots hit Bradford
It took years for our city to heal
I grew up watching our elders, neighbours & communities build back our city
Don't underestimate the work needed to heal the trauma of the past couple of days, not just in 1 city but across the country
Not Zara trying to sell me a 'limited edition' cotton shalwar kameez for Β£90 when I could buy the material for Β£20 from White Abbey Road & my mum could it sew for free π€¦π½ββοΈ
Amelia is a 61 year old volunteer, she's on shift in Mythmlroyd till 3am tmrw morning clearing out drains in the area with other volunteers.
The floods are destructive but the overwhelming sense of community spirit, in the lead up to and after, really is heartwarming.
π¨HAPPY NEWS π¨
Iβve been promoted to Senior Investigations Reporter as part of a new investigations team based in Yorkshire.
Iβm PROPER BUZZING & cannot wait to get started (in about 3 weeks)
So have some choc cake on me & letβs talk stories!
When I entered my 20s, I was pregnant, unsure of my future & had barely Β£100 to my name.
If you would've told me where I would be now, 10 yrs later, I would've laughed in your face.
Believe, work hard, take risks ππΎ
Happy 30th Birthday to me πππΎπ
No better way to end half term, a long hike followed by a stop at a van selling Pakistani mangoes
Luckily it was in a no go zone so we had the whole lot to ourselves ππ
They were all very excited as they boarded the school bus this morning,
Many of their parents worked as interpreters for the British Army - theyβre now grateful to be here & hope for a more stable future for their children
@BBCLookNorth
My gran was one of the 100,000 that died from covid
I'll never forget the moment I watched her life end from my phone at home in isolation.
This moment, 100k lives lost, is overwhelmingly sobering.
My thoughts and prayers with everyone who's lost a loved oneπ―
Sat here tears running down my eyes
This is our city
It's our time. We deserve this
I said it from the start. This is our title.
Despite our painful past & challenges there are so many opportunities. So much potential.
Well done team
@bradford2025
LETS GO! BUT 1ST WE RAVE ππ½
My grandad is 102 today!! π₯³ π
A World War II veteran, a railway man & the King of our tribe
I am here because of his sacrifices. When I was little, he'd greet me by saying 'my moon & star has arrived.'
Today, I say the same to him
What a life! Happy birthday Baba-Ji! π
Itβs Bradfordβs first Muslim boys Choir & I absolutely loved filming this.
As always in Bradders, some brilliant characters π
They want to perform at Albert Hall but first theyβre putting on a show this weekend at
@Bfdcathedral
This ornate crown is decorated with emeralds, rubies and diamonds and other semi-precious stonesβ¨
It was probably made in the late 1800s in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Yahya is 8 years old & from Bfd, he built his own mosque in time for Ramadan, his creativity is incredible.
As Muslims prepare for
#Ramadan
Yahya hopes he can inspire others to celebrate
#RamadanAtHome
Share this video with your kids & families!
Sat in heaving, hot traffic in Bradford & Mr Mango man with his van pulls up. Starts dropping mango boxes through car windows for a fiver!
Best antidote to road rage ever π₯
Craig Davidβs chat on the Breakfast sofa this morning was so revealing, so vulnerable and incredibly brave of him to open up as much as he did
Heartbreaking to hear how much he went through as a young artist
You know what I love *most* about this photo, apart from the gorgeous pic, it's that Meghan is wearing a dress that shows off her post baby bump.
The bump doesnt disappear as soon as the baby pops out & I love that she's embracing it.
The night bfr Eid, as families prep for one of the most momentous festivals in the Islamic calendar, a lockdown is imposed in parts of the country
Trying hard not to feel disheartened, but we'll cont to celebrate this Eid safely
We have to protect ourselves & those we love β€
Meet
@jimmygittins
, he's an ex rugby player. In 2002 Jimmy broke his neck in 2 places, he suffers frm paralysis due to his injury
Tdy he's taking on a new challenge inspired by
@captaintommoore
he's walking 26 laps around his house to raise money for charity
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@BBCLookNorth
Tmrw marks 85 yrs since the Ukranian famine of 1932-1933.
It was a famine orchestrated by Stalin during his rule over the Soviet Union.
Btw 7-10 million ppl died. Yorkshire is home to a large Ukranian community & I met one of the few survivors of the famine
More
@BBCLookNorth
So I've been appointed to sit on the
@bradford2025
board ππ½ The bid will be chaired by the inimitable
@ShanazGulzar
. I'm so excited for our City
Very honoured too cs I grew up inspired by ppl like Adeeba Malik, to sit with her is a privilege
Let's go π€π½ππΎ
Can I call myself an influencer now π€£?
Jokes aside, thank you for this
It's an absolute honour to share a front page with so many of the elders in the community I grew up inspired by β€
Together we rise
My grandad named me;
Sabbiyah in Arabic means brilliant, splendid. In Urdu it means a woman of enchanting personality & beauty. *Just saying*
Names have stories, history & sentimental value. They evoke pride, establish identity.
Learn to say them.
To the women who stick their necks out for the rest of us,
To the women who risk everything in the pursuit of truth,
To the women who are ostracized & shunned,
To the women who can't stay quiet,
Today and every day we celebrate you!
#IWD2019
*Some Work News*
This week is my final week at
@BBCLookNorth
,
from next week I'll be working in London with
@BBCPanorama
for a couple of months.
I'm so excited about this new gig & *can't* wait to get started!!!
π€π½
It's been a fab day & an honour to be a part of it. As a Bradford lass I am so fricking proud & we're just getting started.
I 𧑠this pic as Mary gave me my first gig at BCB & today I shared the stage with her.
This is what happens if you believe in people.
#bradford2025
Yday marked my 5th year at BBC. I joined because I felt there was a gap in representation esp with (underserved) voices from the North.
I love ppl & I love a challenge
This is a snippet of my work,
I hope it gives you a glimpse of what I love doing π
Happy 100th bday to our King! My only remaining grandparent. A veteran of war. A survivor of partition. He lived in abject poverty & strove to provide a better future for his family. We are here cs of his great sacrifices & endeavours.
100 years on this earth!!! β€π
*NEW PROJECT ALERT*
We Are Bradford: from11-16th March, the BBC will be running stories told by the people of
#Bradford
.
If you want to be featured please get in touch with me asap.
I promoted this yday at
#TEDxBradford
& the response was fantastic
Let's do this π
This is extraordinary only if you perceive the Muslim community to be homogenous & monolithic.
The community itself has groups/factions/communities within it & a significant proportion have conservative values.
In one hall people have come for prayer
In the next hall people are here for vaccinations
as Keighley Central Mosque hosts the 1st mosque vaccination pop up hub in West Yorkshire to boost jab uptake in ethnic communities
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@BBCLookNorth
I know this isn't going to make this easier...but new rules 6 days before Xmas is actually an improvement
I remember I had a feast prepared & was just adding the final touches to my desserts the night before Eid when my sis called & said 'Eid is cancelled sis.'
#solidarity
Tonight on
@BBCLookNorth
, meet the
@BatleyNinjas
, a women's team from Batley who entered the regional rounders league this summer & are smashing it at pretty much every game they compete in
I attended their final match of the season, watch it 6.30pm BBC1
Absolutely stupendous news
@bradford2025
have reached shortlist of 4 cities to become City of Culture 2025 π
I've said it frm the beginning & I'll say it till I'm blue in the face
The title belongs to us. It has our name all over it. It's our time!
Let's go BRADDERS!!!
@DCMS
I just won the Rising Star Award in Media at
#BritishMuslimAwards
Gobsmacked i tell you. Gobsmacked.
Well done to all the finalists. Each one deserves an award.
I am so incredibly honoured and so grateful.
Thank you
I just hosted an iftar meal for 20 people. Fed them all and still have lots of food left over. Now packing it all up to give out to my neighbours.
I have been cooking since 1pm today π€£ but I feel exhilarated.
I really do love Ramadan.
Morning!
It's We Are Bradford week!
If you live in Bradders, pop down to the Broadway. We have a BBC pop up stationed there all week and we want to hear YOUR stories plus you can get your hands on all the latest tech & meet the presenters.
See you soon ππ
#BBCWeAreBradford
1st womens cricket match in 37 years on Bradford's Park Avenue Cricket Ground has begun.
The event was organised to 'bowl out gender inequality' and to encourage more women & kids to engage in sport
βNow we are really happy because everything is safe and we are safe.β
Child refugees from Afghanistan have attended their new school in Yorkshire for the first time.
Every yr I host the last iftar of Ramadan also known as chaand raat (night of the π)
It's a tradition I started when I moved back to Bradford 4 years ago.
I never get the chance to get my henna done cz I'm so busy on the day, so I decided to get it done early
#Eid
A woman on the train just walked past me, looked at me, walked on, then came back and said
'Your dress is gorgeous, you look amazing.'
This may sound shallow but idgaf cz I am PROPER buzzing now ππ
Nothing like a compliment from a woman you've never met π₯°
Like so many people across the country, Jeffrey Long is taking part in the 2.6 challenge.
He's 88 yrs old & walking 2.6 miles in Bingley every day for 10 days to raise money for
@supportourparas
It's a really hilly walk!
More
@BBCLookNorth
tonight
TEDx is coming to Bradford!!
I will be co-hosting the event which will showcase some brilliant presentations.
Bradford has long been the hub for social innovation and oh ma days I can't wait to hear the presentations
BOOK YER TICKETS
Beast mode.
I love challenging myself. The harder the challenge the better.
I could hardly jump after having 3 kids.
But 30 days of training later...your girl is skipping like a boxer ππΎπͺπ½
Just read about the horrific sexual abuse
@BegumNadiya
experienced at such a young age. So unbelievably brave of Nadiya to talk about it publicly.
It reminded me of the report I did with
@ApnaHaq1
last month on child sex abuse in BAME communities
My sister tragically passed away on Saturday. In her memory, we are raising money to build a water well & to support local SEN children's charities in Bradford. She was a huge advocate for special needs children
Please do donate if you can
Thank you π
AN ABSOLUTE JOY to present this mornings launch for city of culture bid BRADFORD 2025.
The energy in the room, the promo vid, the people. The city. Our city.
BRADFORD IS READY!! IN IT TO WIN IT!!
#Bradford2025
Last night the
@OpenIftar
came to Bradford, over 300 people attended the breaking of fast meal (Iftar)
The organisers encouraged every Muslim to bring a non Muslim friend,
The iftar party continues tonight and tmrw in City Park, Bradford
@BBCLookNorth
We are ready (to sit at home π)
Eid Mubarak everyone from mine to yours! π₯³π₯³π₯³
Have an absolutely fabulous day ππ½
#EidMubarak
#EidUlFitr
Finished my shift & just want to shout out the White British ladies in the queue outside the centre in Batley today who gassed me up telling me they love the way I drape my hijab & look forward t' seeing me on telly
Warmed my heart whilst I stood in the cold waiting for the PM β€
I've come to meet 9 year old
Tobias Weller, who has cerebral palsy and autism, he's completing a 26.2 mile marathon by walking 750 metres every day on the streets around his house in Sheffield.
He's raised Β£42,000 for charity
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@BBCLookNorth
EID MUBARAK!
Hubby & I celebrate our 10yr wedding anniv next week so we thought we'd use Eid to remind everyone...cash in those extra π° π€£
Have a FABULOUS day folks,
Let the feasting begin xx
Meant to be sat in my Grandma's villa in Pakistan this week but Coronovirus messed up our plans...so rocking my desi flex in my garden in Bradford π
Wedding season is over
School holidays are over
Back to work
New term
New season
If you live in Yorkshire & have any stories/issues you feel I should be covering on Look North, feel free to give me a shout, dm or email me π€
For now hereβs my desi silver surfer look
Meet Reverand Joe and Anis Dadu,
8 months ago Anis approached Joe with a request.
Muslim professionals like Anis working in the city had nowhere to offer their Friday prayers, they needed a place of worship.
Joe threw open his doors...
More on this story tnight
@BBCLookNorth
Returning to reporting today, filming a story at
@BTHFT
and guess who I bumped intoβ¦
The awesome nurse who cared for my sister in her final moments and our family π
Happy Vaisakhi to my Sikh friends β€
I'm missing the Vaisakhi parade in Bradford esp the food π but next year!
Also how nice that Vaisakhi and Ramadan have fallen around the same time this year ππ½
This is the Karim family,
13 people, spanning 4 generations, all living in 1 house.
Since the outbreak of covid-19 the family have taken extra measures to protect their elders.
More
@BBCLookNorth
today 1.30pm & 6.30pm
Did you know around 150 languages are spoken in Bradford - well this month, a campaign has been launched to celebrate all the different languages spoken in the city
Iβve spent the day at Bowling Park Primary - where 75% of students speak English as a 2nd language
@BBCLookNorth
This week marks my 7th year at
@BBCLookNorth
, just now as I was filming a preshoot, a gentleman present remarked
'us watching, can tell you're passionate about yr work'
& folks that's how I'd sum up the past 7 yrs - love the job, love the stories, love the ppl
To many more πΊπ₯
Riya was 5 when she first saw her dad hitting her mum.
Her mum, Abida Karim, was subject to torturous abuse throughout her 21 year marriage to Sajid Pervez
In Sept last year, Abida was murdered by her husband
Now for the 1st time Riya tells her story
I just told a group of young lads smoking weed in the field at the back of my house, that if they didn't go home or stop effing & blinding, I'd tell their mothers what they were upto.
They actually listened!
I feel like a proper desi auntie now π
The old threat still works ππΎ