Member Article

Headingley Cricket Ground to host Unity AGM

The iconic home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club will be the venue for the Annual General Meeting of Leeds housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise next Monday (19 September) in advance of an historic inter-faith cricket match under the Headingley lights.

Unity will co-sponsor the T20 game between Mount Cricket Club, a team of Muslim players from Batley, and St Peter’s XI of the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Vatican’s official cricket team made up of Rome-based priests and seminarians.

Ali Akbor, chief executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, said he was thrilled that Headingley would be the venue for the Unity AGM, where Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE will deliver the keynote speech.

He said: “Unity was set up almost 30 years ago to address the housing needs of the black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds. We have significantly expanded our range of activities since then and now manage more than 1,200 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds.

“But, as our annual report entitled ‘Delivering Nationally, Delivering Locally’ vividly illustrates, we have never forgotten our roots. That is why we are proud to co-sponsor such an inspirational sporting occasion and for our AGM to be a component part of a momentous day.

“I look forward to setting out Unity’s many achievements from the last 12 months, before enjoying what I’m sure will be an outstanding demonstration of kinship on the cricket field.”

Lord Patel said: “I believe that sport has the ability to break down boundaries and bring communities together. Cricket, particularly with its rich and diverse history across the world, is a great example of this.

“Both Unity and Yorkshire County Cricket Club are organisations that are committed to providing high quality services to the multi-cultural communities which they serve – both fundamentally believe in providing equality of access, experience and outcomes – whether through sport, housing or employment and education.

The Unity Homes and Enterprise AGM will be held in the Executive Suite of Headingley Carnegie Stadium at 4pm followed by a buffet, with the cricket due to get underway at 6pm.

Both events are open to everyone and admission is free.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barry White .