The owner of a family-run Surrey care group was recently invited to an event at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Liakat Hasham, co-founder of CHD Living, a family-owned, award-winning group of care homes and associated services operating across South London, Surrey, and Hampshire, was invited to the Eid reception at No. 10 in recognition of his contributions to the Ismaili Muslim community.
Key political figures were present, including Sajid Javid, secretary of state for health and social care, who spoke with attendees and chatted with Liakat about the challenges facing social care.
In addition, Boris Johnson made a short address, applauding the contributions that ethnic minorities, and the Muslim community in particular, have made to UK society.
Liakat said: “It was an honour to be invited to the Eid reception at No.10 Downing Street. Hosted predominantly for the Muslim community, selected invitations to the Eid reception were sent out to faith leaders and businessmen throughout the UK. My invitation covered both these areas, having served the Ismaili community for nearly 20 years and as the founder of CHD Living for over 30 years.
“It was a pleasure to meet members of the Conservative cabinet, especially Sajid Javid. I was introduced to him as a care operator, and he was genuinely interested in what I did, asking the name of our company and the current challenges we were facing. We briefly discussed the state of the current market and the impact staff shortage was having on the care sector.
“I think these events are very important as they connect you with peers in business alongside a cross section of Muslims, who practice the faith in different ways but all with the aim of improving the quality of life for everyone. I would certainly go again if privileged enough to be invited.”
