THE man responsible for transforming the fortunes of Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) is leaving to take up a new post.

Since he became full-time director in January, 2000, Mr Khalid Hussain has brought financial and working stability to BREC and helped the race body adopt a more multi-cultural role in terms of its membership.

Now, after meeting three main objectives which he had set himself, 31-year-old Mr Hussain is departing for pastures new.

He is to take up an appointment with Kirklees Racial Equality Council in West Yorkshire, beginning next week, although he will continue to reside in Bury.

Mr Hussain, married with two sons, lives in the town's Inman Street and is a former pupil of Derby High School. He was originally appointed BREC's full-time director after working as racial harassment officer for Bury Council.

At that time the racial equality body was going through a particularly difficult period. At one stage, because of rival factions and trouble surrounding the organisation, BREC was in danger of having its funding withdrawn by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).

"It's really been a challenge," admits Mr Hussain. "I came in at a very turbulent time. Since then the turmoil has decreased and the REC has gone from strength to strength. We now have more funding than ever before and more staff.

"One of my first tasks was to basically create and develop new internal organisation systems. I also consolidated our finances and brought in external funding."

Mr Hussain has played an important role in the BREC's imminent transfer. The organisation will vacate its Tenterden Street base soon to move to new premises at Oddfellows House in Manchester Road, Bury.

"The main thing is that we've met the CRE's core standards in terms of its work programme requirement. Our funding had been restricted when I joined. When I came here, we had two separate audits by the CRE, one by the police and two by Bury Council.

"But the funding was subsequently fully re-opened and today we're on a sound financial footing and on a strong foundation overall.

"I've developed that with the help of my executive committee. I feel that my job, in a sense, has been done and I can now take on a better and bigger challenge."

When Mr Hussain joined BREC, he was served by only one part-time secretary. Today, BREC employs five personnel. In his new post at Kirklees, he will be in charge of a 15-strong staff.

Reflecting on his decision to relinquish his post, he went on: "I'm really going to miss working in Bury. And I'm very grateful to my partners including the police, Bury Council, Probation Service and the Police Authority."

He also paid tribute to those in the voluntary and public sectors he has worked with, as well as all BREC's own board. "I'm very grateful for all the support and guidance they've given me during my tenure.

"I feel I've achieved all my objectives and I hope the REC will go from strength to strength. I've worked tremendously hard."

He continued: "When I took up the Bury position, one of the main things I wanted was unity in the community. But the only way to achieve that totally is for people to sit round the table and negotiate their differences.

"As far as racism is concerned, we've got to get together with the indigenous majority community and talk about this to bring about community cohesion.

"There has also been a perception and myth which I've tried to eradicate, and that is that the REC existed just for the Asian community.

"The organisation is there for everybody within the ethnic minority community," he stressed.

"Our management board has six or seven representatives from the indigenous community. Overall, our membership is more multi-cultural and many diverse organisations have joined us. Our case work also reflects that."