ON behalf of many Asian woman and children, we express heartfelt appreciation to Nazmun Usman, community liaison officer at Beardwood High School in Blackburn.

For years, she has worked conscientiously to empower parents, especially mothers, to play an active role in their children's education via many channels.

This has led to parents being much more aware of the education system, thus, increasing the educational opportunities for children, especially girls.

Beyond her normal school duties, she helps people deal with domestic and social issues and many charities have benefited from her fund-raising events both in and out of school.

Despite the social and domestic pressure she faces as an Asian woman, she has fought to reach the heart of the community and is an inspiration to many.

During the summer holidays when women and young girls complained of having nothing to do and nowhere to go, she arranged trips to Edinburgh, Skegness, Wales, Alton Towers, Camelot and a five-day trip to Paris and Disneyland.

More than 500 women and children benefited from these trips and, for many, it was an experience of a lifetime.

We would like to say a very big 'thank you' to Nazmun for giving up so much time for others and for all her work, seen and unseen.

GULNAZ USMAN, ASMA AHMED and RABIYA KHONAT, Calderbank, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.