Difference between revisions of "Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance"
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The '''Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance''' ('''GARA''') was a Scottish anti-racism organisation founded in 1999 and based in [[Glasgow]].<ref name="CompaniesHouse">Companies House,''[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC196218 COALITION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AND RIGHTS]'' Find and update company information - GOV.UK, accessed March 2026.</ref> It focused on eliminating racial discrimination and harassment while promoting racial justice, initially as a local initiative before evolving into a broader entity.<ref name="CRERAbout">Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights,''[https://www.crer.org.uk/about About CRER]'', accessed March 2026.</ref> The organisation was rebranded in 2010 as the [[Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights]] (CRER), expanding its remit to a national level in Scotland.<ref name="ParliamentMotion">Scottish Parliament, ''[https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-19508 Celebrating 25 Years of the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights]'', 3 November 2025.</ref> | The '''Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance''' ('''GARA''') was a Scottish anti-racism organisation founded in 1999 and based in [[Glasgow]].<ref name="CompaniesHouse">Companies House,''[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC196218 COALITION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AND RIGHTS]'' Find and update company information - GOV.UK, accessed March 2026.</ref> It focused on eliminating racial discrimination and harassment while promoting racial justice, initially as a local initiative before evolving into a broader entity.<ref name="CRERAbout">Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights,''[https://www.crer.org.uk/about About CRER]'', accessed March 2026.</ref> The organisation was rebranded in 2010 as the [[Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights]] (CRER), expanding its remit to a national level in Scotland.<ref name="ParliamentMotion">Scottish Parliament, ''[https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-19508 Celebrating 25 Years of the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights]'', 3 November 2025.</ref> | ||
| − | Founded by [[Jatin Haria]], who had previously been involved in anti-racism work including as former secretary of Black Sections and chair of Unison's Black Members Committee, the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance emerged in response to local needs identified through initiatives such as Glasgow City Council's Task Force Against Racism.<ref name="WikiARA">https://berniegrantarchive.org.uk/politics-black-sections-and-the-parliamentary-black-caucus/</ref> Under Haria's leadership as executive director, and with [[Jelina Rahman]] serving as Chair from 2005 to 2008, GARA supported community efforts, participated in campaigns against racism, and engaged in projects addressing racial harassment in Glasgow.<ref name="PAIH2008">Positive Action in Housing, ''[ | + | Founded by [[Jatin Haria]], who had previously been involved in anti-racism work including as former secretary of Black Sections and chair of Unison's Black Members Committee, the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance emerged in response to local needs identified through initiatives such as Glasgow City Council's Task Force Against Racism.<ref name="WikiARA">https://berniegrantarchive.org.uk/politics-black-sections-and-the-parliamentary-black-caucus/</ref> Under Haria's leadership as executive director, and with [[Jelina Rahman]] serving as Chair from 2005 to 2008, GARA supported community efforts, participated in campaigns against racism, and engaged in projects addressing racial harassment in Glasgow.<ref name="PAIH2008">Positive Action in Housing, ''[https://www.paih.org/uploads/13.-annual-report-2007-8-1_.pdf Annual Report 2007-8]'', accessed March 2026.</ref><ref name="GildedLily">Gilded Lily, [No verified link available] ''Meet The Team - Jelina Berlow-Rahman'', accessed March 2026.</ref> |
[[Jelina Rahman]], a human rights solicitor specialising in immigration, asylum, family, and equality law, chaired GARA during a period of consolidation and active local advocacy.<ref name="GildedLily" /> She had earlier served as Secretary of the registered company (from September 2002) and became a Director in March 2006, continuing in that role until August 2010, shortly after the rebranding to CRER.<ref name="CompaniesHouseJelina">Companies House, [No verified link available] ''Jelina RAHMAN personal appointments'', accessed March 2026.</ref> This involvement bridged the organisation's transition from a Glasgow-focused group to a Scotland-wide coalition.<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/> | [[Jelina Rahman]], a human rights solicitor specialising in immigration, asylum, family, and equality law, chaired GARA during a period of consolidation and active local advocacy.<ref name="GildedLily" /> She had earlier served as Secretary of the registered company (from September 2002) and became a Director in March 2006, continuing in that role until August 2010, shortly after the rebranding to CRER.<ref name="CompaniesHouseJelina">Companies House, [No verified link available] ''Jelina RAHMAN personal appointments'', accessed March 2026.</ref> This involvement bridged the organisation's transition from a Glasgow-focused group to a Scotland-wide coalition.<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/> | ||
Revision as of 12:11, 23 March 2026
Former name of the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, a Scottish anti-racism charity
| Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-racism charity (defunct name) |
| Logo | |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | Jatin Haria |
| Dissolved | 2010 (rebranded) |
| Registration ID | SC196218 (as registered company) |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Area served | Scotland |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Jatin Haria (founder and leader) Jelina Rahman-Berlow (Chair 2005–2008) |
| Website | [No verified link available] (predecessor to current CRER site) |
| Remarks | |
The Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance (GARA) was a Scottish anti-racism organisation founded in 1999 and based in Glasgow.[1] It focused on eliminating racial discrimination and harassment while promoting racial justice, initially as a local initiative before evolving into a broader entity.[2] The organisation was rebranded in 2010 as the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER), expanding its remit to a national level in Scotland.[3]
Founded by Jatin Haria, who had previously been involved in anti-racism work including as former secretary of Black Sections and chair of Unison's Black Members Committee, the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance emerged in response to local needs identified through initiatives such as Glasgow City Council's Task Force Against Racism.[4] Under Haria's leadership as executive director, and with Jelina Rahman serving as Chair from 2005 to 2008, GARA supported community efforts, participated in campaigns against racism, and engaged in projects addressing racial harassment in Glasgow.[5][6]
Jelina Rahman, a human rights solicitor specialising in immigration, asylum, family, and equality law, chaired GARA during a period of consolidation and active local advocacy.[6] She had earlier served as Secretary of the registered company (from September 2002) and became a Director in March 2006, continuing in that role until August 2010, shortly after the rebranding to CRER.[7] This involvement bridged the organisation's transition from a Glasgow-focused group to a Scotland-wide coalition.[1] The organisation played a role in early anti-racist efforts in Scotland, including coordination of events, youth projects, and advocacy for policy changes.[3] In the late 2000s, with support from Glasgow City Council, it transitioned into the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, reflecting a shift to a more strategic, national focus on systemic racism and racial equality.[8] Jatin Haria continued as executive director of the successor organisation until his retirement in 2025, while Rahman's direct involvement concluded around the 2010 rebrand.[3][7]
History
The Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance was established in 1999 following findings from Glasgow City Council's anti-racism task force.[9] It operated under the name GARA and was registered as such until the name change to Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights in June 2010.[1] Key activities included supporting anti-racist marches, youth anti-harassment projects, and community networking.[10]
In the early 2000s, GARA collaborated on initiatives addressing racial harassment and promoting equality in Glasgow.[11] Jelina Rahman's chairmanship from 2005 to 2008 coincided with efforts to strengthen governance and community representation.[6] By the late 2000s, the organisation underwent rebranding to better reflect its growing scope beyond the city limits.[2]
People
Leadership
Jatin Haria founded and led the organisation from its inception until the rebranding in 2010, and continued leading the successor CRER for 25 years.[3][4] Kaushik Mistry - took over from Haria as Executive Director in 2026.[12] Jelina Rahman served as Chair of the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance from 2005 until 2008.[6] She was appointed Secretary of the registered company on 26 September 2002 (resigned 15 March 2006) and served as Director from 15 March 2006 until 16 August 2010.[7]
Officers and Directors
The table below list all current and former officers/directors/secretaries of the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance (later rebranded as the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, company number SC196218). Data is based on official company records from Companies House as of March 2026. The organisation has had a total of 76 officers historically, with 7 current/active officers and 69 resignations.
All active officers share the correspondence address: 8 John Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1JQ. No occupations are explicitly listed in the records beyond roles.
Current Officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Nationality | Date of Birth | Country of Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jatin Haria | Secretary | 15 March 2006 | British | — | Scotland |
| Colin Robert Clark (Professor) | Director | 15 November 2014 | British | October 1970 | Scotland |
| Sandra Deslandes-Clark | Director | 22 April 2010 | British | April 1963 | Scotland |
| Daniel John Gunn | Director | 3 November 2012 | British | March 1979 | Scotland |
| Parveen Khan | Director | 2 April 2009 | British | July 1968 | Scotland |
| Colin Lee | Director | 9 March 2011 | British | July 1965 | Scotland |
| Eleanor McKnight | Director | 9 March 2011 | British | June 1959 | United Kingdom |
Former Officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned | Nationality | Date of Birth | Country of Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subhash Kantilal Joshi | Secretary | 24 April 2000 | 8 May 2001 | British | — | — |
| Graham Lawrence Mochan | Secretary | 30 August 2001 | 26 September 2002 | British | — | — |
| Jelina Rahman | Secretary | 26 September 2002 | 15 March 2006 | British | — | — |
| T C Young | Secretary | 10 May 1999 | 24 April 2000 | — | — | — |
| Rizwan Ahmed | Director | 28 September 2001 | 22 March 2010 | British | April 1962 | Scotland |
| Zhura Kmatun Ahmed | Director | 28 September 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | February 1966 | — |
| Ramiza Akhter | Director | 19 January 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | May 1981 | — |
| Uzma Alam | Director | 12 November 2002 | 9 March 2011 | British | May 1980 | Scotland |
| Anela Anwar | Director | 16 October 2003 | 21 October 2005 | British | November 1981 | Scotland |
| Naheed Asghar-Hussain | Director | 12 September 2000 | 19 January 2001 | British | February 1969 | — |
| Umer Ashraf | Director | 19 January 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | October 1984 | — |
| Ruby Bashir | Director | 7 November 2000 | 27 September 2001 | British | May 1972 | — |
| Ruth Black | Director | 19 August 2009 | 9 March 2011 | British | July 1964 | Scotland |
| Alexander Douglas Blackwood | Director | 18 May 1999 | 27 September 2001 | British | February 1952 | — |
| Jamie Allan Brown | Director | 16 October 2003 | 13 December 2006 | British | June 1987 | — |
| David Morrison Cerretti | Director | 25 August 1999 | 3 May 2002 | British | November 1966 | — |
| Nazir Ahmed Chaudhry | Director | 28 February 2001 | 25 September 2003 | British | October 1933 | — |
| Maggie Chetty | Director | 18 May 1999 | 3 May 2002 | British | July 1943 | United Kingdom |
| Sylvia Cowan | Director | 7 November 2000 | 13 December 2006 | British | March 1948 | — |
| Sarah Elizabeth Craig | Director | 7 July 1999 | 30 November 1999 | British | November 1960 | — |
| Colin Duff | Director | 9 March 2011 | 26 March 2018 | British | May 1971 | Scotland |
| Peter William Duncan | Director | 26 September 2002 | 11 December 2008 | British | October 1943 | Scotland |
| John Eric Thomas Eldridge (Professor) | Director | 12 September 2000 | 3 May 2002 | British | May 1936 | — |
| Patricia Claire Elsmie | Director | 22 April 2010 | 9 September 2011 | British | September 1954 | United Kingdom |
| Rozanne Foyer | Director | 28 September 2001 | 29 September 2004 | British | November 1972 | United Kingdom |
| Rafik Gardee (Dr) | Director | 15 March 2006 | 9 September 2011 | British | August 1940 | Scotland |
| Derek Sian Goh | Director | 7 June 1999 | 12 September 2000 | British | September 1947 | — |
| Archibald Graham (Councillor) | Director | 18 May 1999 | 17 June 2003 | British | August 1956 | United Kingdom |
| Irene Graham | Director | 25 September 2003 | 1 June 2007 | British | May 1950 | United Kingdom |
| Kay Hampton (Professor) | Director | 2 June 2011 | 9 September 2011 | British | December 1957 | Scotland |
| Nicholas John Harrison | Director | 10 May 1999 | 18 May 1999 | British | June 1974 | — |
| Ian Michael Hepburn | Director | 18 May 1999 | 6 July 1999 | British | February 1957 | Scotland |
| Salma Iqbal | Director | 28 September 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | November 1982 | — |
| Subhash Kantilal Joshi | Director | 24 February 2000 | 8 May 2001 | British | June 1953 | — |
| Subhash Kantilal Joshi | Director | 18 May 1999 | 18 February 2000 | British | June 1953 | — |
| Kiran Kaur | Director | 2 March 2006 | 13 December 2006 | British | April 1985 | — |
| Pramila Kaur | Director | 28 September 2001 | 26 June 2025 | British | August 1961 | Scotland |
| Satvinder Kaur | Director | 19 January 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | July 1984 | — |
| Faisal Kayani | Director | 7 November 2000 | 12 November 2002 | British | December 1982 | United Kingdom |
| Nazia Khaliq | Director | 7 November 2000 | 12 November 2002 | British | September 1977 | — |
| Omprakash Kishanchand Khanna | Director | 12 September 2000 | 25 September 2003 | British | March 1936 | — |
| Jean Mutheu Ndanu Kyula | Director | 16 October 2003 | 13 December 2006 | Kenyan | November 1983 | — |
| Alan Che Kin Lee | Director | 12 November 2002 | 25 September 2003 | British | June 1982 | — |
| Hanzala Shaheen Malik | Director | 30 August 2001 | 17 June 2003 | British | November 1956 | Scotland |
| Allan Yung-Kent Man | Director | 7 November 2000 | 27 September 2001 | British | September 1981 | — |
| Ingrid McClements | Director | 12 September 2000 | 25 September 2003 | British | December 1948 | — |
| Samantha McFarlane | Director | 26 September 2002 | 25 September 2003 | British | June 1964 | — |
| Roxana Corral Navas Meechan | Director | 2 June 2011 | 31 December 2015 | Spanish | June 1957 | Scotland |
| Isobel Margaret Millar | Director | 15 March 2006 | 29 August 2007 | British | January 1955 | — |
| Graham Lawrence Mochan | Director | 3 May 2000 | 3 May 2002 | British | September 1950 | United Kingdom |
| Shabnum Mustapha | Director | 9 March 2011 | 3 November 2012 | British | February 1979 | Scotland |
| Ahid Ojaghi | Director | 13 December 2006 | 2 April 2009 | British | September 1978 | Scotland |
| Attia Parvais | Director | 7 November 2000 | 27 September 2001 | British | July 1983 | — |
| Sonia Michelle Puri | Director | 26 September 2002 | 25 September 2003 | British | October 1976 | — |
| Irfan Rabbani | Director | 20 August 2007 | 8 May 2009 | British | April 1962 | Scotland |
| Jelina Rahman | Director | 15 March 2006 | 16 August 2010 | British | January 1979 | Scotland |
| Jelina Rahman | Director | 26 September 2002 | 25 September 2003 | British | January 1979 | — |
| Mohammed Razaq (Councillor) | Director | 29 August 2007 | 8 November 2010 | British | March 1955 | United Kingdom |
| Mohammed Razaq (Councillor) | Director | 7 November 2000 | 3 May 2002 | British | March 1955 | United Kingdom |
| Anita Louise Shelton | Director | 18 May 1999 | 27 September 2001 | American/USA | July 1942 | Scotland |
| Shabnam Sherafaty | Director | 12 November 2002 | 13 December 2006 | Iranian | August 1983 | — |
| Laraine Shields | Director | 10 May 1999 | 18 May 1999 | British | January 1956 | — |
| Mandeep Singh | Director | 19 January 2001 | 25 September 2003 | British | August 1979 | United Kingdom |
| Austin Smith | Director | 12 September 2000 | 30 August 2001 | British | July 1965 | — |
| Jonathan Emmanuel Squire | Director | 30 November 1999 | 3 May 2002 | British | August 1952 | Scotland |
| Kofi Tordzro | Director | 28 September 2001 | 9 March 2011 | British | February 1957 | Scotland |
| Kalim Uddin | Director | 28 September 2001 | 3 May 2002 | British | December 1971 | — |
| Nafeesa Younis | Director | 19 January 2001 | 12 November 2002 | British | June 1981 | — |
| Saqib Yousaf | Director | 12 November 2002 | 25 September 2003 | British | November 1985 | — |
See also
Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights Jatin Haria Jelina Rahman
Resources
- https://www.crer.org.uk/about
- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC196218/officers
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Companies House,COALITION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AND RIGHTS Find and update company information - GOV.UK, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights,About CRER, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Scottish Parliament, Celebrating 25 Years of the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, 3 November 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://berniegrantarchive.org.uk/politics-black-sections-and-the-parliamentary-black-caucus/
- ↑ Positive Action in Housing, Annual Report 2007-8, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gilded Lily, [No verified link available] Meet The Team - Jelina Berlow-Rahman, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Companies House, [No verified link available] Jelina RAHMAN personal appointments, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ Carole Young, CRER blog, We need immediate action for racial equality in Scotland, 10 June 2020.
- ↑ OHCHR submission, [No verified link available] International Convention for the ..., accessed March 2026.
- ↑ BBC News, [No verified link available] March against racism, accessed March 2026.
- ↑ UK Parliament, [No verified link available] Scottish Affairs - Minutes of Evidence, 2002.
- ↑ https://tfn.scot/news/new-leader-for-racial-equality-group