New Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Tafheen Sharif made history when she became Tameside’s first Muslim and ethnic minority mayor last week.

Following the ceremony, the hard work and engagements involved in being the borough’s leading citizen started almost immediately.

We caught up with the new Mayor, to find out her thoughts on making history, her plans for her year ahead and how she hopes to inspire others.

She described last week’s ceremony at Dukinfield Town Hall as “beautiful” stating: “It was absolutely an honour, I think the fact I had my family there too - it was wonderful to see the happiness and pride from so many friends, colleagues and family members.” 

“Everyone seemed so proud, especially as I have become the first ethnic minority mayor, but I think people just thought it was about time.”

Ever optimistic, positive and enthusiastic, she says she wants her year as Mayor to be different to hopefully inspire women, and women from her background, to achieve.

Plus she hopes to engage and reach out to more groups, organisations and schools who might not normally engage with the mayoralty and civic life.

“I want my ideas to inspire. I’m going to do things like hospital visits, mentor students, open up the Mayor’s Parlour for more of our charitable organisations and volunteer groups to come and visit.” 

She aims to be an ambassador but also a catalyst for change.

“I want to have in-depth conversations about the issues people in our communities are facing on a daily basis and devise a plan to tackle them and work with various authorities,” she says.

“I hope too people will see in me a youngish woman, a woman of colour, a woman wearing her hijab and others like me will come forward and realise they can do things in their lives and really achieve their dreams.

“I’d love top open doors for many people and bring our communities together and really make a difference.”

Touching on the challenges women in politics can face, she said: “I think being a woman full stop, you have to work longer and harder to prove yourself. I have found that and I am sure many women have too. 

“Women can be an easy target for abuse, especially on social media where people are hidden behind a keyboard. 

“I can tolerate it and keep holding my head up high, but I would not tolerate that against someone else and such abuse needs to stop.”

But above all her sheer energy, drive, passion and enthusiasm for the role she has undertaken is shining through with high hopes for her year ahead.

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