Purple Patch were named Community Group of the Year at the British Muslim Awards 2020. Accepting the award was group user Samira Adam.

Samira took to the stage in front of hundreds of guests at the Mercure Manchester Hotel on Friday (January 31).

The annual event now in its eighth year honoured a range of people and organisations from across the UK.

Purple Patch offer services for those with disabilities and are based at Bangor Street Community Centre in Blackburn.

Speaking at the event Samira said, “I would like to accept this award on behalf of our parents who nurtured us. Our families and supporters who believed in us. Our fantastic staff team who work selflessly. 

"Thank you to our well-wishers.  I leave you with this thought – I am a Disabled Person and I can achieve lots of things with the right support – revive a Sunnah today…and please look at disabled people positively.”

Rafik Jassat from Purple Patch said, “The recognition this Award brings belongs entirely to the Purple Patch Family and I thought Samira’s speech encapsulated it perfectly. 

“Samira has a disability, and standing confidently in front of such a large audience and delivering a speech, as articulately as she did, is testament to the fact that people with additional needs can do so much with a little support. 

"The entire audience was moved off their seats and onto their feet to rapturous applause.  It was a powerful moment for everyone in the room.”

“Purple Patch Director, Yalina Apabhai, signed Samira’s speech using BSL to further promote inclusion and raise awareness of sensory disabilities. 

“Finally, I would like to add that I wish to dedicate my small contribution to the Award to my beloved niece Hawa Jassat who sadly passed away last year, she was extremely passionate about  community work and worked selflessly helping others, this Award will have made her very proud, may the Lord elevate her status.”