MP Dawn Butler the latest Mandela8 patron
The Labour MP for Brent Central, Dawn Butler MP has been announced as the latest patron of the charity, Mandela8.
The former Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities has become the first elected African-Caribbean government minister to endorse the Liverpool initiative which commemorate and pursue the legacy of Nelson Mandela's outstanding achievement for humanity.
The first elected African-Caribbean woman to become a Government Minister in the UK, Butler ran a hugely successful campaign in 2015, winning her vote with a majority of nearly 20,000; giving her the largest vote swing in England at the time.
Twice awarded by the Patchwork Foundation as the People's Choice Labour Party MP of the Year and Overall MP of the Year, the announcement came ahead of the annual Mandela Day celebrations.
The Liverpool-based CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), is a charity which aims to see permanent artwork that functions as a unique performance, conversation and contemplation space established at a Toxteth Liverpool 8 heritage site,
Hugely impressed by Mandela's humanitarian efforts, the MP said: "Mandela has inspired me, just as he inspired so many around the world after spending 27 years in prison so that Black people could have equal rights and votes and to end the brutal apartheid regime".
The latest announcement by the charity comes with the upcoming Mandela Week, which will be marked this year with their annual 'My 67 Minutes' campaign (sponsored the Torus Foundation), which aims to bring people together through acts of kindness and community cohesion.
Last year, the organisation reached over 230,000 young people across Liverpool, Chester and Warrington, with hundreds of volunteers dedicating their time to help communities in the North West of England.
Mandela8 is also in its final week of crowd-funding to support Merseyside's most vulnerable individuals during lockdown with food parcels, hygiene packs and arts activities for young children.
A member of the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee, Chair of the APPG for Jamaica and APPG for Governance & Inclusive Leadership, the UK’s first elected Black woman to become a government minister, Ms Butler ran a hugely successful campaign in 2015, winning her vote with a majority of nearly 20,000; giving the largest vote swing in England at the time.
The announcement came as Mandela8 – the organisation behind the new Nelson Mandela memorial in Princes Park, which will also feature an outdoor classroom – are marking Mandela Week’ this year with their annual ‘My 67 Minutes’ campaign (sponsored by Torus Foundation, platinum sponsors for the previously scheduled visit from the Mandela Family), which aims to bring people together through acts of kindness and community cohesion.