We are very happy to announce a fantastic new addition to our already brilliant catalogue of patrons, Dr Erinma Bell, MBE DL. In 2003 Erinma became a co-founder and CEO of her own formidable charity known as CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal Inner South Manchester Area). CARISMA became a front-line community based group set up to offer life-chances for young people giving them positive alternatives other than violent street, and gun crimes. Erinma employs a successful model that ‘builds social capital’ amongst grassroots and key stakeholders, employing methods which ‘transport and transform individuals’ to bring about peace. Erinma leads on work around issues such as Restorative Justice, Conflict Resolution as well as Peace Making, Keeping and Building within an urban environment.
Her charity CARISMA (which has recently merged with the charity Chrysalis) was awarded with the Queens Jubilee Award in 2007. Erinma, for voluntary services to her community, was awarded with an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen in 2008 and became a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester in 2012. Erinma is also an international Peace Fellow and speaks as a guest speaker, on peace and conflict resolution not only in the UK, however, in several international conferences too. Finally Erinma Bell features as Chapter One in (past Prime Minister) Gordon Brown’s book, ‘Britain’s Everyday Heroes’.
