Survivor of 7/7 attacks nominated for prestigious award (From Haringey Independent)

Survivor of 7/7 attacks nominated for prestigious award

1:01pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

A woman who survived the 7/7 bombings has been nominated for a prestigious award for her work with a Wood Green charity.

Sajda Mughal, from Wood Green, is in the running for the Public Service awards at the Women of the Future Awards.

She has been working with the women’s charity JAN Trust, based in Bedford Road, where she has spearheaded programmes to educate women and girls from minority backgrounds.

Miss Mughal previously worked in the City in investment banking but left her career to join the charity helping women from vulnerable backgrounds after she was nearly killed in the July 7 bombings in 2005.

The 29-year-old said: “I have to say when I first heard I was in the running I was really overwhelmed. Just to be nominated is such a huge achievement.

“After the attacks I really re-assed everything and wasn’t getting any satisfaction from my job.

“I saw there was a rise in hate crime and I didn’t understand the ideology of those that carried out the attacks so for me my aim is to do something about that.

“I love this job and helping women from vulnerable backgrounds get educated and get a job to support their families really makes it worthwhile.”

Since joining the charity Miss Mughal has been instrumental in developing projects across the country on a number of issues including woman’s rights, education and community cohesion.

The JAN Trust was founded in 1989 and aims to improve the lives of black, Asian, and other ethnic minorities with education.

The Woman of the Future Awards aims to highlight the next generation of women under the age of 35 who have excelled in business, science, technology and the arts.

The shortlist includes 55 women and the winners will be announced at a ceremony at a central London hotel on Tuesday November 20.