Parish Profile

Malkit Thiara is a man with a mission, a mission to improve the lives of young people. In Wellesbourne we know Malkit as the person who runs the youth club behind the village hall, a haven for youngsters on a Wednesday and Thursday evening. But as many will testify, Malkit does much more than this, important as it is. He encourages young people to engage with the community on a much wider level. Heather Sims, chairman of “Wellesbourne in Bloom” readily sings the praises of Malkit and his band of young helpers for the hard work they have put into this very successful venture. The residents of Lawrence Mackie House had a great time playing with a Nintendo Wii when Malkit took some of his group to show them how to use it. And a bag-packing session at the Co-op last year raised £1,500 for Myton Hospice and the Air Ambulance. Malkit's knowledge and professionalism and his links with young people were also invaluable in setting up the recent Youth Bus project with St Peter's church.

Malkit's contribution in Wellesbourne is part of a wider remit. He works for Warwickshire County Council as a locality co-ordinator with responsibility for youth work in Wellesbourne and Southam. Growing up in Leamington he first began working with young people as a volunteer at Bath Place.

For a while he worked at the former Regent Hotel in Leamington in a variety of roles. This he thoroughly enjoyed, meeting people from all over the world, and taking advantage of the free lunches, which he remembers being made from fresh ingredients and tasting fabulous. He then went to Lancaster University to study Youth Work, coming out with a first class honours degree. Work with young people both in the north and south of England followed before he returned to Warwickshire.

Malkit has been married to Raj for ten happy years and they live in Leamington. They have a son Guyan who is four – Guyan's birth is Malkit's happiest memory. Malkit enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis and reading - his current book is Barrack Obama's ‘The Audacity of Hope’. On television he likes ‘Question Time’, and on radio enjoys BBC World Service. His favourite music is soul and bhangra, Stephen K Amos makes him laugh and his favourite food is chicken biryani. From history he would most like to have met Mother Theresa and his great historic moment is the release of Nelson Mandela.

Malkit is passionate about what he does. As such he has a great respect for the people of Wellesbourne, admiring their strong sense of community and their willingness to help one another.

NLB

Parish Council Notes