Director, Sikh Sanjog

Trishna Singh is a first generation Scottish Sikh. Born in Glasgow in the 1950’s, her education was limited due to cultural barriers she left school at the age of 13. She married and moved to Edinburgh in 1974. She re-entered the world of Education in 2004 and in 2007, at the age of 54, successfully obtained a Degree in Community Learning & Development from Glasgow University. She founded Sikh Sanjog in 1989 and has almost 30 years’ experience in the community and voluntary sector delivering outreach services, securing funding, providing training, supporting personal development and managing the organisation. In 2007 she was involved in successfully setting up the first Sikh Women’s Social Enterprise in Scotland (probably the UK) – Punjabi Junction, our Social Enterprise Community Cafe. Her aim is to continue to break down barriers to learning, reducing the obstacles that get in the way of people receiving a service and improving communication between professions about the needs of the Sikh and other BME women. Having studied Community Learning and Development, Trishna is passionate about the ability of the voluntary sector to engage with communities in helping the people and the environment around them; and firmly believes that the flexibility, creativity and tenacity of the voluntary sector will be crucial in tackling the problems emerging as a result of tough economic times. Her wealth of experience together with her knowledge of ethnic communities and their needs has resulted in her being asked to represent the Sikh Community in a variety of arenas both statutory and voluntary. She has recently been appointed as Sikh Chaplain to Edinburgh University. In 2014 she was awarded the OBE for her services to the Community and was honoured at the 2017 Scottish Interfaith Awards held at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, (16th November), sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).