Every Saturday Shofa Miah sets up a stall at Woodgrange Market in Forest Gate to give away free toiletries to teenagers who can’t afford them.

A professional working in children’s services with Westminster City Council, Shofa, who lives in Newham, believes that young people in the community need support. Since her stall opened in June last year, it has become a hub for local teenagers, some of whom now volunteer.

Shofa’s dedication to supporting young people comes from her own life.

Behind the stall is a poster featuring a photograph of her brother Ashok who died 17 years ago aged 29 after suffering from schizophrenia. This family tragedy drives Shofa to this day. She has set up Ashok’s Vision International, an organisation dedicated to helping families and friends cope better when a young person suffers mental illness. Selffunded so far, she is hoping it will become a registered charity.

She said: “People don’t know what to do when this happens in a family. It can be challenging and frightening and so often people just leave the person alone leading to isolation and despair. But it needn’t be like that.

There are things we can do, and I want to share this knowledge. Evidence suggests that small improvements in wellbeing can help to decrease some mental health problems, and help that person to flourish.”

Ashok was found drowned in the lake at Regent’s Park, near the family home. It is not clear exactly what happened to him and an open verdict was recorded at the inquest.

“He had become increasingly isolated,” Shofa explained “It was terribly sad. I want Ashok’s Vision to reflect my brother’s essence, which was his love for Nature, Play and Spirituality.

“They say you die twice, once when your heart stops and the second time when you are no longer mentioned in the world. I feel Ashok died while he was alive and that is the cruelty and reality of mental Illness.”

Shofa, herself a mother of three, already has connections in Nepal, Italy, Egypt and Bangladesh to expand the project internationally.

Her latest piece of work is a 25-point schedule of practical tips for families and friends, based on the idea of a support network as the most effective way to encourage wellbeing.

She said:

A supporter’s role should not be to ‘fix’ the person, but to be there to let them know that they are valued, loved and most importantly not alone at a most difficult time.

Shofa’s work is well respected by the young people who join her on Saturdays. Regular Ashton Buchanan, 16, said: “This is a good place for young people to get hygiene products during the pandemic, and is a safe place to discuss mental health issues.”

Moving into 2021, Ashok’s Vision has started collaboration with the Forest Gate Womens Institute who have kindly offered to sew face masks to give out for free to local teenagers.

Since publication in print, Ashok’s Vision has been awarded charity status (Registered Charity 1193446).

ashoksvision2020@gmail.com

www.ashoksvision.org

This story, which was initially published in Newham Voices January print edition, was updated on 23 February 2021.

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