Press releases

Secretary of dtate for trade and industry and minister for eomen, the Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, has launched a new community partnership between transport services organisation Arriva plc and the Leicester Racial Equality Council (LREC).

As one of the largest Racial Equality Councils in the country, LREC aims to promote equal opportunities in Leicester , and runs a number of projects which target socially excluded groups.

As part of its partnership, Arriva is supporting a LREC project which aims to provide opportunities for women and girls to take part in sport.

Arriva has made an initial donation of £4,000 to support the 'Positive Images Project', which includes designing a series of posters, leaflets and banners depicting positive images of sporting black and ethnic minority women.

Arriva's chief executive Bob Davies said:

We are aware of LREC's valuable work and are very pleased to be launching this new community partnership.

We are very much a part of local communities across the UK and we seek to build sustainable relationships that are relevant to the Group's activities. The aim is to deliver best value for the communities we serve, whilst reinforcing their relationship with Arriva.

Chief Executive of the LREC, Iris Lightfoote said:

The LREC welcomes this collaboration with Arriva, an established commercial international business. This partnership will enhance the promotion of racial minority positive images in sports in the city of Leicester . The campaign will encourage more of our local communities to take up sports and physical activities to maintain their health and well being.

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Notes to editors

The following digital photograph is available via e-mail from Arriva's corporate communications department.

Pictured from the left: Chanda Chawhan, LREC volunteer, Iris Lightfoote, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP and Bob Davies.