Sundas Salam - Founder

Born into a community-oriented family in February 1975 in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, Sundas has dedicated over 30 years of her life to grassroots community work. Her passion for volunteering began at just 13 years old, laying the foundations for a lifelong commitment to service.

After studying Pharmacy at Liverpool John Moores University, Sundas made the conscious decision to return to community work, recognising that her true passion and strength lay in serving others, much like her late father. Since graduating, she has built a diverse and impactful career across a global charity, schools, a social enterprise, and the wider community sector. Throughout this journey, she has gained invaluable experience in bid writing, project management, human resources, and staff development.

In 2015, she became the Director of Al-Hilal Regeneration Enterprise CIC, formerly Cheetham Al-Hilal Community Project, founded by her father in 1978. As a dedicated team player, Sundas finds deep fulfillment in working with Manchester’s diverse ethnic communities, striving to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. She is especially passionate about empowering women and young people, believing this is key to building stronger, more resilient neighbourhoods.

Sundas is a strong advocate for equity and inclusion. She believes a just society is one where everyone, regardless of ethnic background, faith, personal circumstances, or learning needs, has the opportunity to thrive. This conviction led her to establish RANi (Raising Awareness on Neurodivergent Individuals) in January 2023. As the adoptive mother of two autistic teenage daughters, her personal experiences have deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly within an education system often shaped by neurotypical norms. Through RANi, she campaigns for greater awareness, better support, and fair access to opportunities for all.

Fluent in Punjabi and Urdu, Sundas connects effortlessly with hard-to-reach communities across Manchester. Sundas has been fortunate to travel extensively, gaining valuable insights from diverse cultures and experiences around the world. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and relaxing at home with her daughters and their three cats.