5-Simrin Choudhrie_A4 Temp 05/07/2013 11:41 Page 5
Simrin Choudhrie: Mumpreneur to Community support imrin Choudhrie is not your typical 30 year old. Not only does Simrin run a blossoming interior design company, she also makes time to work closely with several charities that are close to her heart as well as pursuing her passions for art, antiques, fashion and sports. Simrin married her childhood sweetheart Bhanu Choudhrie, who is the Executive Director for a worldwide investments company C&C Alpha Group. He is a successful venture capitalist and the two are now based in London. Simrin is a mother to Kabir, a feisty 2 year old with big plans of his own. He is full of life and constantly keeps her on her toes. Professionally, Simrin is the Creative Director at Bach Interiors Ltd. Following her passion for interior design and after studying at the Inchbald School of Design, it was a natural direction for Simrin to set up her own company. Bach Interiors is a part of many projects including residential homes, restaurants, bars and various different gradients of hotels. Simrin thrives on a mix of work and play. Even though it is challenging to simultaneously run a home, raise for a child, manage a business and care for the community, Simrin seems to do so with much ease. Simrin has been involved in a range of challenges and opportunities; some of which include working with Simon Hughes MP on his mayoral campaign in 2004, to assisting with the London Bid for the 2012 Olympics. In 2008, Simrin worked alongside Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP and his team for a campaign against Human Trafficking. This involved operations throughout Europe including meetings at the Senate in Rome, which she found incredibly rewarding. Simrin was later honoured for her work by receiving the European Diversity Champion award later that year. In the winter of 2010, Simrin was able to get involved in the social work that she was desperate for by taking part in channel four’s The Secret Millionaire. Simrin was under the guise of a mum-to-be, looking for voluntary work in Sheffield. She was welcomed by the St Wilfrid’s centre and Rainbow’s End charity shop, both of which she continues to support. This was a great achievement for Simrin, being able to get actively involved in helping those who really need it. Simrin was also championed for her business and philanthropic work in 2012. She received the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award, which was a great end to the year. Despite Simrin’s involvement in the design industry, she has always felt an intense
S
sense of social responsibility. Coming from a Hindu background, social work, charity and philanthropy have been ingrained into her inherent being. As a result, she makes a concerted effort to ensure that giving back to the community is an integral part of her way of life. This is evident when you realise the number of causes that Simrin devotes her time to. None more so than the St Wilfrid’s centre based in Sheffield; a day centre for homeless, vulnerable and social excluded individuals. Although the distance is restricting, Simrin manages to play an active role in the running of this charity through her efforts in fundraising and awareness raising. Simrin is also the Director for London based charity Path to Success, whose role is to take responsibility for the improvement of human condition and to share goodwill within the UK and overseas. PTS has supported several charities and trusts over the past 8 years including Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, India and Crisis, UK. Simrin’s philanthropic nature also extends to animals, and in 2011, Simrin became a trustee for the Mane Chance Sanctuary which exists to help ill, abused and abandoned animals and horses. Their first task was to rescue 40 horses and subsequently raise £1m to buy a farm to home the animals. Since achieving this and nursing the animals back to health, the board recognised the therapeutic nature of the time spent with horses. As a result MCS now works in conjunction with disability challengers (a school for children with mental and physical disabilities) and Shooting Star CHASE Hospice, giving children the chance to interact with and reap the calming benefits of the horses. Simrin’s next challenge is working towards the vision of setting up a holistic centre for the treatment of mental problems of animals and people alike, on site. Plans to set up a green café are also underway. Simrin’s aims for the future include launching a nationwide campaign to see ‘the community support the community’. This will start in the coming year with the launch of a mentoring scheme, which will see children of school age giving 1 hour per week to a charity/social cause. The aim is to eventually make regular social work mandatory for all school children. This will also encourage parents to get involved and as a result Simrin hopes to see a more integrated caring system. As well as continuing with the design business and bringing up her little boy, Simrin certainly has a busy year ahead!
Simrin Choudhrie
Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar - 2013
5