Ravinder Taggar - serving her community for more than 20 years

Two years ago, in July, just as the centre was preparing to close for the summer, an urgent call came in from a woman experiencing domestic violence. The call came from outside the city, and outside Ravinder's usual working hours, but she responded immediately, without hesitation.

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Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Ravinder spent the next six weeks supporting the woman voluntarily and without pay. She provided consistent emotional reassurance, practical guidance, and step-by-step support to help her safely plan her exit from a volatile home environment, liaising with the local police to ensure she could leave with proper protection in place. Despite having no family support and facing significant pressure from her community to return home, the young woman successfully left the abusive situation and began rebuilding her life. She later moved to Birmingham, connected with a centre for ongoing support, and, through education and sheer determination, gained qualifications, secured employment, and built a stable, independent future.

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This is who Ravinder is. For over 20 years, she has served her local community with commitment, integrity, and compassion. Coming from an Indian background and working predominantly within a Pakistani community, she has shown time and again how mutual respect and openness can break down cultural barriers and build lasting trust, a powerful example of how shared values can unite people across differences.

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At Go Woman Alliance, Ravinder makes sure every woman feels included from the moment she arrives. She creates a friendly, culturally sensitive environment where women — particularly those newly arrived, isolated, or facing difficult circumstances, feel safe to participate, share their experiences, and build confidence. Her bilingual support removes language barriers that might otherwise keep women from engaging fully, strengthening friendships and reducing isolation across diverse backgrounds. As an experienced family support worker, she also provides essential practical help: assisting with form-filling, supporting women experiencing domestic violence, and connecting people to household funds, food vouchers, and other vital resources.

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Volunteers describe Ravinder as a symbol of bridge-building, someone whose patience and genuine care have strengthened connections between families and communities, and encouraged dialogue and collaboration where there might otherwise be division. Her influence goes far beyond individual support, the Warm Welcome Space itself reflects her values of inclusion, kindness, and empowerment, inspiring those around her to lead with the same care.

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Through her long-standing dedication, Ravinder has transformed lives, strengthened community connections, and created lasting, positive change. Her compassion and unwavering commitment have given women not just immediate safety, but long-term hope. Ravinder was the winner of the Unsung Hero Award at the Warm Welcome Awards 2026. 

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