Update: I have closed this page to donations because we have reached our target of £2,000. With donations of £1,674 and Gift Aid of £392.25, the Legend on the Bench charity has received £2,066.25, slightly over the target.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed towards this inspiring memorial to Mrs Fatema Islam, and thanks for the intentions of those who wanted to contribute after the page closed.

The bench will be revealed in Lewsey Park, Luton LU4 0PF, on Monday 18 August. I will give notice of the time as soon as I receive it. If you are not able to join us, you will be able to visit the bench at any time convenient for you after that, and reflect upon the legacy of Mrs Islam.

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Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Mrs Fatema Islam was a tireless worker for Luton’s communities and a member of the United Nations Association Luton Branch and Purbachal-the eastern sky, both of which I chair. She passed away on 27 April 2025. At a community memorial event I organised for her on behalf of these two organisations on 18 May 2025, the then Mayor of Luton, Councillor Tahmina Saleem, offered to install a bench of hope in Mrs Islam's memory in one of Luton's public parks. Since then, I have been liaising with the bereaved family and Councillor Saleem to progress this project. The bench will be provided by the Legend-on-the-bench charity. It will commemorate Mrs Islam's exemplary life of dedicated service for local people in need and inspire others to continue her mission long into the future. As the Legend-on-a-bench website explains (https://www.legend-on-the-bench.co.uk/our-benches), it will be no ordinary bench. Like Mrs Islam herself, it will be an active hub of vital information. It will feature a QR Code which will direct users to a comprehensive list of professional support groups for mental health, with their contact details.

The bench will be revealed to the public in Lewsey Park on 18 August 2025. On the Council's advice I am opening this JustGiving page to raise £2,000 to contribute towards the costs of Legend-on the-bench. Please contribute generously to this just cause.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.