Rita Patel

The Peepul Centre is the first of its kind in the UK. Striving to be a model of ‘community empowered’ urban renewal and a catalyst for social change, it is the culmination of a vision for Rita Patel, a woman who 27 years earlier established in 1979 Belgrave Baheno (Belgrave Women); the first women’s centre in Leicester which based its philosophy on Asian women and girls working together in sisterhood.

Over two decades Belgrave Baheno sustained steady growth and progress with a membership of over 5,000 women and girls. Belgrave Baheno in the heart of the Belgrave area of Leicester provides a comprehensive programme of quality education training and leisure activities for the local community.

Belgrave Baheno has a long history of successful service delivery and has built an effective operating management infrastructure able to deliver multiple services.

Annually, the organisation managed over £600,000 in the provision of local and national community services. From this burgeoning movement and Rita’s vision, emerged the Peepul Centre.

The Peepul Vision is based on the belief that there is an infinite potential and inherent greatness in all humanity. The Peepul Centre offers high quality facilities and opportunities for the whole community to use for social, recreational and business activities. Facilities include a 330-seater auditorium; meeting rooms; arts, music and dance studios; a gym and sports hall; a nursery and crèche; a 120-seater restaurant and a separate cyber-café.

The community raised millions of pounds to build their base, with funding from the East Midlands Development Agency, Sport England, The Arts Council, National Lottery Community Fund, Leicester City Council and the Millennium Commission alongside numerous other sources. The Centre (opened at the close of 2005) serves to provide a wide range of opportunities, services and facilities that promote and enhance the welfare, interests, economic and social advancement of local communities. It will strive to build on cultural diversity and richness; inspiring understanding, unity and respect amongst all people. In support of the initiative, The Millennium Commission gave a grant of £7.3 million. Chairman Richard Caborn said the Peepul Centre stood alongside the Eden Project in Cornwall and the National Space Centre as a monument to the millennium. He noted: "It's a building, but its much more than that. It's about bringing people together. It's about community and racial harmony." Rita holds honorary doctorates from both De Montfort and Leicester Universities.

“Rita exemplifies a community builder. For over 20 years she has tirelessly worked to support a multicultural community that is Leicester. The Peepul Centre is the culmination of all this hard work and the start of a very exciting journey for this amazing lady and her organisation”.

Dame Anita Roddick

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