Postmaster receives royal recognition for going above and beyond for the communities he serves in Aston with tireless volunteering

Pritesh and his family, originally from Uganda, had to flee persecution under Idi Amin’s Ugandan military dictatorship. Aged five, he was in a refugee camp in Somerset, until they were provided with one room accommodation in Birmingham for the next six years until the family could move to a larger home.

The former refugee will always be grateful to the UK for the safety provided. He has wanted to show his on-going gratitude by helping the community where he has lived since the age of six, and now he has been awarded a British Empire Medal.

Pritesh initially started a petrol station in Bristol Street Birmingham in 2007. Then with the redevelopment of the area he then opened a convenience store across the road in 2018, then adding Bristol Street Post Office to provide vital Post Office services at the heart of his community.

As well as his demanding day job, Pritesh is chairperson of Bidgley Power Foundation a local charity based in Birmingham. It had originally started as a group of restaurant workers in Birmingham, who liked to play badminton, which he later joined. He then developed the idea of helping the community through badminton and other sports and activities.

Today the charity is supported by 36 volunteers, and Pritesh volunteers between 20 to 25 hours per week. They do lots of work for young and disadvantaged people. They also help people who are excluded from society to participate in volunteering and build a more positive future as a result.

They hold a food programme so that 1400 children in the summer holidays who normally get free school meals can be supported when not in school and he puts on activities for them. Pritesh donates surplus goods from his shop to the charity and they have collecting tins in store.

Pritesh continues to inspire others to come forward and support the development of the diverse community, encouraging them to become first aiders, support youth activities and helps organise further local events.

The charity also runs the only youth group in the area and is helping to deliver sports in 50 parks in Brimingham’s active parks programme. They also hold groups for sports events including yoga, kick boxing and badminton. They hold womens’ groups, adult learner groups, IT lessons and recently started an environmental group. They have some partnerships with Aston Villa Football Club.

His passion of badminton has led Pritesh to dedicate time to promoting badminton in Birmingham for a wide cross section of the community including schools, youth, families and a disability tournament, which has attracted 300 participants. He has always worked tirelessly to promote better health through sport. His enthusiasm has led him to develop new ways of engaging people through badminton and has improved the lives of thousands of people. He has worked tirelessly to help his diverse community, especially the underprivileged.

For his charitable work he was nominated by England Badminton to be an Olympic Torch bearer in 2012. He chose to take the torch to a prison where one of the youngsters who had looted his petrol station premises in the Birmingham riots in 2011, was serving time. He wanted to visit as part of restorative justice initiative and he was able to transform the life of the young man, who has since gone on to have a career and a family.

Pritesh Pattni, Bristol Street Postmaster and Chairperson for Bidgley Power Foundation, said: “When we had been in Uganda I had been part of a wealthy family as my grandparents had a jewellery business. My parents didn’t need to work, and we had domestic help. It was a big change when we came to Britain living in a refugee camp, then living in a cramped room, and my parents had to get a job and work. I went to school in Birmingham and worked hard. I wanted to give back to the community. I did not have an easy start in life, but I bounced back. There are people in this area who are underprivileged, and I wanted to help them. Many people who have benefitted by the work of the charity go on to help others by volunteering in some ways, which builds their confidence and skills.”

Post Office Area Manager, Rachel Lawler, said: “I’m delighted that Pritesh has received this New Years’ Honour for all that he does for his community in Aston. This kind and caring postmaster was a refugee. He and his family had to work hard to rebuild their lives. Pritesh wanted to give back to his community in Birmingham where he’s lived since a young boy, to show his great appreciation.”

The Aston area of Birmingham is very built up with little green space, however, behind the youth club is a wood. Pritesh’s latest idea, which has lots of local support, is for a Forest school, where youngsters can learn a variety of outdoor skills and team-building skills and to enjoy the environment.