Sudarshan Abrol, the founder of the UK Asian Women’s Centre in Handsworth, Birmingham, has died at the age of 88. She established the centre in 1984 and led it for over three decades on a voluntary basis.
Under her leadership, the centre provided support for women in crisis, assisted them into employment, and offered a space for them and their children to learn English and other skills. Abrol also initiated social enterprise programmes, including tiffin services and sewing circles.
Born in British India, Abrol moved to the UK in 1963. Her experience teaching in special schools in Birmingham, including Mayfield special school where she was headteacher, was inspired by her daughter's cerebral palsy. She was made an MBE in 1988.