Brighter Pathway

About Us

About Us


Empowering Communities Through Skills, Mentorship & Opportunity

Brighter Pathway is a community-led initiative based in Stockport, founded by a group of passionate professionals who are committed to giving back to society through education, mentoring, and practical skills development.

Our main strength is empathy. We understand that many young people and families face barriers in accessing guidance, opportunities, confidence, and professional support. Through Brighter Pathway, we aim to use our experience, skills, and networks to make a genuine and lasting difference in people’s lives.

We are a fully volunteer-run community group formed by professionals from a wide range of backgrounds including Cyber Security, IT Infrastructure, Education, Higher Education, Law, Business, Government Services, and Entrepreneurship.

Together, we want to help build brighter futures for children, young people, and adults from disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

What We Do

Brighter Pathway focuses on practical learning, mentoring, and employability support.

We provide weekend-based programmes and activities for young people aged 12–18, helping them develop practical skills in:

  • Coding & Programming
  • Cyber Security
  • Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology
  • Digital Literacy
  • Communication & Soft Skills
  • Career Awareness & Professional Development

We also support adults from disadvantaged households through practical employability guidance, digital skills training, confidence building, and community engagement initiatives.

Alongside technical skills, we place strong emphasis on:

  • Confidence building
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork & leadership
  • Professional behaviour
  • Mentoring and career guidance
  • Positive community engagement

Our sessions are designed to be practical, engaging, supportive, and accessible.

Our Community Team

Lavlu Kader, LL.M

Employability Advisor

Lavlu Kader is an experienced Solicitor, Accredited Mediator, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in legal practice, dispute resolution, and community service. As the Director of RHEK Solicitors Limited, he has built a respected legal practice that has been serving individuals, families, and businesses across the community with professionalism and integrity.

Before establishing his own successful firm, Lavlu worked with several leading legal practices across the UK and also served as a Lecturer in Law, demonstrating his passion for education, mentoring, and knowledge sharing. His expertise spans legal advice, commercial litigation, arbitration, mediation, and personal injury law, together with extensive experience supporting individuals through complex legal matters.

As Legal & Community Advisor for Brighter Pathway, Lavlu provides strategic guidance on governance, professional development, and community engagement. He is passionate about empowering young people through education, mentoring, and access to opportunities that help them build successful futures.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Solicitor and Accredited Mediator with extensive legal practice experience
  • Director and business leader with a strong entrepreneurial background
  • Legal advice, dispute resolution, commercial litigation and arbitration
  • Community leadership, mentoring and professional development
  • Governance, ethics and organisational development
  • Supporting individuals and families through practical legal guidance

Lavlu brings a wealth of professional expertise together with genuine compassion and a strong commitment to community service. His leadership, integrity, and passion for helping others make him an invaluable member of Brighter Pathway, supporting its mission to create brighter futures through education, opportunity, and empowerment.

Masudur Rahman (CISA, CCSP)

Technology & Programme Advisor

Masudur Rahman is a technology leader, educator, and mentor with over 15 years of experience spanning Cyber Security, IT Infrastructure, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Governance, Risk & Controls (GRC), and higher education. He currently serves as a Vice President at Barclays and is a Board Member of the ISACA Northern England Chapter, contributing to the advancement of the cyber security and audit profession.

Before joining the financial services industry, Masudur spent almost a decade teaching at universities and colleges across the UK, delivering programmes in Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, Information Security, IT Audit, Networking, and Web Development. Throughout his academic career, he has mentored hundreds of students, supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, and inspired learners to pursue successful careers in technology.

As Technology & Programme Advisor for Brighter Pathway, Masudur helps shape the organisation’s vision and learning programmes, ensuring young people develop practical, future-ready skills that are relevant to today’s digital economy. His particular interests include Artificial Intelligence, AI-driven productivity, Vibe Coding, Cloud Computing, professional development, employability skills, public speaking, and research and innovation.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Cyber Security, IT Infrastructure, Cloud Computing & Governance (GRC)
  • Artificial Intelligence, AI Productivity & Vibe Coding
  • Curriculum development and technology education
  • Employability, career mentoring and professional development
  • Public speaking, research and technology innovation
  • Leadership, stakeholder engagement and strategic programme development

Masudur is passionate about making technology education accessible to everyone and firmly believes that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds should have the same opportunities to develop digital skills, confidence, and aspirations as anyone else. His combination of industry leadership, academic experience, empathy, and commitment to community service makes him a driving force behind Brighter Pathway’s mission.

Manda O’Connell

Programme Development Advisor

Manda O’Connell is a highly respected education professional with over 35 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, employability, and career-focused education across schools, colleges, universities, and industry.

Throughout her distinguished career, she has successfully led Computing and Business programmes, developed innovative training courses, established strong employer partnerships, and helped hundreds of young people progress into higher education, apprenticeships, and professional careers. Her expertise in curriculum design, mentoring, and employability skills has consistently transformed student outcomes and created meaningful opportunities for learners.

As Programme Development Advisor for Brighter Pathway, Manda provides strategic guidance to ensure our learning programmes are engaging, relevant, and aligned with the skills needed in today’s workplace. Her extensive experience and insight help shape programmes that prepare young people not only for education and employment but also for lifelong success.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Over 35 years of experience in education, training, and professional development
  • Curriculum design and innovative course development
  • Employability, career readiness, and progression programmes
  • Building strong partnerships between education providers and employers
  • Mentoring and supporting young people to achieve their full potential
  • Developing engaging teaching approaches that inspire confidence and lifelong learning

Beyond her professional achievements, Manda brings exceptional empathy, passion, and a genuine commitment to supporting disadvantaged young people. She firmly believes that every child deserves access to opportunity, encouragement, and guidance, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Her wealth of experience, dedication, and people-centred approach make her an invaluable advisor to Brighter Pathway, helping shape programmes that create life-changing opportunities and brighter futures for the young people and families we serve.

Dr. Monir Bhuiyan, PhD

Technology & Innovation Advisor

Dr. Monir Bhuiyan is an accomplished technology leader, Solutions Architect, and educator with over 24 years of international experience spanning software engineering, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, DevOps, cybersecurity, data engineering, and digital transformation. He currently serves as a Vice President and Solutions Architect at Barclays, leading the delivery of mission-critical technology solutions within the financial services sector.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Monir has held senior leadership positions across industry and academia, including Head of Software Delivery, Software Engineering Manager, Researcher, and Assistant Professor. He has successfully led complex technology programmes, mentored technical teams, collaborated with universities, and supervised research while helping organisations embrace innovation and digital transformation.

As Technology & Innovation Advisor for Brighter Pathway, Dr. Monir provides strategic guidance on technology education, curriculum development, innovation, and future skills. His expertise helps ensure that our programmes equip young people with the knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Software Engineering, Solution Architecture & Digital Transformation
  • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Data Engineering
  • Cloud Computing, DevOps, DevSecOps & Site Reliability Engineering
  • Cyber Security, Technology Governance & Risk Management
  • Curriculum Development, Research & Higher Education
  • Leadership, mentoring and developing future technology professionals

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Monir is passionate about education, innovation, inclusion, and supporting neurodiversity. He believes technology should be a force for positive social change and is committed to helping young people, regardless of their background, develop the confidence, skills, and ambition needed to succeed in the digital economy.

His exceptional combination of industry leadership, academic excellence, research expertise, and commitment to community development makes him an invaluable advisor to Brighter Pathway, helping inspire and prepare the next generation of technology leaders.

Ashraful Alam Rashel

Business & Community Development Advisor

Ashraful Alam Rashel is an experienced business owner and entrepreneur with over 15 years of expertise in business management, marketing, hospitality, and franchise operations. With a background in Global Business Management, he has successfully led and supported a range of business ventures while developing a strong understanding of leadership, customer service, and sustainable business growth.

Alongside his entrepreneurial journey, Rashel has a genuine passion for education and community development. He has actively supported education initiatives and believes in empowering individuals through practical guidance, mentoring, and skills development to help them achieve their full potential.

As Business & Community Development Advisor for Brighter Pathway, Rashel brings valuable real-world business experience, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to helping young people develop entrepreneurial mindsets, employability skills, and confidence for the future.

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Business management and entrepreneurship
  • Marketing and customer engagement
  • Hospitality and franchise operations
  • Business growth and strategic planning
  • Community development and mentoring
  • Employability and practical skills development

Rashel’s passion for supporting people, combined with his practical business experience and commitment to giving back to the community, makes him a valued member of Brighter Pathway, helping inspire and prepare individuals for successful careers and brighter futures.

Khandaker Faruk Faisal

Khandaker Faisal works as an officer within the Department for Work and Pensions and holds both BSc and MSc qualifications in Computing.

He brings valuable experience in public service, computing, employability awareness, and community support.

Our Values

Empathy

We genuinely care about people and want to create positive change within our communities.

Inclusion

We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and experiences.

Opportunity

We aim to open pathways towards education, employability, and personal growth.

Community

We believe strong communities are built through support, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

Integrity

We operate with professionalism, respect, honesty, and accountability.

Looking Forward

As Brighter Pathway grows, we hope to expand our programmes, build partnerships with schools and community organisations, and create more opportunities for mentoring, practical learning, and social impact across Greater Manchester and beyond.

We believe that by working together, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another, we can help create brighter pathways for future generations.