On Tuesday 3 December 2024 the Muslim Sports Foundation invited me and Wendy Eley (Group Operations Director) to their awards ceremony held at the prestigious Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. It was an evening filled with incredible stories and inspirational people. The starters and dinner were a delight (especially the Prawn Tempura and Samosa Chat) the atmosphere was full of excitement this was their first Awards Ceremony.
We were surprised at the scale of the event, with over 400 people in attendance all of whom were there to represent their organisations for promoting diversity, inclusion and achievements.
There were many famous faces in attendance who had been nominated including Moeen Ali a key England Cricket player and Hamzah Sheeraz a rising boxing star who appeared via video link currently training in the USA for his upcoming fight. There was entertainment from Colin Nell (Sports & motion Founder) who was mesmerizing with his football tricks and really entertaining and engaging when he got the audience involved in spinning moves with a football. I also had the chance to introduce Zainab Aleem to Wendy. Zainab is Sunday vitality Grassroots Sportswoman of the year and trustee for Muslim Sports Foundation. Zainab is a neonatal nurse and an inspiration for women’s rugby.
The Muslim Sports Foundation is a remarkable organisation dedicated to promoting inclusivity, empowerment, and excellence in sports within the Muslim community. By breaking barriers and creating opportunities, they encourage individuals of all ages, genders, and abilities to participate in sports and physical activities. Their programmes and initiatives focus on fostering leadership, confidence, and teamwork, while celebrating diversity and faith. Through workshops, events, and advocacy, they not only highlight the achievements of Muslim athletes but also inspire a new generation to pursue their dreams in sports. The foundation's work serves as a powerful reminder of how sports can unite and uplift communities. There were many different types of organisations, businesses, local governments, charities and sports initiatives invited. From Sport England, FA for All, Sported, Swim England and Islamic Relief to name a few.
There were many famous faces in attendance who had been nominated including Moeen Ali a key England Cricket player and Hamzah Sheeraz a rising boxing star who appeared via video link currently training in the USA for his upcoming fight. There was entertainment from Colin Nell (Sports & motion Founder) who was mesmerizing with his football tricks and really entertaining and engaging when he got the audience involved in spinning moves with a football. I also had the chance to introduce Zainab Aleem to Wendy. Zainab is Sunday vitality Grassroots Sportswoman of the year and trustee for Muslim Sports Foundation. Zainab is a neonatal nurse and an inspiration for women’s rugby.
The Muslim Sports Foundation is a remarkable organisation dedicated to promoting inclusivity, empowerment, and excellence in sports within the Muslim community. By breaking barriers and creating opportunities, they encourage individuals of all ages, genders, and abilities to participate in sports and physical activities. Their programmes and initiatives focus on fostering leadership, confidence, and teamwork, while celebrating diversity and faith. Through workshops, events, and advocacy, they not only highlight the achievements of Muslim athletes but also inspire a new generation to pursue their dreams in sports. The foundation's work serves as a powerful reminder of how sports can unite and uplift communities. There were many different types of organisations, businesses, local governments, charities and sports initiatives invited. From Sport England, FA for All, Sported, Swim England and Islamic Relief to name a few.
CSSC is working to increase our collaboration with the Muslim Sports Foundation (MSF) to identify and promote inclusivity, diversity, and greater participation in sports among Muslim public sector employees. Through this partnership we hope to create opportunities for individuals from various cultural and religious backgrounds to engage in sports and recreational activities in an environment that respects their values and traditions.
By working together, CSSC and MSF aim to organise inclusive events, provide access to facilities, and support programmes that cater to the unique needs of Muslim athletes. These efforts could include tailored training sessions, culturally sensitive sporting opportunities, and awareness campaigns to encourage participation from underrepresented groups.
This collaboration reflects CSSC’s commitment to fostering diversity within the civil service and beyond, while MSF brings its expertise in connecting Muslim communities through sports. Together, they hope to create a more inclusive sporting culture, breaking barriers and building stronger ties between communities through shared passion and teamwork.
This collaboration reflects CSSC’s commitment to fostering diversity within the civil service and beyond, while MSF brings its expertise in connecting Muslim communities through sports. Together, they hope to create a more inclusive sporting culture, breaking barriers and building stronger ties between communities through shared passion and teamwork.