Birmingham 2022 | commonwealth games legacy | muslim sports foundation | england hockey

MUSLIM SPORTS FOUNDATION Utilising Sport England's Commonwealth Games legacy funding, the project led by England Hockey and Muslim Sports Foundation aims to give Muslim girls in

Birmingham the chance to play hockey for the first time.  Whilst these vary, cultural barriers alongside body image and confidence issues as well as financial barriers hindering travel to

and from facilities, often result in low participation rates for girls from Muslim backgrounds living in urban areas.  The project is working with local mosques and community leaders to

engage with girls in inner city Birmingham and tackle the barriers they face to accessing sport and physical activity.  Yasmin Hussain from the Muslim Sports Foundation commented on the

success and popularity of the sessions, saying: "THE SESSIONS HAVE PROVED TO BE VERY POPULAR WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE HAD AMAZING FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS AND GIRLS. SESSIONS LIKE

THESE EMPHASISE OUR MISSION WHICH IS 'EVERY CHILD, DESERVES EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AT EVERY SPORT.' THE GIRLS HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED COMING EVERY WEEK WITH PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM AND

IT IS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN MUSLIM SPORTS FOUNDATION AND ENGLAND HOCKEY THAT HAS ENABLED IT TO BE A SUCCESS." Local coaches have been delivering a free weekly hockey session since

the summer at Small Heath Wellbeing Centre. A group of 36 girls aged between 8 and 18 have enjoyed accessing the sessions and learning how to play hockey. Coach Christine Dalby-Ali has

shared why this project is so important to her and the impact it is having on the girls attending: "IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT AND TO SEE THE GIRLS IMPROVE

SO QUICKLY. IT'S ALWAYS LOVELY TO SEE THEM RUNNING TO GET TO THE SESSION ON TIME AND DESPERATE TO COLLECT THEIR STICKS AND BALLS. AS A MUSLIM MYSELF, IT'S A JOY TO SHARE THE SPORT

I LOVE WITH OTHER MUSLIMS AND SEE THE ENJOYMENT OF PLAYING HOCKEY ON THEIR FACES EVERY WEEK." EXPANDING THE PROGRAMME - WAKEFIELD On 31 July 2023, England Hockey alongside Muslim Sports

Foundation and supported by Sunnah Sports and local mosques Al Markaz Wakefield and GMI delivered a hockey taster session to 40 Muslim girls between the age of 5-11 from around the

Wakefield area. The day gave the girls an opportunity to have fun, be active and pick up a hockey stick for the first time. Learning about hockey and developing their confidence and skills

through the a variety of practices and games. NEXT STEPS   To find out more about the reach and impact of these sessions, please click on the right hand links to see our project delivery

infographic. England Hockey will continue to work with Muslim Sports Foundation to identify new areas of the country to roll out further schemes and initiatives.