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West Berkshire Muslim Centre tackles BAME exclusion in weekly football sessions




The West Berkshire Muslim Centre (WBMC) has started sports sessions for solidarity between different community groups.

The centre is holding weekly football matches at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury for members of the BAME community, as well as the wider community, to get integrate them through exercise.

Over recent years the group has supported refugees who have fled their home countries and joined the West Berkshire community.

West Berkshire Muslim Council volunteers say this is a great way to meet new people and build friendships
West Berkshire Muslim Council volunteers say this is a great way to meet new people and build friendships

Youth Volunteer Bilal Zahid said the sessions have been “a great experience”.

He said: “The weekly fitness sessions have been a really great way to meet new friends and build new relationships.

“I love how we are slowly taught new techniques and feel comfortable. There has been a very wide age range attending these sessions so I can definitely see how these are tailored for all age groups and abilities”.

The football sessions have been an opportunity for refugees to integrate with different community groups.
The football sessions have been an opportunity for refugees to integrate with different community groups.

The matches are an opportunity for people to meet individuals from an array of backgrounds with the centre already representing over 20 different nationalities including British, Moroccan, Bangladeshi, Zimbabwean amongst many others.

As well as football, the volunteers at the centre have introduced weekly badminton and table tennis sessions as well as fitness sessions for men and women in partnership with Newbury Crossfit.

Funded by the councils ‘Let’s get Active’ initiative, they say these sessions aim to help combat loneliness and exclusion that refugees can feel after moving somewhere new.

West Berkshire Muslim Centre trustee and executive member Umar Butt said that there has been a “real difference” in “personal wellbeing and mental health” of those who have taken part.

Members have noticed an improvement in the mental health of those who attend
Members have noticed an improvement in the mental health of those who attend

He said: “This is a great initiative supported by West Berkshire Council to get people physically active post the pandemic.

“We have seen a great uptake every week ranging from individuals as young as 11 through to 50-plus through to a range of cultural backgrounds which is great to see”.

Youth Volunteer Umar Qazi said: “The football sessions are a great way to meet the wider community through a sporting event, lifelong friendships have been made”.

There are also fitness classes, for men and women of all ages and backgrounds, which have been said to be popular.
There are also fitness classes, for men and women of all ages and backgrounds, which have been said to be popular.

WBMC member Hasan Ahmad said that the impact that these sessions have on people goes “well beyond the pitch”.

He added: “Football has always been a sport which has brought people together. Council funded football sessions have been a great opportunity for local Muslims to integrate with one another but also the wider Newbury community.

“Though we focus on the immediate impact after a game trying to decipher who won and who lost, the true impact of the sessions go well beyond the pitch”.

The group hope that the sessions will help combat loneliness for refugees in the area.
The group hope that the sessions will help combat loneliness for refugees in the area.

Aside from sport, there are other activities held by the Centre like mother and toddler coffee mornings and pot luck shared meals, many of which are hosted at the Riverside Community Centre in Newbury.

To find out more about all activities, visit the West Berkshire Muslim Centre Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ourWBMC

With council funding, the West Berkshire Muslim Centre has been able to hold lots of different sport sessions for community groups.
With council funding, the West Berkshire Muslim Centre has been able to hold lots of different sport sessions for community groups.
The current group who play football at St Barts on Monday evenings.
The current group who play football at St Barts on Monday evenings.
The members have noticed a difference in the mental wellbeing of those who attend.
The members have noticed a difference in the mental wellbeing of those who attend.
The football matches are open up to people of all ages and backgrounds.
The football matches are open up to people of all ages and backgrounds.
The volunteers and members have noticed the impact on attendees that they say "goes beyond the pitch"
The volunteers and members have noticed the impact on attendees that they say "goes beyond the pitch"


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