Rasna Case Study
Since 2007, the Muslim Women’s Collective has been training local women as football coaches and lifeguards. Having gained additional funding in 2010, the Collective joined forces with Badminton England to recruit and train women badminton coaches. Up until then, there were no women badminton coaches in Tower Hamlets, but following our programme, we successfully trained 24 women to be accredited Level One badminton coaches. A number of these women are now employed with Greenwich Leisure Limited which operates Tower Hamlets’ leisure centres – here Rasna tells us what becoming a badminton coach has meant to her.
What made you want to do the sports coaching?
I always liked playing badminton – it is very popular in the Asian community and I thought it would get more people involved if I could coach them.
What were you doing before you did the coaching?
I was a part time crèche worker and also now a part-time dinner lady. I am a single mother with a seven year old son and I can fit the coaching in around my son’s needs.
How has doing the coaching changed your life?
Definitely increased my confidence – it has made me come out of myself. It has also changed my son’s life – we are more active together and he keeps telling me how proud he is of me. I am also meeting some really interesting people – I coach men and women – and one women admitted that the reason she stayed for the coaching sessions was because she felt comfortable having another woman there.
What was the best part about doing the coaching?
That it led to me getting a job working with Greenwich Leisure Limited. I loved the training – they were a great group of women to be working with and I had assumed that I had to be a sporty person but working with GLL has made me realise that you actually have to be a people person.
Would you recommend it to anyone else?
Yes definitely because it will certainly help people gain more confidence and come out of themselves.
MUSLIM WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE
Supporting and empowering the women’s voice in Tower Hamlets…
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Email: sufia.alam@muslimwomenscollective.org.uk