Absolutely Buzzing: Girls only football organisers win Equality and Diversity Award at Youth Buzz Awards 2018
- Minnahil Rashid and Maham Shahzad win the Equality and Diversity Award for supporting a Girls Only Premier League Kicks project
- The award was won for helping young girls overcome cultural and social barriers in Greater Manchester
- 93% of girls attending the sessions were from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background
More than 40 young people, schools, or youth groups made it through to the finals of the Youth Buzz Awards this year.
Awards were made in 13 different award categories including leadership, volunteering, charitable fundraising, equality and diversity, caring, and commitment to green issues.
Winners included Minnahil Rashid and Maham Shahzad who together won the Equality and Diversity Award for having been an integral part of helping to support a Girls Only Premier League Kicks project in Levenshulme.
The pair are described as natural leaders who have supported their peers to overcome many cultural and social barriers to girls, particularly from an Asian background, taking part in football sessions.
Keen footballers themselves, they helped the football project in Levenshulme grow from a handful of girls to 47 members – 93% of whom were from a black, Asian, or minority ethnic background.
Remsha Asif, co-host of the Youth Buzz Awards ceremony, said: “It was a fantastic experience hosting the awards for the first time. It was a great opportunity to recognise and thank young people for their amazing work and to showcase their achievements.”
Councillor Luthfur Rahman stated that young people in Manchester regularly ‘do amazing things everyday’ and unfortunately, often their achievements go unnoticed.
“We will be a City that enables young people to be the best they can be” #YouthBuzzAwards is a small token of our appreciation of the contribution young people, volunteers, youth workers,teachers & parents make towards that aspiration. @ManCityCouncil @mycthehive @Young_MCR pic.twitter.com/kykLN4GSmH
— Luthfur Rahman (@RahmanCllr) 24 November 2018
Mr Rahman went on to say: “The Youth Buzz Awards give us the chance to shout about and reward them for their achievements and for the fantastic things they do – not just for themselves, but often also for the good of their peers or the wider community.
“It’s very clear from the standard of all of this year’s nominees that the future of Manchester is in very good hands. A massive well done to all of them and don’t stop doing what you do – you really are making a difference.”
For more information and to find out how to get involved visit manchesteryouthcouncil.co.uk