Grange Pavilion Youth Forum member Ayah Abduldaim wins StreetGames 'Young Coach of the Year' award

Grange Pavilion Youth Forum member Ayah Abduldaim has won the StreetGames Young Coach of the Year Award 2020 for her work with 'Girls Only' Football and the Grangetown Doorstep Sports Club.

Ayah recognised that there was a low level of sports participation amongst Muslim women and wanted to change this in Grangetown. By setting up a 'Girls Only' football training session and encouraging participants to wear what they want to, she managed to develop a multicultural club where girls feel accepted, comfortable and able to participate.

The sessions have had consistent attendance every week and Ayah has found that some of the girls that have been attending are now considering sports related degrees at university; something that they would never have considered before.

Ali Abdi, Partnerships Manager for Community Gateway said:

"I am over the moon for Ayah, she has been a fantastic role model to young girls in the Grangetown community and she deserves this recognition. The Grange Pavilion Youth Forum is proud to also add another National Award to their collection with Ayah’s Young Coach of the Year accolade from Street Games. Ayah’s success with the 'Girls Only' programme is testament to her active engagement with all stakeholders, both participants and partners."

StreetGames is a national sports charity that uses sport to bring people together, create pride in a community, break down social boundaries, and inspire young people to make a difference in their own lives and for others.

Ayah said:

"Thank you so much for the nomination and I couldn’t do any of the Girls Football activities without the amazing team of people supporting me every step along the way including Katy Evans, FAW Trust, Lauren Thomas at Street Games Wales & Us Girls and my former PE teacher and Mentor Abi Bidgood at Fitzalan High School."

Many congratulations Ayah!