Badminton Scotland and established community groups are breaking down barriers to participation by helping to create safe spaces for women and girls from ethnically diverse communities to play sport, like badminton and basketball.
As part of a targeted approach to health, wellbeing and inclusion for women and girls, Jane Russell, Regional Development Officer at Badminton Scotland for Tayside, Fife and Central has delivered come and try sessions and subsidised places on Badminton Basics coaching courses for Dundee Discovery Shuttles women’s club and AMINA, The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre.
27 women and girls entered the ‘BME Women’s Doubles Tournament’ hosted by the Scottish governing body in March 2024. The event took place at Menzieshill Community Hub in Dundee with players aged from 16 to 60+, including people with physical disabilities and some with long term health conditions.
The purpose of the tournament was to ensure the come and try sessions weren't just a one off but part of a bigger sporting journey.
Jane Russell added: “The women have made new friends here, and it’s helped their mental health as much as their physical health. The group have improved so much with some of them practising two or three times a week and you can see that in the tournament.”
Khadija, Project Coordinator at AMINA, The Muslim Women's Resource Centre said: “We’re educating people about health, so there must be a physical aspect too. We want to create more opportunities for women to be physically active to improve their health, and sports can play a crucial role in that.”
Establishing safe spaces in sport
The sessions, coaching courses and tournament have been popular, particularly for women and girls who for religious and/or cultural reasons require the privacy of women only spaces.
Sofia Carlyle started Dundee Discovery Shuttles two years ago. The group was founded on a lack of female spaces being a barrier to women and girls accessing sport and caters to the needs and requirements of those who for religious, cultural, or personal preference require female only spaces.
The group is open to all women in Dundee, to remove barriers such as cost, promote community cohesion, mental and physical wellbeing and tackle social isolation.
Sofia said:
“With lived experience, being a person of colour and being a Muslim I recognised there were many women and girls in a similar position that had a culture of sport but encountered the same obstacles.
"There is generally a lower uptake of sport amongst women (across the whole population) compared to men and within that cohort, women of south Asian background have much poorer health outcomes in terms of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, it is important that sporting organisations recognise this and the barriers to accessing sport for minorities.”
“We were thrilled to participate in our first Badminton Scotland tournament and delighted that we had 21 participants representing Dundee Discovery Shuttles. Badminton Scotland has provided a great platform for us to participate in future tournaments.”
Sofia added: “Jane, Rajani (SEMSA), Barry Welsh and Daryl Mckenzie at Menzieshill Community Hub have played a huge part in the development of the group and making the sessions equitable with frosting on the window panels and a curtain in the hall. These are small changes that have made a big difference, and it means the ladies are more comfortable.”
Khadija said: “For many women from the Muslim faith, the female-only aspect of the sport makes them feel comfortable. They can play behind closed doors, remove their hijabs or certain garments, and experience the freedom of playing a sport without feeling uncomfortable.”
Training and development opportunities
As well as providing fun and competitive opportunities, a clear pathway has been established by Jane to help the women and girls learn more about the sport and get into coaching.
Participants from Dundee Discovery Shuttles and AMINA, The Muslim Women's Resource Centre benefitted from subsidised places on Badminton Basics coaching courses - the first course on the coaching pathway, focusing on skills development for beginners and giving participants confidence and knowledge to lead sessions at schools/clubs and assist experienced coaches.
Zahira Anwar, a full time mum and early year’s child practitioner who passed the Badminton Basics coaching course and played in the tournament, said:
“I wasn’t aware of any court lines before Badminton Basics, we just played over the washing line.
"I took the opportunity, and it was very beneficial teaching me the importance of rules, warm up and how to show others. I’ve now trained my kids at home, how to serve, basic rules, and techniques”.
Zahira added: “From playing badminton I have noticed a big difference in my routine on my mental and physical wellbeing. Being a busy mum and working you need time for yourself and I thoroughly enjoy playing badminton. My sons and daughter have joined groups and on Eid Celebration we booked a court for the whole family to play.”
Khadija Hussein, said: “It has been amazing to see the women going out and engaging in sports themselves. It has positively influenced their thinking. We've had women talk about setting up their own groups and volunteering in youth organisations. We've also seen people teaching their children, who are now more confident to join clubs.”
Ongoing partner relationships
The badminton sessions and tournament have created a real sense of community and as a result some of the women and girls are now playing basketball too.
Basketball sessions have been targeted 16- to 25-year-olds because it was recognised that young people are not as confident to do sports independently.
Khadija Hussein said: “We’ve partnered with sportscotland and Active Schools Dundee to run a pilot project for basketball. Sara Naveed will lead this initiative. She has a degree in sports and was selected by Pakistan’s netball team, making her an excellent role model and mentor for young girls to see that sports are not a barrier and can lead to as many opportunities as any other subject.”
Khadija added: “The future involves educating young people about sports in BME communities and encourage PE as a subject, as well as participation in afterschool clubs. Sport can help people come out of their shells, develop, grow, and build confidence. When I talk to girls after sessions, their language changes, and you can see how optimistic they feel about everyday things and their future.”
