Raza Sadiq of Active Life Club Wins Community Hero Award

Raza Sadiq wins the Community Hero award in the Scottish Sports Awards 2022 after 23 years of promoting inclusion and diversity in sports within the Southside and beyond. From tackling racial profiling through cricket, to giving young people employment opportunities, there are a number of reasons why he has been recognised at this level. 

By Devon McCole

Raza Sadiq, chairman and founding member of the Active Life Club has been awarded the Community Hero award at this year’s of this year’s Scottish Sports Awards.

Based in Govanhill, Active Life Club, founded in 1999, is a registered charity managed by volunteers which offers services for young people to improve their social and mental well being through sports.

The award is a result of his years of dedication bridging the divide between different community groups, addressing prejudices, and improving the prospects of those from minority backgrounds.

Speaking to Greater Govanhill about the project, Raza said: “We started in Govanhill and the idea was that we were not trying to develop elite  athletes; we wanted to engage with people and give them a space to take part in sports. We do lots of other things too like employment opportunities for young people who started with us, became volunteers and then in some cases, they can become employees with contracted hours when an employment opportunity comes up.

“Our focus really shifted towards young people, we opened up football, basketball, badminton and these sessions were always jam packed from young ones coming from Pollokshields, the Gorbals, Govanhill and some from the West End. It came with challenges because young people were coming from different areas and backgrounds, and that always brings some challenges. We really just wanted to inspire them to be healthier happier people through sport, I think because sport is a great way to get people to engage with their community and connect with others.”

Raza even hosted cricket games with community police officers and the young people, to improve the relationship with police and minorities in the area, in the hopes of tackling profiling:

“It was quite difficult because young people had never had that relationship with police officers but it was something to try and counter them meeting in the back of a police van, this way they can have a wee conversation and get to know each other and say hello when they see each other on the street. 

“It was a way of being able to hear both sides and work in collaboration with each other rather than harassing each other. When it comes to racism it is well researched and there is evidence; it does exist and still exists. And stop and search was an issue but we were really trying to develop that relationship and eliminate that hostile environment where they feel like they don’t belong in this society, or aren’t welcome.”

With 23 years of experience under his belt Raza has a number of  success stories to share from the youngsters he has worked with:

“Last week one of the ex ALC members told me he is a GP now and he wanted to come back and speak to young people and their parents, and talk about the importance of health and fitness because when he was young he wasn’t very clued up about health and how important it is. Another young man was even kicked out of school, so we offered him a volunteering and community service roles, now he has his master’s degree and has been successful in employment. It could have been so different if he got caught up in crime or the social justice system and not achieving.” 

The ALC veteran’s efforts towards social integration and self-improvement did not go unnoticed. He was shortlisted for the award after a member of staff nominated him as a community hero:

“Winning I think was such a shock in the sense that my work is something you do without thinking you’re going to win awards and be successful. We have won many awards; roughly 20 to 30 won by the young people, the volunteers and other trustees as well. On the day of winning my award it was different. I mean even the title ‘Community Hero’ because we have so many heroes, Govanhill is full of volunteers and so many people do a lot of good things in the area.

Raza hopes the award will inspire others to take up a role within their community to help better themselves and those around them by strengthening ties and creating opportunities for others to nurture a more prosperous future.

“I obviously don’t brag very much on social media, I always try to talk about the young people and the club and inspiring them to really succeed. So, on the day I felt it was recognition which could have a positive impact on so many people, those who volunteer and look up to that and think ‘one day I could be winning awards’. At the end of the day it can be challenging being a volunteer, it’s very draining, you put a lot of effort in but you don’t get noticed or acknowledged, or you struggle to get funding but it is a way of breaking barriers and can really make that change.”