A Real East End Legacy
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Salaam Peace would like to thank you to the following sponsors & partners: www.salaampeace.org (not Seb) T h e Sab G L O B A L S K I L L S P r o j e c t A REAL EAST END LEGACY Brighter Futures Author: Jeff Fernandez • Photographer: Sabera Bham FOREWORD “Important and valuable concepts that enrich local communities” was completing my MPhil in Sociology when was truly inspirational to me and very unique. I met Sab. He was an open and considerate Playing football with him was an even better person when I met him and he was also very experience, as I re-learnt the pass and move way interesting in the way he saw things and the of playing football. Only I could pass… but being Iway he saw football. He had a really good sense an old man… I could not move, but we won more of humour (his hidden quality). He helped me a matches than we lost together. His way of seeing lot to complete my MPhil which was on Asians things from sports to society is embedded in in football (following Sab’s team the Leyton Salaam Peace which makes it unique from All Stars) and this was sent to the FA with his other sports programmes, I feel. support and advice. I am pleased and honoured to be involved From this work that Sab supported, I received in Salaam Peace and its ideals and model of opportunities to complete work on other projects ‘building from within.’ These are important and as a result of my MPhil and this was always valuable concepts that enrich local communities something I was interested in doing. I would for the better. It is a bonus personally for me to often help on projects for the love of research be involved in this work. I hope Salaam Peace in sport. grows from this point in its development, to be an established unique sports programme which Meeting Sab was an opportunity for me to work stands out from the mainstream. on his projects and to evaluate them. Also it was enriching for me personally, as we would discuss football, sports and players for many hours… I am sure most people would think it was time ill spent, but Sab’s way of seeing things Jeff Fernandez has worked alongside Salaam Peace since its inception in 2009. He has followed the development of the sports programme and documented its work over the past four years. Much of the work will hopefully illustrate that Salaam Peace is an important sports programme for East London and can change young people’s lives. SALAAM PEACE - A REAL EAST END LEGACY 5 WELCOME CONTENTS “At the heart of our work is using positive role models, who lead by example” alaam Peace has April 2009 as the date 6 8 13 of our inception. The work and the philosophy we use are many, many years older than this. Salaam Peace uses the SEastern and Middle Eastern values of a teacher -pupil, master-student or mentor-mentee relationship. At the heart of our work is using 14 16 33 36 positive role models, who lead by example to provide opportunities for the community and its members. As the document will show we have had great success and high impact with our methodology. When we re-visit our work and this Real East End Legacy in the year 2020 we will show that as long as there is a need, Salaam 18 20 24 46 54 Peace, our staff, volunteers and partners will support the addressing of these needs. Welcome 4 Abdi Rashid 24 Paul Piper 40 I would like to thank all the participants, young Salaam Peace 6 Shehnaz 26 Future Cyclists 42 and not so young, the staff, volunteers, families Hackney Homes 8 Dwayne 28 Community Model 44 and all our partners, supporters and funders. I would like to give special thanks to: Phil Poole 10 Azi 30 Easter Cup 2013 45 Role Models 12 Agne 32 Team Adisab 46 God, for guiding me to positive outcomes and giving me strength and patience in Sporting Icons 13 Naz 33 Better Relationship 47 challenging times. Nugent 14 Zakariya 34 Bridge Ladies 48 My family, mum and dad, my children and my Erkan 16 Yas 35 Numeracy Counts 50 beautiful wife Nisha, who above all has shared my vision, my passion, providing me with love Marlon 18 Robert 36 Homework Club 51 and support in life and work. Hatice 20 Family Impact 37 Looking Forward 52 Mo-x 22 Wayne 38 Closing Thoughts 54 SALAAM PEACE - A REAL EAST END LEGACY SALAAM PEACE - A REAL EAST END LEGACY 6 7 SALAAM PEACE “Be the CHANGE in the community you want to see” n the summer of 2006 the borough of Their aims are illustrated by the quote by Waltham Forest was the scene for a series of Sabir Bham: high-profile arrests involving local residents relating to the 7/7 terrorist attacks. These “Sport has always been a great forum to build Iarrests and the subsequent media attention in friendships, develop relationships and bring the borough increased the negative perceptions people together. To have the respect of the of the local British Muslim community who felt people that turn up and see them flourish is the brunt of the actions and attitudes of a small what makes it all worthwhile. It holds pride minority of ‘Muslims’ who carried out these of place above everything. We just try and do terrorist attacks. what we can and offer opportunities. If people take them and go onto bigger and better In response to this Salaam Peace felt a need to things, then great.” promote Islam as the peaceful religion it is and highlight the positive effect that young British “We try and provide positive role models who Muslims can bring to their communities. From lead by example and are prepared to give their this Salaam Peace was born and although sport is time, for us, seeing people develop both in their at its core, the programme provides a forum for sporting skills but more importantly in their local law enforcement and government agencies lives and personalities is the biggest thrill.” to become involved in their community through supporting the work of Salaam Peace. The idea of promoting local role models for Salaam Peace is a central and integral part It achieves this by working with communities to of the delivery of the programme. come together through the vehicle of sports. Salaam Peace promotes the togetherness and This paper explores this concept and hopefully mutual respect that sport can create. We illustrates it is a worthy and valuable concept develop positive role models for young people, to adopt. “We try and provide as this can be missing in some of their lives. positive role models “Seeing people develop both in their sporting skills but who lead by example more importantly in their lives and personalities and are prepared to is the biggest thrill” give their time” SALAAM PEACE - A REAL EAST END LEGACY 9 HACKNEY HOMES A PERFECT PARTNER FOR SALAAM PEACE “Believe in going above and beyond the basic standards” ab Bham has been working with Hackney The relationship has blossomed because of Homes since 2006. The relationship like-minded people working together for the began when setting up the KICKZ greater good. Jackie Loftus, Faisal Pirbhai programme in the London Borough Of and Sonia Bradley have a hunger to ensure the SHackney. The key people involved were Phil residents of Hackney, not just Hackney Homes Poole (Hackney Police), Freddie Hudson (Arsenal residents benefit from as much positive provision in the Community), Jackie Loftus (Hackney and support as they are able to provide. Jackie Homes) and Sab Bham. From the very beginning, and Faisal both grew up in Hackney, they the partnership was recognised nationally by the understand the needs of the local community. Football Foundation and the Hackney project This is the same for Sab, who also lived in was one of the few that actually delivered Hackney for most for his life. Salaam Peace provisions on a housing estate. Hackney Homes and Hackney Homes believe in going above and Sab continued to develop the relationship and beyond the basic standards. The vision is beyond KICKZ, this included work placements always about what can we do next, not admire and wider engagement programmes benefitting what we have already achieved. This makes the the residents on Hackney Homes estates as well partnership and relationship a success. as the wider community. Faisal said “Working with Sab and his team When the discussion around Salaam Peace began at Salaam Peace has been truly amazing for in 2008, Hackney Homes along with Hackney Hackney Homes; The energy, commitment Police were pivotal. In April 2009, Salaam Peace and the sheer enjoyment young people have officially set up as a community organisation. is true testament to the projects being Hackney Homes was a partner, supporting delivered in Hackney. project proposals with in-kind use of facilities and admin support. Hackney Homes was one of We (Hackney Homes) are very fortunate to the partners on the successful Friday Floodlight be working with Salaam Peace and hope that “The vision is always League application. In Dec 2012, the partnership the partnership will continue for years to between Salaam Peace and Hackney Homes was come because of the wonderful difference it about what can we formalised. This included funding the newly is making to residents of Hackney” do next not admire branded Hackney Homes SP Friday League for a minimum of 2 years, in-kind use of office space what we have and a joint agreement to develop provisions already achieved” across Hackney over the next 3-5 years.