Maryam Ali is a multi-award winner and a qualified nursery nurse. Her engagement with young Muslim girls through sports, youth work and education has been life-changing.
Maryam who has not only transformed her own life, but has used her own experiences of growing up to help other Muslim girls. A difficult phase in her life left her with instability and anxieties that ultimately led her to doing an extra year at school to complete her compulsory education. Things began to change for her with the support of youth workers and mentors and she states that had in not been for their support, she would have probably not engaged with sport and education.
‘I was really at a difficult point in my life, lacking self-esteem and confidence and I had given up on everything. Having the support of a few key people really helped me to believe in myself and I slowly started to gain confidence. This experience has really inspired me to help others.’
Her greatest achievement to date has been when she received the highly coveted Pride of Sports ‘Coach of The Year Award’, presented by Dame Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell.
Maryam’s Awards
Winner ‘Malcolm X Young Person’s Award for Excellence‘ The Muslim News 2018
Finalist ‘Muslim in the Community‘ British Muslim Awards 2018
Winner ‘Coach of The Year‘ Pride of Sport Awards 2017
Winner ‘Young Coach of The Year‘ ECB Coach Awards 2017 Winner ‘Inspirational Award‘ National Asian Cricket Awards 2016
Winner ‘Young Coach of The Year‘ Yorkshire Cricket Board 2016
Winner ‘Young Person’s Award‘ Hamara Community Awards 2015
Maryam continues to invest much time and effort to build her own skills in order to engage with Muslim girls, helping them with their personal and social challenges, and give them to support, mentoring and inspiration that the need to achieve every success in life.
‘Maryam’s work is a brilliant example of the power of sport to have a positive impact on the wider community. She is inspiring young people and breaking down boundaries. An amazing role model’
– Pride of Sport judges
Further details here: https://www.prideofsportawards.co.uk/history/2017/maryam-ali