It Takes a Village: Mentors, coaches, and community as second family

Faith, culture, and identity are essential to building truly inclusive sport. Too often, hard-to-reach communities are overlooked, limiting access and opportunity. By creating safe, culturally responsive spaces for women, girls, families, and elders, spaces that welcome everyone regardless of faith or background, grassroots organisations can foster meaningful growth and inclusion on a wider scale. Host Zoiey Smale, Disability, Access, and Inclusion Consultant and Sports Presenter, is joined by Khadija Patel, founder of Krimmz Youth Club, and Shiv Krishan, Cricket Coach and key figure within the Bradford Hindu Council. Together, they explore why representation-led spaces empower marginalised communities by encouraging freedom of expression, confidence, and personal growth. Both Khadija and Shiv share that their experiences, marked by a lack of leadership and by spaces led by people who resembled them, motivated them to create change. In this episode of Equity in Action, Zoiey and her guests discuss: What’s been missing in sport: A lack of culturally aware, faith-responsive provision and visible role models from within the community, particularly women and ethnically diverse coaches. The impact of COVID-19 on inclusivity: How pioneering online activity groups provided vital physical outlets while fostering connection and positivity. Making sport more accessible: Strategies such as family-wide participation, flexible payment options, and community partnerships that help remove barriers to entry. --- Sporting Equals is a leading UK charity promoting race equality and equity in sport and physical activity. Their mission is to create a sporting landscape where ethnically diverse communities feel included, represented, and able to thrive – whether on the pitch, in leadership, or in decision-making spaces.