Community motivator says BEM was 'surprising, embarrassing and wonderful'

A marathon runner has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours after leading thousands of women in Birmingham to break down barriers to lead healthier lifestyles.

Naseem Akhtar, project manager at Saheli Hub, told of her “massive surprise” at being awarded a British Empire Medal.

She encourages and guides women from predominantly south Asian backgrounds to overcome barriers to sport, exercise and group activities.

Most recently the tireless community worker led a team of 25 women in the Vélo Birmingham & Midlands sportive , which the group nicknamed the ‘Ramadan Special’, as they took part for the first time on a shortened route to conserve energy while they fasted in May.

At first, she thought the notification from the Cabinet Office, in recognition of her work starting culturally sensitive exercise groups for women in Birmingham, was an invite to a consultation.

Talking about opening the notification letter at her home, Naseem said: “It was surprising, embarrassing and wonderful all at once.

“I didn’t know that I’d been nominated, I got a letter three weeks ago saying I’d been nominated and I had to keep it quiet.

"I didn’t even open the letter straight away, I thought I’d been invited to sit on a think tank about communities or women or something like that.

“It was only later I opened it and it was a massive surprise, it wasn’t what I expected.

“I just told my brothers and said, ‘what do you think?’

"They said it would be good thing for Saheli, so I accepted it.

"All the women at Saheli have all been really lovely, they keep saying that we are going to have a party to celebrate.”

Nasseem, aged 51, invites women to try a ‘Saheli adventure’, which can include going from learning to ride a bike with instructors in the safety of a park, to taking part in 10 miles of the Vélo mass participation event with the ‘Ramdan Special’.

Her achievements include taking 17 women who had never run before and helping them train up to a level where they took part in the annual Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run over the half-marathon distance of 13.1 miles.

Naseem’s running highlights including taking part in the Paris and Stratford-upon-Avon marathons this year.

Saheli’s project manager and her women now have their sights set on events including the Simplyhealth half-marathon in October, an activity trip to the Lake District and next year’s Velo, where the group are considering the longer 100 and 42-mile options.

Saheli also has a programme of gentler activities including allotment gardening, ‘knit and natter’ and ‘crochet and chai’ sessions as well as spreading exercise classes.

Mother-of-two Naseem said: “We can start with social clubs, such as the crochet and chai sessions, and from there develop people into walking and running.

"We give people the chance to start at a slower pace, and from there they gain the confidence to take up the wider opportunities.”

Established in 1998, Saheli responded to a need for women’s-only community health and well-being activities, with a study carried out for the charity finding this should take into account the culturally-sensitive needs of local Muslim women.

Run across three 'wellbeing hubs', including the main base by Calthorpe Park in Balsall Heath, along with Handsworth and Bordesley Green, the project's activities reach around 1,500 women every year.

National Lottery funding has made a massive difference, supporting a former centre in Balsall Heath which got the project up and running and funding the ongoing cycling sessions.

“We have been pioneers and worked long and hard to show that Asian women are not afraid of sport, exercise and taking part in group activities,” Naseem said.

“It’s just sometimes, and this is not just with Asian women, you have to develop confidence and opportunities and show people where to start.

“Even when we start a running group you have people who say they can’t run, but then you tell them they can walk, jog and then run.

“It’s the same thing with cycling, they say there’s no point because they can’t cycle, but then we tell them they can learn.

It’s taken time to get that message through, it’s about learning, developing, enjoying and growing.

"You don’t have to do a 10k, half-marathon or travel to Dublin for a marathon with us, but you have the opportunity to.

"You also meet others like you, so if you have a mad idea like taking part in the Velo, you won’t be on your own.”

Naseem will receive the honour, full title the British Empire Medal, in September at the Lord Lieutenant’s office in Birmingham before attending the Queen’s garden party next year.