We spoke with the 2023 Marsh Awards recipients to celebrate their amazing achievements and to share the incredible work they have been doing since receiving an award.
The Marsh Awards recognise community-led groups that come together for peer support both face-to-face and online in England and Wales. The award ceremony takes place at our annual peerfest event. The 2023 Marsh Awards took place on September 7th at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester.
We worked with the Marsh Charitable Trust to reward 10 outstanding community-led groups with grants of £1000 across 5 categories: Overcoming Barriers and Small Groups, Creativity, Sustaining Ourselves, In Connection, and Young People.
One of the winners in the Young People category is Krimmz. Krimmz is a Bolton-based, volunteer-led community group with a mission to get more ethnic minority communities active and involved in recreational activities. They initially began as a women and girls group, but due to increased demand, they have expanded to create a community space supporting ethnically diverse sports in Bolton.
The Young People category is reserved for groups led by young people under 25, recognising the unique challenges faced by younger individuals in navigating mental health systems and support structures. The group must be by and for young people, highlighting the importance of youth-led initiatives in mental health support.
In this interview, we talk to the founder and chair of Krimmz, Khadija Patel. Read on to discover the insights she shares about the progress made by Krimmz, the impact of a Marsh Award, and the exciting plans they have in store for next year.
*Q: How has winning a Marsh Award impacted your organisation and the work you do in your community?
A: Winning the Marsh Award has had a huge impact on Krimmz. It's enabled us to do more for our community as a whole, and the funds provided by the award have allowed us to grow significantly. We now have in-house coaches, more volunteers, and training programmes for staff, which has helped make our project more sustainable as we have been able to run multiple sessions every week since.
*Q: Are there any unexpected or particularly memorable moments or achievements that you would like to share since receiving the award?
A:. The recognition we received from PeerFest and the Marsh Awards has helped us get further recognition nationally. One particularly memorable moment since the awards was in December 2023, when we received the BBC North West Sports Personality of the Year in the Unsung Hero category. It was a surreal night to be invited to be on TV and rub shoulders with celebrities. It was definitely a memorable moment! You played a part in that, and we’re grateful to the Awards for recognising it first. Because you have recognised it, so have other people.
*Q: What advice or encouragement would you offer to other grassroots organisations aspiring to make a difference and potentially win awards like the Marsh Award in the future?
A: My advice would be to communicate! Brag about your successes, talk openly about your challenges, and share your story with everyone you can. Communication is key. You will face barriers and challenges, but let people know; don’t hesitate to reach out to people who can support your organisation. Share your struggles with them and articulate how their support can make a difference. No one is going to see the good work that you do without you shouting about it!
*Q: How have the funds from the Marsh Award been utilised to benefit your community and the people you serve?
A: The funds from the Marsh Award have been instrumental in benefiting our community. We've invested in our volunteers by providing them with leadership and qualification courses. We firmly believe that by investing in our people, we're investing in our community's future. Additionally, we've been able to offer a broader range of activities, including archery and golf. With the Marsh Award we were able to create a long-term, sustainable project.
*Q: What are Krimmz’s plans for the year ahead?
We are looking forward to providing diverse opportunities to a wider range of communities. Our focus includes creating increased access to greenspaces, specifically tailored to meet the religious and cultural needs of women and girls. Additionally, we have exciting plans to collaborate with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) on a national scale, aiming to extend our support to even more diverse communities.
The year ahead holds exciting adventures for Krimmz as they continue their mission of fostering inclusivity and engagement in recreational activities. You can followKrimmz Girls Youth Club on Instagram and X at @krimmz_girls and connect with Khadija here
Stay Connected with PeerFestUK for Community-Led Peer Support
If you are engaged in community-led peer support, then follow us @peerfestuk on all social media platforms to connect with others in community mental health support, share your work, and keep updated for future events and awards. Don’t forget to sign up to our PeerFest newsletters!
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