The Leicestershire First Award for Achievement in Sport has been presented to Ismail Saleh, a coach who has over 20 years built up a Leicester martial arts club which now has 900 students, many of whom win gold medals at UK, European and world championships.
The founder and chief coach of the CKI School of Martial Arts in Leicester’s Evington Valley Road, Ismail has created a club which is popular with people of all ages, religions and walks of life. The club, unusually in martial arts a not-for-profit enterprise, is used by an astonishing 480 girls and women, and by Muslims, Hindus, Christians and people of other and no faiths.
The Leicestershire First Award comes with a prize of £3,000, which Ismail is donating to two Leicestershire charities. They are charity Wishes 4 Kids, which grants a wish for children in the county who are terminally ill or have suffered severe trauma, and the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s appeal for the 2009 Special Olympic Games which take place in Leicester this July.
Ismail said: “Our club gives members an opportunity to take part in sport and learn discipline, respect, health and fitness. As well as helping to tackle anti-social behaviour in Leicester, our club gives members the opportunity to represent their country on an international stage.
“I am very happy to win the Leicestershire First Award, because it is from a Leicestershire charity which has acknowledged the grass roots work of a lot of our citizens and because it allows me to support two charities which are close to my heart. It also means a great deal to my students and volunteers. It shows that what we do is recognised as being valuable to Leicestershire.”
Wishes 4 Kids patron Muzzy Izzet, plus fellow Leicester City legend Steve Walsh, and the Lord Mayor Manjula Sood visited CKI to accept Ismail’s donations and see him presented with his Leicestershire First Award by the award’s judge, Peter Wheeler.
Peter, the former Leicester Tigers, England and British Lions rugby player, said: “Judging this award gave me the chance to discover the many people in Leicestershire who help others through sport. It was quite astounding, and very humbling. Our winner, Ismail, is a legend for what he does.”
Steve and Muzzy have chosen Wishes 4 Kids as the official charity supported by their new venture, the Steve Walsh and Muzzy Izzet Soccer Academy. Steve said: “It is very kind of Ismail to choose Wishes 4 Kids. Over the years to come we will try to raise as much money as we can for the charity.”
Muzzy said: “Ismail’s money from Leicestershire First will straight away enable the charity to grant wishes to three Leicestershire children who are, as we speak, hoping to have their wishes granted.”
Councillor Manjula Sood said: “I am very touched that Ismail has donated his prize to the Special Olympics. Ismail already makes a fantastic contribution in so many ways to Leicester and he also recognises the importance of the games and what they mean for the city and for the athletes with learning disabilities. I am also grateful to Leicestershire First for recognising the achievements of Ismail and many others and giving them a prize which enables them to think of others.”
Highly commended for the Leicestershire First Award for Achievement in Sport were Phil Jarvis and Serina Leeanne.
Phil, who lives in East Norton, is heavily involved in promoting sport in the district of Market Harborough. He volunteers as chair of the Harborough District Sport and Activity Alliance, chair of the Harborough District Leisure Trust and has been a player, captain, social secretary, vice chairman and youth development co-ordinator of Market Harborough Rugby Club. Phil said: “It is very nice Leicestershire First has recognised the volunteering I do. The real reward is seeing the positive effects of encouraging people into sport and how that helps our community.”
Serina, who lives in New Parks, set up the New Parks Community Boxing Gym in April 2008 to help curb anti-social behaviour. It already has 700 members and is used by more than 100 children each week. Serina said: “It’s a real honour. I didn’t know how the club would turn out, but it has been really successful.”
Leicestershire First is a charity launched in June 2008 at County Hall by Maurice and Vivien Thompson, to encourage and celebrate giving and good citizenship. Each year nine awards will be given to reward and promote the values of leadership, excellence and citizenship in the county. For each prize the money must be donated to Leicestershire charities.
Maurice Thompson said: “We heard some inspirational stories of Leicestershire people using sport to enthuse and engage with thousands of people across the county. Ismail is a wonderful man who simply makes Leicestershire a better place for all.”
For details of how to nominate for future Leicestershire First Awards, call 0116 249 5330 or visit the website www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk
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Photograph: Leicestershire First Sport Award: Leicestershire First Achievement in Sport Award winner Ismail Saleh with Steve Walsh, Muzzy Izzet, Leicester Lord Mayor Manjula Sood and award judge Peter Wheeler
If you have any questions about Leicestershire First and the awards please call Andy Gilgrist on 01536 772256 or 07989 562517 or email: info@leicestershirefirst.org.uk
Leicestershire First is a charitable trust (charity number 1121522) launched in June 2008 to promote leadership, excellence and citizenship in the community of Leicestershire. The primary objective is to build, support and sustain commitment to a more cohesive community within Leicester and the county. Leicestershire First aims to promote shared values, strengthen intercultural links and bring communities together through recognition and celebration of Leicestershire’s achievements, while emphasising the importance of social and community giving. The Leicestershire First Community Awards, a series of nine prizes, which will be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year, will celebrate the achievements of Leicestershire citizens. Each winner will receive £3,000 to donate to eligible Leicestershire charities of their choice. The Leicestershire First Awards are partly modelled on the national Beacon Prize for Philanthropy. Leicestershire First is supported by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, The Beacon Fellowship and the Community Channel www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk
Leicestershire First, 8 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP 0116 249 5330 Email: jane.avery@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk
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