In a significant development for British Muslim communities, the Muslim Sports Foundation (MSF) has been named a Sport England System Partner for the 2024–2027 period.
The partnership aims to address longstanding inequalities in physical activity among British Muslims—currently the least active faith group in England.
Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy focuses on reducing barriers to physical activity, particularly among underrepresented groups. MSF’s inclusion as a system partner reflects our proven ability to deliver culturally competent and community-rooted programs. The foundation works through mosques, madrassahs, and community centres to create safe, inclusive spaces for sport and wellbeing.
Muslim Sports Foundation’s Chief Executive Sajid Hussain, emphasised the importance of this partnership:
“We are delighted to become a Sport England system partner for the next three years. The award is testament to the hard work currently taking place across the country to build a stronger, more active future for British Muslims, reversing the trend that currently makes them the least active faith community.”
Our 2024–2030 strategic plan outlines a holistic approach to community development through sport, focusing on physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. We aim to expand its reach by strengthening partnerships with local and national stakeholders, ensuring that its initiatives are sustainable and impactful.
As Sport England’s Executive Director of Partnerships Phil Smith points out, this morning’s announcement shows the value of extending their partnership work beyond purely sporting bodies.
“Our ambition is for everyone in England to have the opportunity to be active, regardless of who they are or where they live,” he said.
“Alongside that, we’re committed to finding and supporting new leaders and champions of sport and physical activity, from every walk of life and background. But we can’t achieve this alone, so we’ve developed a growing network of partners who share our vision. We’re working with organisations from a range of different fields outside sport to bring about systemic change to ensure everyone can get active.
“Our three new partners are delivering fantastic work already and will make a real difference on the ground.”
The partnership between MSF and Sport England represents a commitment to inclusivity and equity in sport. By focusing on culturally sensitive approaches and community engagement, this collaboration aims to create lasting change and ensure that British Muslims have equal opportunities to participate in physical activity.
