BMC volunteer Fida Hussain has been named Mountain Training's Leader of the Year for his excellent work in engaging with people from ethnic minorities in Rochdale.

Fida won the Sherpa Adventure Gear-sponsored award in a public vote, collecting the highest number of Facebook likes out of the 16 nominees.

A huge congratulations to Fida, who as well as working as a leader in Rochdale also advises the BMC on raising outdoor participation in BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities through the BMC's Equity Steering Group.

A recent meeting in Rochdale organised by Fida to promote Mountain Training qualifications and raise awareness of next year's BMC Equity Symposium (see video of last year's event) attracted around 25 people.

Here is Fida's initial nomination for Leader of the Year:

"Fida has used his mountaineering skills and mountaineering qualifications for delivering Duke of Edinburgh in the Borough of Rochdale for over 10 years with a very high success rate.

"Rochdale has a high percentage of people from minority ethnic backgrounds. His has engaged a lot of young South Asian people in the D of E programme. He has used these skills to work with the BMC Equity Steering Group.

"More recently he has worked on the particular subject of why young people from a South Asian background do not engage in walking activities after completing their D of E and why they do not pursue qualifications.

"Fida has set up a workshop which will include presentations from Mountain Training England and the BMC to try and encourage young South Asian people who have the skills, to consider pursuing qualifications. Currently there are 29 people interested.

"This has only been achieved by Fida’s incredibly hard work and the respect that he commands in the borough of Rochdale. He is able to work with both young people and community leaders and has a very strong insight into the invisible barriers that exist in the community.

"If successful this will have a significant impact on developing programmes to attract more ethnic minority people in to walk leading and qualifications."

In addition to the nomination, here is a snapshot of some of the kind comments people left at the bottom of the voting page:

« Back