Scottish Women Active Pathways Project (SWAP)

In 2007, the Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (SEMSA) was successful in receiving Big Lottery Funding from the Active Futures programme. The aim of this three year initiative is to increase the involvement of black minority ethnic (BME) women in sport and physical activity in Glasgow.

At present, the key organisations working in partnership with the project include Glasgow Life (project base), Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (GARA), and a number of community groups and voluntary organisations across the City.

Over the past two years the project has been successful in:

• Engaging approximately 600 young BME women in sport and physical activity;
• The formation an advisory group to help steer the project forward;
• Challenging behaviours, attitudes and perceptions;
• Creating opportunities for young women to participate at all levels;
• Creating volunteering opportunities;
• Informing the delivery of various cultural events;
• Ensuring young women obtain coaching qualifications;
• Improving overall self-esteem and self-confidence.

The latest innovation from the SWAP advisory group is the ‘SWAP the Couch for the Court’ Initiative. The objective of this programme is to stimulate interest, to encourage young women to engage into sport and physical activity and in doing so not only improve health and well being but also broaden their social networks.

• Badminton
• Netball
• Rock Climbing
• Exercise to Music
• Ladies football
• Belly Dancing
• Self Defence
• Jogging Network

The SWAP Project has also introduced two specialised sessions:

Easy Exercise – In partnership with Barnardos Apna Project, the sessions works with 15 young BME women who have behavioural diificulties, and physical restraints.

• Zumba – In partnership with Deaf Connections, the session allows women from diverse backgrounds to take part in current ‘trend’ that is Zumba.

Exchange Programme

In 2010 SEMSA have been in a fortunate position to have the opportunity to work in partnership with both London Tigers and the Muslim Womens Sports Foundation.
In May, SEMSA in partnership with London Tigers facilitated a football exchange programme. The exchange programme allowed young women from Glasgow to partake in a mini football tournament with their peers from London.

Further, in response to an invitation from the Muslim Womens Sports Foundation, it was proposed that SEMSA participated in a womens only Futsal tournament. The tournament attracted 8 teams with teams travelling from across the UK.

As a result of these partnerships the young women have had the oppourtunity to experience:

• Personal development;
• Diverse learning environment and awareness on cultural and social differences;
• Share best practice with like minded organisations;
• Share thoughts and feelings on barriers facing young BME women in Sport;
• Forge new relationships.