DE23 Active wins national award

Our DE23 Active programme won Community Group of the Year at the British Muslim Awards 2026!

Community Action Derby’s DE23 Active programme has won a national award recognising its work supporting people in Normanton and Arboretum to become more physically active.

DE23 Active was named Community Group of the Year at the British Muslim Awards, recognising its community-led approach to improving health and wellbeing in some of Derby’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

Helen Britten, Programme Lead for DE23 Active, said:

“We were in the company of some amazing finalists, so to be recognised nationally with this award is a great honour and reflects the impact the programme has had.

"The key is making activity accessible and empowering those within the community to take control and promote change from within.”

DE23 Active, which is part of the national Active Through Football initiative, was launched in 2022 with £525,000 of funding from the National Lottery through the Football Foundation and Sport England.

The programme has worked closely with residents to create activities that reflect the needs and interests of the community. While football remains part of the programme, activities have expanded to include chair-based exercise, chill and chai sessions and one of the country’s only dedicated swimming sessions for Muslim women.

Key to the programme’s success is supporting the community with training opportunities, the chance to gain qualifications, and access to practical support through guest speakers and workshops, enabling community volunteers to run the sessions themselves.

The programme is supported by a consortium of partners, which includes Active Derbyshire, Community One, Derby County Community Trust, Derby City Council, Derbyshire FA, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing and Press Red.

Amjad Ashraf, founder of Community One and Programme Lead for DE23 Active, said:

“This award reflects the real impact happening within our communities — supporting people to become more physically active by removing barriers that have existed for far too long.

"DE23 Active is about creating safe, inclusive opportunities that make healthier and more active lifestyles possible for everyone.”

The British Muslim Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the British Muslim community, recognising and celebrating the achievements and contributions of British Muslims in various fields.

Kim Harper, CEO at Community Action Derby, said:

"Winning the award is a testament to the dedication and creativity of our team, partners, and residents in Derby.

"DE23 Active is a brilliant example of how we can achieve more when we work together."

The DE23 Active team received the award at a ceremony in Wolverhampton. Take a look at some photos from the evening below!

To find out more about DE23 Active, visit: DE23 Active – Community Action Derby