News / Barton Hill
The Barton Hill women driving positive change for future generations
Fearing the long-term consequences of a lack of things to do for children in Barton Hill, three women decided to take positive action.
Samira Musse, Hodan Shirwa and Nura Mohamoud have joined forces to launch a new activity club and soon hope to be running regular sessions for primary-aged children in the area, with a focus on healthy eating and exercise.
“Young people here do not have anywhere to go,” says Samira, sitting down at a table in the café of Barton Hill Settlement to talk about the project.
is needed now More than ever
“In this area, there are no activity clubs for children over the age of three. They have baby groups, but then once children start school, they can become disconnected from society.
“I remember back in the day, we used to go to the young club in the church, but everything has been cut – and they are cutting the wrong things.
“We thought, as mums, what can we do to entertain the kids because taking them out costs an arm and a leg, so we thought why not organise something locally.”
Many families in Barton Hill live in tower blocks
With many children in the neighbourhood living in tower blocks, the three mums are concerned about the health implications of having their children cooped up indoors.
They also worry that with little to do, they are more likely to be led down a path of criminality.
The friends came up with a plan to launch the Barton Hill Activity Club in October and have teamed up with JumpStart Kids – an organisation that provides after-school fitness for youngsters – to run trial sessions that included physical activity and cooking.
They intend to run regular activities for children in the area but need help and support to secure funding and space to use.
L-R: Hodan, Nura and Samira have joined forces to launch the club
“It’s partly about prevention,” explains Samira, “To prevent them from getting to the age where we can’t control them, because with knife crime and things, boys as young as nine are getting involved.
“We have boys and we want them to have somewhere they can go, otherwise, as soon as they are in high school, kids start hanging around the streets and we don’t know who they are with or what they get up to.
“We want to start now, from a young age. It’s not just the crime though, it’s obesity and health.”
Expanding on the ethos behind Barton Hill Activity Club, Hodan said: “Most of the children in the area live in blocks. In summer, they may be running around the back but in winter, they are indoors.
“Also teaching them healthy eating from an early age is important – we have done cooking classes and they loved them.
“At a young age, children need education telling them what’s right and what’s wrong. And outside of the home and school environment is the best place to do that, when their friends are there, and they are engaged.”
Samira says that when the club has a regular place to meet, the trio plan to invite representatives from the police and health services to be involved.
The next step is to apply for funding and training and secure a place to host activities.
They say that Barton Hill Settlement and the local GP surgery have both offered support, but they are appealing for help, particularly with paperwork and legal procedures.
The trio are also involving local families to ask what they want from the club.
“We are one of the fifth most deprived areas in the UK. Yet, we are lucky that we don’t have too much crime,” comments Samira.
“But we are worried what it will be like in ten years’ time,” adds Hodan. Which is why the women are taking matters into their own hands now.
To get in touch with offers of support, please email: bactivityclub@gmail.com.
Read more: ‘Local women must be given a voice in Temple Quarter development’
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