A football coach who set up her own team to help get young people off the streets and offer support to her community has been recognised with a TSB Community Hero Award at the Pride of Birmingham Awards 2023.
When Asha Rage, aged 45, enrolled on a coaching course at Aston Villa, she wasn’t there to learn about tactics and the merits of a flat-back four. She had never played football, but her plan was to use the game to help get young people off the streets and give them new opportunities.
Since setting up Dream Chasers FC in Small Heath, Birmingham, in 2016 Asha’s plan has grown into more than she could have ever hoped for. Not only does she now have 160 players training weekly, but the football club also offers support for adults in the form of ‘Coffee with a Coppa’ sessions, helping the community form bonds with local police officers and discuss any potential issues in a friendly setting.
There are also Street Watch walks, litter picks, English lessons for migrant parents, dance lessons for women, and healing paint workshops to help with mental health and wellbeing.
More recently, Asha and her community of players have been handing out food to those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and have produced hundreds of Ramadan pack for Muslims who can’t access prayer mats, spiritual books or food to break their fast.
To honour her efforts and community spirit, Asha will receive the ‘TSB Community Hero Award’ at tonight’s BirminghamLive Pride of Birmingham Awards with TSB 2023.
The event returns for another year and will welcome star-studded guests including actor Nitin Ganatra and presenters Adil Ray and Sameena Ali-Khan, to name a few.
The event is being presented by Kym Marsh, who comments: “This is such an amazing group of winners. Their courage, selfless dedication, inspiration and kindness are exactly what the world needs right now. Hearing their incredible stories can't fail to inspire you, and restore your faith in humanity. I can't wait to meet them.”
The BirminghamLive Pride of Birmingham Awards with TSB returned for 2023 on Monday 6 March at The Great Hall, University of Birmingham, to celebrate ordinary Brummies doing extraordinary things. The star-studded awards ceremony, hosted by presenter and actor, Kym Marsh, and saw people of all ages and walks of life recognised for their heroic acts and community contributions.
This year’s event celebrates winners from across the region for their awe-inspiring achievements; Whether they performed outstanding acts of courage, fought seemingly hopeless battles against the odds, displayed boundless compassion, or inspired everyone with their tireless campaigning for others.
The local heroes were recognised across 10 categories, including Child of Courage, Spirit of Birmingham, Triumph Over Adversity, and the Emergency Services Award. This year’s winners include Finley Hassall (aged 11), who saved a little boy’s life by using RNLI’s ‘float to live technique’ and Eve Abley, a teenager with cerebral palsy who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds using her stand-up comedy act to break down barriers.
The full list of Pride of Birmingham Awards 2023 winners are:
Child of Courage: Finley Hassall, aged 11 from Kingswinfoord – saved a boy’s life using the RNLI’s ‘Float To Live’ technique.
Stephen Sutton Inspiration Award: Eva Abley, aged 14 from Cannock – a teenager with cerebral palsy who made it to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent with her comedy routine
Emergency Services Award: Deena Evans and Michael Hipgrave, aged 41 and 52 from Wolverhampton – two paramedics who were attacked by a knifeman when attending a wellness check with the police.
Outstanding Contribution: Chris Hoare, aged 75 from Edgbaston – formed the Birmingham Southwest Community Group in the early noughties to reform his crime-ridden estate.
Lifetime Achievement: Reverend Canon Eve Pitts from Birchfield, Birmingham – made The Church of England’s first black female vicar in 1994, and has since spent decades supporting parishioners, challenging racism, and calling out institutional prejudice in her own faith.
TSB Community Hero: Asha Rage, aged 45 from Small Heath – set up Dream Chasers FC in Small Heath to help get young people off the streets, which now has 160 players training weekly.
Triumph Over Adversity: The Chatting Family, from Lichfield – started the charity Carter The Brave and have raised over £330,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital.
