If you asked Mia to describe what Active Communities means to her, she’d smile and say, she can’t really remember a time she wasn’t involved with the team.
‘I can’t see myself wanting to be anywhere else.’ She tells me.
That’s hardly surprising when you hear her story. Mia’s first involvement with Salford Community Leisure (SCL) came when she started swimming lessons at Clarendon Leisure Centre, aged just four.
“I used to go to the splash sessions all the time.” She tells me. “It was so much fun, and really affordable for my parents too. It was a great thing for us to do at the weekend or in the holidays.”
Her first experiences with Active Communities, previously known as ‘SPARKY’, came about when she was eight. Her parents worked through the school holidays, so the local clubs and trips she attended weren’t just a fun way to spend the day, they were a lifeline, offering affordable childcare for her family.
“ SPARKY was the place to be. I still remember all the activities we used to do,” she says. “A lot of my friends went too, so it felt like a big family. I was involved in loads of other SCL activities too. The roller disco at Clarendon was the best! Asa and Cheryl, who lead the team I work with now, were running sessions back then, as well as Aaron and Chole, from the team, so it really does feel like I’ve known everyone forever.”
Those early days with Active Communities planted a seed. They gave Mia her first sense of belonging, of what it means to be part of something bigger.
On Friday nights, she’d be at the Youth Club on Langworthy Road, where she could often be found running the tuck shop; an early sign of the leadership skills she didn’t know she had at the time.
As she got older, Mia stayed connected with Active Communities. In her late teens she was studying a sports course at Eccles College, and it was members of the Active Communities team who encouraged her to take the next step.
“Aaron and Steve suggested I join the Salford Youth Alliance volunteering programme,” she says. “I did that for maybe a year; and honestly, the rest is history.”
Volunteering gave Mia a taste of what it meant to give back to her community. She loved it. So, when a role opened up for a casual sports coach in 2021, she applied and got the job.
“This job has given me so many opportunities; courses, qualifications, and experiences I never imagined. When I moved into a part-time post, I even trained as a lifeguard so I could work at the Friday night Swim and Football sessions at Clarendon. I love how varied my role can be. No two days are the same.”
“Working in the different sites, and with different services is great too! I’ve got to know so many different people working in so many different ways to improve the city. From the leisure centres to the museums, every team is so friendly and great to work with. I’ve learned a lot along the way!”
What makes Mia’s work special is her ability to relate.
“I can always put myself in the shoes of the young people we work with,” she says. “Because I was that kid. I know what it feels like to walk through the doors for the first time, and I know what they can get out of coming here!”
She’s passionate about making sure the next generation of young people has access to the same experiences she did. That means getting creative with activities and linking up with other services across SCL.
“We might take the kids to the library for the Summer Reading Challenge, visit Ordsall Hall or Salford Museum & Art Gallery, or give them the chance to try the different activities at Salford Watersports Centre. It’s all about showing them everything we offer. More importantly, showing them how much is on their doorstep.”
One of Mia’s favourite parts of the job has been working in SEND youth clubs, where she’s seen first-hand the difference inclusive activities can make.
“Seeing the impact of those sessions was so rewarding,” she says. “Now I’m seeing young people embarking on the same route I did. Attending clubs, then volunteering, and working with us. That’s the best bit. It shows that what we do really matters. We set people up on paths that can shape their whole future!”
She’s also quick to credit her team.
“Working with such a great group of people makes everything even more rewarding. It’s such a special feeling to work with such an incredible team. We all want the same thing; to make a difference.”
In 2023, Mia was nominated by her Head of Department, Cheryl for Queen Bee Coaching, a Greater Manchester initiative offering free coaching to help women build confidence, develop leadership skills, and accelerate their positive impact in the community.
“It was amazing! It helped me work on myself, both personally and professionally. I learned a lot; about leading and managing, but also about believing in myself. It came at the perfect time, just as I was taking on more responsibility in my new, full-time role, as an Assistant Active Communities Development Officer.”
When the Women’s Rugby World Cup came to England, the team at Active Communities were tasked with using the momentum of the event to get more inactive women and girls involved in sport. The Strive 25 initiative aimed to inspire new players to give rugby a try.
Enter T1 Rugby: a fast, fun, non-contact version of the game designed to be inclusive and easy to pick up. It’s all about movement, teamwork, and enjoyment, without the physical barriers that sometimes keep people away from traditional rugby.
This was Mia’s first time leading a big project for Active Communities, and she didn’t back down from the challenge.
“I’ll be honest, I put a lot of pressure on myself,” she admits. “I’d never played rugby before. I didn’t even know much about the sport, so I had to learn everything from scratch. I went on an RFU training course, learned how to deliver sessions, and just threw myself into it.”
Her first step was to understand what the girls in her community actually thought about rugby. She created a survey for older girls at youth clubs, asking what came to mind when they heard the word “rugby.” The responses confirmed what she suspected; many didn’t see it as “for them.”
“So, I approached Albion High School in Broughton. But, instead of calling it a rugby session, I advertised it as a girls’ movement group. I wanted to remove any negative preconceptions. We focused on confidence, body positivity, and just having fun. I didn’t even bring a rugby ball to the first few sessions!”
Over time, something shifted.
“We started bringing in the rugby elements gradually, and before long, they were playing full T1 Rugby sessions. The feedback was so heart warming. Some of the girls said things like it was the only place they felt they could truly be themselves.”
Not everything went smoothly. Mia tried running sessions at Eccles College, but they didn’t take off the way she hoped. Still, she turned the experience into something positive by organising a trip to Wembley, for some of the students and young people from the Active Communities Holiday Camps, to watch a rugby final.
“That was a big highlight. They might not all have carried on playing, but they developed an interest in the sport!” She says.
Organising the trip was a big task. There was so much to consider; travel arrangements, catering etc, and there was only me and one other colleague to do it all. It was a huge achievement for me. Some of the young people that came with us had never left Salford before. It was a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. It’ll always be something I’m really proud of.”
Around that time, when the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy toured the country, it stopped at Eccles Rugby Club. Mia and the team took a group of young people from the holiday camps along to see it, and that sparked another idea.
“I thought, why not start a women’s T1 Rugby group for the mums and older girls?” she says. “So that was that, and we launched in July! It’s been growing ever since. We’ve built such a nice community. There’s even a WhatsApp group now where everyone supports each other. World Rugby are coming down soon to do a feature on it, which feels surreal. It’s nice to know that all the work we’ve put in is being recognised.”
The group meets every Wednesday evening at Eccles Rugby Club, and Mia says it’s become one of her favourite parts of the week.
“It’s such a positive space. We’ve had women from all sorts of backgrounds join; some who’ve never played any sport before. I think it’s a great journey for all of us. I was new to rugby until only recently too, so we’re all learning together! Everyone leaves with huge smiles on their faces, and that’s the most important thing.”
Mia has recently established a new Girl’s T1 Rugby Session at Ordsall Leisure centre. While these sessions focus is on T1 rugby, giving the girls a space to play together in a supportive environment; they’re about so much more than that. The girls learn the rules of T1 rugby, but also build friendships. grow in confidence, play the game, and most importantly have fun.
T1 Rugby isn’t the only women’s project Mia’s led this year. She’s also set up a women’s football group at Marlborough Road Academy (Broughton) on Thursday mornings.
“I’ve found a real passion for getting women and girls active,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just about positioning a session or group in a way that makes it seem less intimidating. Like with the Football Group, or the Rugby Group at Albion High. We called them Women’s Movement Groups first, to give women a safe place to be active together, and then introduced the sports elements later.
That passion carried into the summer too, when Mia organised a girls’ T1 Rugby tournament as part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. Around forty girls took part. It felt like a milestone for Mia and showed her how far she’d come in just a few months, from being someone who knew next to nothing about rugby.
“I was so proud. It showed me how far I’d come, and how much potential there is when you just give people a chance to try something new.”
Active Communities has always been about inclusion and connection; and Mia’s story embodies that. From youth clubs and roller discos to coaching, leadership, and developing a passion for women’s sport, she’s grown alongside the organisation that has supported both her personal growth and professional journey.
She’s also been a key part of helping Active Communities evolve. As the teams focus expands beyond young people to include older adults; projects like Sporting Memories, which brings together people aged 65+ for tea, quizzes, and gentle exercise and Mia’s Women’s Rugby and Football groups, will play a key part in that growth.
Along the way, Mia has experienced things she never expected. She’s met the Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, represented Salford Community Leisure at the Salford Business Awards (where we came runner-up in the Inspiring Young People category), and gained recognition from a world governing body for her work across the city.
“It was an honour to have attended and receive the award on behalf of Salford Community Leisure.”
Next year, she’s taking a well-earned sabbatical to travel across Southeast Asia; a step she tells me might never have had the confidence to take without the support and growth she’s experienced through her work.
“I’ll miss everyone so much. Not just the team, but the young people and women I’ve worked with,” she says. “But, I’m excited to see what I can learn while I’m away and bring back when I come home.”
Like all of the Active Communities Team, Mia’s passion for her work and colleagues in infectious.
“Everyone is so amazing! Steve, my line manager, has been such a great mentor to me. I am so grateful to be surrounded by such an incredible team! I can’t wait for my next chapter with Active Communities.”
From a child looking for safe spaces to play, to a leader shaping the future of community sport, Mia’s story is a reminder of why Active Communities exists. It’s not just about activities or sessions; it’s about connection, opportunity, and believing that everyone, regardless of background, deserves a place to belong.
And thanks to Mia, and the Active Communities Team, that belief is growing stronger throughout Salford every day.
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