London FA are proud to announce that the winner of Young Volunteer of the Year for the 2024 Grassroots Heroes Awards is Muneerah Balesaria!

Muneerah is U14 girls coach at Salaam Peace FC. Her impactful journey at the club started as a player with which she has then evolved into a dedicated volunteer. Through her voluntary work, she has established a girls’ football team and a Sunday morning girls-only study support and sports programme. As a Muslim woman wearing a hijab, Muneerah has shattered stereotypes, serving as a role model for girls of all backgrounds. 

The difference Muneerah has made has been so impactful to both her and her community. Since leading sessions, Muneerah has grown in confidence and self-efficiency. She has help to build an equality, diversity, and inclusion workforce, empowering and inspiring to women and girls, as well as the Muslim community, through mentoring and leading Salaam Peace’s girls holiday programme. Through her strength of character, she has developed an impactful session so that girls feel comfortable to participate, enabling a development of engagement levels and pushing for more mums to get involved in sessions too. 

On top of all her voluntary work, Muneerah is also studying Sports Psychology at London South Bank University. Muneerah has an exceptional attitude, and her strengths lie in her ability to build rapport and endless empathy for the community she coaches. It is her positivity and inspirational work ethic that makes her such an important volunteer who will only continue to grow through the years to come. 

Congratulations Muneerah and Salaam Peace!