Exeter’s badminton club celebrates diversity and inclusion with a free tournament

A free badminton club, which was established to bring together people from diverse communities in Exeter, regularly welcomes members of all ages from a total of 16 different countries.

The sessions, which take place at Wonford Sports Centre, regularly attract more than 25 participants a week from countries across the world, including Syria, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

And to celebrate the success of the group, it recently staged a free badminton tournament in partnership with Live & Move, Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, Wonford Sports and Leisure Centre and Devon Bengali Association.

The group, which meets at 12pm on Sundays, was launched in 2021 by Inclusive Exeter, a community interest company which was established to bring together diverse communities across the city of Exeter and beyond. The community-led organisation holds and facilitates activities and events to improve relationships between communities and local and national services, with the aim of fostering better integration and reduced isolation. Live and Move, a Sport England supported partnership that encourages people in the city to lead active lives, has helped the group by contributing towards an instructor and the hire of the sports centre.

James Bogue of Live and Move, the programme in Exeter that supports this activity, said: “The badminton group is a fantastic representation of a diverse community joining together, whether that be age, gender or ethnicity. We’re really proud to have supported and help grow an initiative like this which shows people coming together and being active.

“The tournament felt like an appropriate way to celebrate the amazing success of this group and we’d encourage people to sign up as soon as possible.”

Cindy Ma, 60 from Hong Kong joined the group four months ago after hearing about it from a friend in the Hong Kongers community in Devon. She enjoys interacting with people from other communities, such as Malaysia and the Philippines.

She adds: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to engage in a sport I love while being active. I appreciate the fact the sessions are free and I like the simplicity of joining them without the need for formal registration.”

Tarique Haidar, 53, joined the club in 2022. He is originally from Bangladesh and has lived in the UK for 28 years.

He is currently unemployed and dealing with health challenges such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. However, he recognises the importance of physical activity for his wellbeing.

He says: “I enjoy playing to stay fit. I really value the fact the sessions are free, as I am currently unemployed.”

This affordability factor allows him to continue participating in the sessions, contributing positively to his physical health, even during a period of financial strain.

Hamid Hakimi, 16, moved to the UK from Afghanistan at the age of two. He has been a resident of Exeter ever since, his father having migrated through a lengthy asylum-seeking process, to establish their settlement in the country.

Hamid, who attends St James High School in Exeter, says he enjoys the sessions.

He adds: “They are enjoyable and vibrant and there is always a diverse group of people. I was introduced to the sessions by my father and after attending once, I was captivated by the experience.”

Financial constraints prevent him participating in paid sports activities or obtaining a gym membership, making the free badminton sessions a valuable space for him to stay physically active and healthy. The sessions also played a role in expanding Hamid's social circle, as he has made new friends from diverse communities such as Bangladesh, Syria, and Pakistan.