Initial experiences
Sophia (pictured above, sixth from left) and Syed (pictured above, second from left) are Community Champions with Diabetes Scotland.
They attend monthly ‘Pitch to Plate’ events which provide a hot meal to refugees, asylum seekers, homeless people and those living in deprivation in the community. The events are organised by the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS) in conjunction with Hibernian FC Community Foundation in Edinburgh.
Sophia began her volunteering journey with Diabetes Scotland in 2021 as a Peer Support Facilitator for a women's group.
Although there is a history of diabetes in her family, Sophia was initially hesitant due to not having diabetes herself and therefore wondered if she was the right person for the role. However, she realised the importance of being a support contact within her community. She said:
"I thought it was really important for me to be a contact of support and be someone people can go to for any questions that they might have."
At first, she faced challenges in engaging the community, particularly older members who preferred face-to-face interactions over online meetings. Sophia adapted her approach and is now a Community Champion, signposting people to resources and support.
Syed’s volunteering has focused on men's health and fitness, recognising barriers such as men's reluctance to prioritise health. He also highlights the importance of women in spreading health awareness within families. He said:
"Women are still the matriarchs often when it comes to cooking and feeding their families, and through sisters, mothers, wives, sisters-in-law, aunties and nieces, we can get the message heard."
Syed was motivated by personal losses due to diabetes in his family. Having sadly lost his mother, father, and sister to the condition, Syed turned his grief into positive action. He says, "Grief can take you so far, but being able to make changes for the greater good is what we do as a faith." Syed wants to help people to find out their risk of diabetes early so they can get the help and support they need.
Pitch to Plate initiative
One of the key initiatives Sophia and Syed have been involved in is ‘Pitch to Plate’, a community event attracting up to a hundred people each month. Sophia and Syed hold a diabetes awareness stand on the first Tuesday of each month.
These events have been successful in reaching people who might not have known about Diabetes Scotland and starting up conversations about health. For example, in the lead up to Ramadan, Sophia and Syed have been able to share resources about Ramadan and diabetes. Syed says:
"The whole purpose of the event is to provide food to nourish people who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and, if they want to approach us, they can do so on their way out or when queuing for the food."
They both recognise how receiving and sharing food brings people from cultures and communities together and the important role it plays in making connections and starting conversations.
Working as a team and standout moments
Sophia and Syed are quick to acknowledge the importance of working closely with the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS) and Diabetes Scotland. They also recognise what each of them brings to the team and how they help and support each other.
For Syed, a highlight has been using the training he received from Diabetes Scotland. Whether it’s people going to their doctor after hearing about the symptoms of diabetes, or going to get their feet checked by a podiatrist.
For Sophia, it’s about the connections she’s been able to make and conversations she’s had which has got the knowledge out there.
"You can create so many new connections and get that conversation started. These connections lead to more opportunities for spreading awareness and providing support, helping to tackle inequality by ensuring everyone has access to the information and resources they need.”
Future plans
Looking ahead, Sophia and Syed have exciting plans to expand what they are doing in the community. They want to create more connections within the Muslim community and are planning an awareness raising event in Edinburgh in April.
They also hope to continue making connections through Pitch to Plate and Syed would like to use his experience and knowledge in exercise and sport to help to set up fitness and wellbeing groups for men and women.
Advice for future volunteers
"Just try and get involved as much as you can because you don't know where these different opportunities could lead you”, Sophia advises.
She also suggests potential volunteers take time to think about their motivations and the impact they can have on their community.
Syed highlights how rewarding volunteering can be and the importance of humanity and community in driving positive change. He says:
"We can all make change happen, it's about humanity.”
If hearing from Sophia and Syed has inspired you to get involved, take a look at our latest volunteering opportunities.
