Royal recognition for Services to the Community...
Rotherham United were extremely proud to hear that two members of the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust have been acknowledged in the New Year’s Honours list.
Zanib Rasool and Zaidah Ahmed have both received an MBE for Services to the Community and will go to the Palace in the New Year to collect their prestigious awards.
Zanib is the Community Project Manager with the award-winning trust, and as well as arranging funds for the work that they take part in, acts as a magistrate in the town and has been working on various community projects for over 30 years, after originally starting with the Rotherham Multicultural Centre.
“It’s a tremendous honour to receive an MBE,” said Zanib. “It was a real surprise when I received the letter through the post and I looked at it several times so I knew I had read it correctly. I found out in November but I couldn’t tell anybody. I’ve now got to collect the award from the Palace later in the year and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Zaidah is a trustee of RUCST and whilst not being an employee on a direct day-to-day basis, plays a significant part in ‘Inclusion and Education.’ Like Zanib, Zaidah is a local magistrate and works in schools around the town to promote cohesion.
“We’re very proud to have two people associated with Rotherham United Football Club and the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust being honoured,” said Head of Community Jamie Noble. “An award like this could not have gone to two more deserving people who have helped enhance the lives of people of all ages in the Rotherham community, and both strive to make this town a safer and more enjoyable place to live, learn and work.
“I wrote a reference for Zanib two years ago and thought she had been overlooked, but it goes to show the amount of scrutiny that goes into these honours and I’m very proud to be associated with two people who have received this recognition.”
As well as her work in the local community, Zanib is set to embark on furthering her fundraising efforts for Oxfam and recently helped raise funds towards the Pakistan Earthquake appeal.