UCFB and the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) are delighted to partner with changemaker Dev Trehan to launch the world’s first scholarship focusing on developing British South Asians in Football.
The South Asians in Football Leadership Scholarship for 2023-24 is the first of its kind, as UCFB and GIS aim to promote and support the growth of British South Asians in football.
The recipient of the scholarship is Millie Chandarana, who is studying MSc Football Business at GIS Manchester Campus.
Millie is a professional footballer who plays in midfield for Barclays Women’s Championship side Blackburn Rovers. After being accepted onto the scholarship, Millie will be mentored throughout her time at GIS by Sky Sports News journalist and British South Asians in football pioneer Dev Trehan.
Dev, on top of his work for Sky Sports, is the country’s only dedicated spotter of South Asian female talent and is the curator of the first exhibition documenting the journey of South Asians in the modern women’s game, delivered in partnership with Sporting Equals.
In addition to the mentorship, Millie will also complete one of our professional qualification courses, The Inclusive Leadership in Football Award, while at GIS.
Speaking to GIS after being awarded the scholarship, Mille said: “Looking into the future, I have great ambition to facilitate the growth of the women's game within the South Asian community and believe the mentoring and support I will receive through the scholarship can be a vital component in this.
“I have many ideas for the future of this pathway which is why I would like to gain my MSc with GIS. The rapid professionalism of the women's game is a huge platform for me to implement my ideas further and to help those from South Asian backgrounds receive the same opportunities when filtering through the elite pyramid.
“As a proud Blackburn Rovers player and the only British South Asian with a professional contract in the Women’s Championship, I’m even more driven to make football more accessible to all within the UK and globally.”
Speaking to GIS, Dev said: “Partnering with UCFB and the Global Institute of Sport to co-found this first-of-its-kind scholarship is a matter of huge pride and is a landmark moment in the development of British South Asians in Football.
“Millie Chandarana is a wonderful role model and someone whose career I have tracked closely. She has worked tirelessly to get to where she is today and is currently playing the best football of her career.
“We have many shared values and are both doing some of our best work. This scholarship gives us a dedicated opportunity to shape a brighter future together for South Asians and English football.
“The UCFB/GIS family and I could not wish for a better first recipient of the South Asians in Football Leadership Scholarship. Millie is a leader on the pitch and has enormous potential to develop into a top-class leader off the pitch.”
Millie also recently attended the Asian Media Awards in Manchester, which saw Sky Sports’ commitment towards South Asians in football recognised with the inaugural Diversity in Media award.
GIS has welcomed a record 18 scholars from across the globe for the 2023-24 academic year. Click here to find out more about them.
Additionally, click here to view our wide range of postgraduate scholarships available.
You can also view a GIS prospectus by clicking here and finding out all about us and our range of Master’s degrees available in Europe, North America and Oceania.
