Tigers Trust celebrates Refugees with Amnesty International Football Welcomes Campaign

 

Clubs across the UK join Amnesty’s Football Welcomes campaign to show solidarity with those who have fled conflict and persecution. 

 

Throughout Football Welcomes month, the Tigers Trust have orchestrated two fantastic Active Through Football events at the Tigers Trust Arena. 

 

Initially, we had the pleasure of hosting 'Acorn FC', comprised of residents from Welcome House who have come together to form a team. They engaged in a spirited football match against peers from Leeds United Foundation for their first ever competitive game. 

 

Additionally, we extended a warm welcome to more participants from the programme, who competed against Club Doncaster Foundation. Amidst the excitement, they also relished a behind-the-scenes MKM Stadium Tour, indulged in a riveting football match, and witnessed Hull City's thrilling 3-3 draw with Ipswich Town. 

 

Commenting on the Active Through Football event against Doncaster, the coach from Doncaster Greg said: I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you and all the team at Tigers Trust for your excellent hospitality during the event. Our boys had a fantastic day, they loved every minute of it, so did me and Lynn! It's great to be able to offer opportunities like this to the boys in our Football Welcomes project, for some of them it was the first live football match they'd ever been to, and what a game it was!” 

 

Social Inclusion Manager Kayaleigh Jackson also commented on the event: We were very pleased to be able to welcome participants from Doncaster Foundation's Football Welcomes programme across to Hull to play against participants from our Active Through Football programme. The game was played in excellent spirit with the final score finishing 2-2 which was a good reflection of the game. We hope all involved enjoyed the event and we look forward to hosting similar events in the future." 

 

The ongoing work to support refugees and people seeking asylum is our Active Through Football Programme which identifies and works with key target audiences, who face some of the greatest inequalities to being physically active. 

 

Working alongside Hull City Council and Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd (HCaL), the Tigers Trust will deliver the scheme which aims to tackle inequalities by delivering football opportunities to those aged 16-19 from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background. 

 

This year marks seven years of Amnesty International’s Football Welcomes campaign and the Tigers Trust & Hull City alongside hundreds of clubs have signed up to continue efforts to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum. 

 

Football Welcomes plays an important role in helping to settle people who have fled conflict and persecution into a new culture, to make friends, learn the language and get to know the local area. 

 

Each year, Football Welcomes celebrates the role football can play in bringing people together. The initiative is in stark contrast to the Government’s refusal in recent years to process the asylum claims of tens of thousands of people, which is causing increased misery for thousands of people. 

 

Hull City is one of the clubs from across the Premier League, English Football League, FA Women’s Super League, Championship and National League, Cymru North and South, and grassroots teams that have signed up to take part in Football Welcomes. 

 

To show their support for people seeking asylum, participating clubs have hosted a range of football-based events including training sessions, matches or stadium tours for refugees. Some clubs are incorporating learning about refugee rights in their work with schools, while others are helping to raise awareness online. 

 

Sandy Abi-Elias, Amnesty International UK’s Women’s Football Officer, said: 

 

“It’s important to remember people seeking asylum in the UK are real people many of whom have already faced unimaginable harms and we must do all we can to support them, not demonise them. This is what Football Welcomes is all about. 

 

“No matter what, Amnesty will continue to welcome refugees alongside football clubs across the country to show there is more that unites us than divides us. 

 

“Football Welcomes is made possible thanks to an award from Postcode Justice Trust.” 

 

Find more information out about the campaign by clicking here.