THIS WEEK WE WILL BE PROFILING DIFFERENT FOUR FULHAM FC FOUNDATION PROJECTS IN THE LEAD UP TO OUR ANNUAL CHARITY MATCHDAY ON SATURDAY. Our final project, is Kicks Refugees.
Fulham FC Foundation is committed to offering sporting provisions for refugee and asylum seekers across South West London. Our Refugee coaches run weekly football sessions with the aim to improve each person’s physical and mental wellbeing and provide participants with the chance to create and develop new social connections. Creating new friendship groups in combination with a healthy active lifestyle allows participants to feel more at home in London while benefiting their physical wellbeing.
This programme helps to bring peers together through their mutual love of football. Over the past 12 months our refugee footballers have been a part of a number of special events and tournaments, including a festival to celebrate Ramadan, hosted at Fulham FC’s Motspur Park training ground earlier this season.
Our refugee and asylum seeker programme has also provided refugee football for women and girls, via our partnerships with local refugee organisations like South London Refugees Association and Hillsong Church.
“Following the horrendous experiences of many of our clients, the football has certainly played and continues to play and be an integral part of their lives and wellbeing, bridging new and rewarding relationships, facilitating an eclectic community of support which is evidenced as a direct result of what is truly 'the beautiful game.' The partnership with Fulham FC Foundation has continued to play a pivotal role to team SLRA football and we continue to look forward to developing this partnership in the future, especially with support of 'Mr Jonnie'.” - Celestine Agbo, Youth Support Worker, South London Refugee Association
One recent initiative, supported by the entire Fulham Family, has been our refugee boot drive, with members of the community donating kit and equipment to these recent arrivals, many of whom are now wearing football boots for the first time.
