Our Home- Community Football Match
September 2024
Images © Big Leaf Foundation
As part of our Refugee Week celebrations, we ran a community 7-aside football tournament sponsored by Surrey Sports Park last night.
We had a brilliant turnout, with over 65 players and 20 spectators getting involved. Designed to encourage positive social contact and community cohesion, young people supported by Big Leaf played matches alongside the brilliant people from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Aristar Financial Consulting.
We had a brilliant turnout, with over 65 players and 20 spectators getting involved. Designed to encourage positive social contact and community cohesion, young people supported by Big Leaf played matches alongside the brilliant people from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Aristar Financial Consulting.
The weather was perfect, and the event provided a golden opportunity for displaced young people to interact with other football players and organizations in Surrey. Several young people expressed their interest in pursuing a career with the fire service, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be visiting their Guildford HQ for a career taster session. It was a fantastic opportunity for diverse groups and individuals to meet that otherwise wouldn't.
This week, we're exploring the theme of 'Our Home.' We know that playing football often evokes memories and feelings of being home for many of the young people Big Leaf works with. It was really special to begin creating new memories of 'Our Home' by playing football with a diverse group of participants in a location as established as Surrey Sports Park.
This week, we're exploring the theme of 'Our Home.' We know that playing football often evokes memories and feelings of being home for many of the young people Big Leaf works with. It was really special to begin creating new memories of 'Our Home' by playing football with a diverse group of participants in a location as established as Surrey Sports Park.
“It was a really nice community event last night, and it would be great to be able to support their initiative going forwards. I think with some support, many of these young people would look to apply to the fire service and become great additions to any workforce. For many others, they would just like the experience and enjoy feeling part of our community."
Lloyd Hatton, Station Commander, Surrey
Lloyd Hatton, Station Commander, Surrey
With huge thanks to all our partners; Surrey Sports Park, Surrey Fire Service, Aristar Consulting and Surrey Police.
But as ever, the biggest thank you goes to the participants themselves, for turning up with so much enthusiasm, energy and open mindedness, for their sportsmanship and for all the moments of hilarity.
But as ever, the biggest thank you goes to the participants themselves, for turning up with so much enthusiasm, energy and open mindedness, for their sportsmanship and for all the moments of hilarity.