|
Beautiful Game Overcoming Racism
A multicultural football project in Orrell has successfully built
friendships and helped young people overcome racist attitudes.
The scheme began in June when youth workers brought Black Minority
Ethnic (BME) young people from the Rafiki / Motswako youth project
together with Orrell youngsters to play football at the Holgate Primary
School Multi Games Area (MUGA) on Wednesday nights.
Children & Young People’s Services Youth Worker Steve Davies says: “To
begin with a few of the local young people wouldn’t speak to members of
the Rafiki / Motswako group. But through playing football and spending
time together all the young people involved in the project have come to
realise they have shared interests and a lot in common.”
An average of 40 youngsters have taken part in the multicultural
football project each week, with 182 individual young people
participating between June and September. Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
Sports Development Team is now delivering the Wednesday night football
sessions and putting on other sporting activities at the Holgate MUGA on
Monday evenings.
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust Community Sports Coach Chris Hurst says:
“The young people have mixed together brilliantly and we’ve had
absolutely no trouble with racism. Youngsters have been coming from all
over Orrell to take part and although Rafiki / Motswako initially came
as a group, members are now coming here on their own to take part in the
other activities that are happening here on Monday nights.”
Daniel Foster, 17, from Billinge says: “Everyone is coming here. Before
this started the gates to the pitch were locked and we were just hanging
round the streets. It’s good exercise, we all have a good laugh and it
gives us something to do.”
Younis Younis, 14, from Marsh Green says: “These sessions have been a
great way for me to meet other young people living in Wigan. It is a
great atmosphere here and everyone just wants to have a good time.”
Rafiki / Motswako members hope to begin a similar project with young
people in Platt Bridge.
• Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust Sports Development Team are putting on
activities for young people at the Holgate Primary School MUGA on Monday
and Wednesday evenings for the foreseeable future, thanks to funding
from the local Community Safety Partnership. For further information, or
to find out what is being provided in your area, please contact Sports
Development on (01942) 404982.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Further information
• For further information or queries regarding this press
release please contact Kennedy Stewart, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
Young People’s Press Officer, on (01942) 496927.
►
Return to LINC News
|
