AFC Fylde Community Foundation have received £19,900 from the National Lottery Community Fund which will go towards funding our Fylde Welcomes programme.
Fylde Welcomes, partnered with Fylde Council, Lancashire County Council and Amnesty International, has supported refugees and asylum seekers who have settled into the local Fylde Borough.
Since August 2021, the Foundation offer weekly football and sports sessions, opportunities to play competitive fixtures and visit local attractions to support integration into the community.
The group have visited the National Football Museum in Manchester, played in tournaments against other clubs in the North West and attended AFC Fylde first-team fixtures.
And the generous grant by the National Lottery Community Fund will help continue to run the programme, which provides a friendly and welcoming environment.
Session take place on Tuesdays between 5pm-6pm at Fylde Sports and Education Centre.
Acknowledging the power of football and how it can connect people in a number of ways, working alongside local partners, the Foundation’s project supported 44 refugees in 2023.
Participant Mohammed Hashim arrived in Kirkham as a refugee from Sudan in 2021, and says the Foundation’s support has helped him make new friends as he adjusted to life in the local area.
Mohammed said: ““It makes me happy and I feel that I’m welcome here, I’ve made new friends, improved my language skills and it opens life doors for me to find my way into the future.
“As a refugee, I’ve found the people and the help I needed in Kirkham. They welcomed me and offered me a place to play football and do other activities I wanted to do. Refugees are welcome, and I want to share this happiness with others.”
“Since you welcomed me at AFC Fylde Community Foundation, I feel like I’m home and when other people come to play, I feel like I’m part of the place. Thank you so much for everything.”
Scott Harries, Community Development Officer at AFC Fylde Community Foundation, said: “It’s brilliant to be able to support the local asylum seekers & refugees through the Fylde Welcomes project.
“By getting the group involved with this project at AFC Fylde Community Foundation it helps build their confidence and makes them feel part of the local community. The football session has been a huge success since it began back in 2021 and with funding like this, it allows us to continue to support the refugees in the local area.”
Back in September, the Foundation received a certificate of appreciation from our refugee participants following our support to them on the programme.
AFC Fylde Community Foundation would like to place on record our appreciation to the National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support on the Fylde Welcomes programme.
To find out more about AFC Fylde Community Foundation’s Fylde Welcomes programme, please email Scott.Harries@afcfylde.co.uk!