Plan to unite races through football this summer (From Enfield Independent)

Plan to unite races through football this summer

8:20am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in News By Sarah Cosgrove

FOOTBALL is being used in a bid to break down racial tension among young people in Edmonton this summer.

Edmonton-based charity, Fit2Live has won a £2,000 grant from the Football Foundation's Kick it Out scheme, to provide free weekly football sessions for around 130 youngsters.

The project, which will take place until September makes a special effort to include communities which generally access football less, including Eastern European and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Fit2Live spokesman, Timothy Aleshe, said securing the grant would allow the group to bring together young people from different ethnic backgrounds under the positive banner of football.

He added: “This will also help lay the foundation for our football club Rap-Aid Youth FC to participate in youth league football.”

Piara Powar, director of Kick It Out, said: “Fit2Live are deserved recipients of the cash. The aim of the grants is to give under-represented communities the opportunity to get involved in the game. Whether that’s playing, coaching or refereeing, the programme exists to increase participation from these groups in towns and cities across the country.”