People from Leeds’ different communities will come together this Sunday 15 June for a football tournament and family fun day at Leeds Thomas Danby College in Roundhay 10.30-4pm. The event marks the start of the 10th Refugee Week in Leeds (15-22 June).
There will be men’s, women’s and kids teams, art and craft activities, face painters , giant games, mad science, drumming workshops and community radio broadcasts. There will be teams from Leeds Somali, Iranian, Afghan, Sudanese, Albanian and Kurdish communities as well as English teams and teams with mixed nationalities.
One such team is Luso Action FC, who will be featured in July’s edition of 4-4-2, Britain’s biggest selling football magazine. Luso Action FC is made up of 18 different nationalities -from Angola, England, Guinea Bissau, Congo, Cameroon, Uganda, Iraq, Somalia, Ethiopia, Albania, South Africa, Tunisia, Gambia, Portugal, Brazil, Ghana, Sao Tome and Capo Verde.
Their captain Emmanuel Paim said, “ We started Lusa Action because we recognised that there was some tension between the different communities in Lincoln Green. Some of us were playing in different teams and it could be very divisive. I wanted to start a team that brought people together. We joined up with the Leeds Sunday Alliance League and in our first year we won the cup and came third in division two, so we have been promoted. We get on well together and playing football together has helped reduce tension between all the different communities in Lincoln Green.”
Charlotte Cooke, Head of Operations (North) of Refugee Council said, “Refugee Week is all about bringing different communities together and creating opportunities for British people to meet people who have come to the UK seeking sanctuary. The football field is a great place to break down barriers and for people from all over the world to share a sport they love. ”
Trophies will be presented by Khaiber Rahim, a Leeds based refugee and budding model who is one of the “faces of Refugee Week” at 3.30pm
The tournament and funday has been organised and supported by Refugee Council, Connect Housing, Stop Hate UK, Leeds City Council and Leeds Thomas Danby College
This is the first event in Refugee Week in Leeds. Other events this year, the 10th anniversary of Refugee Week include parties, art exhibitions, film screenings, gigs, information and awareness raising, workshops and a parade through leeds city centre. For a full programme see
http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/InYourArea/Yorkshire+and+Humberside/Leeds.htm
ENDS
(1) Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.
Refugee Week 2008 takes place from 16th to 22nd June.
2008 is the 10th Anniversary of Refugee Week and there will be hundreds of events exploring refugee experiences taking place across the UK ranging from big music festivals and art exhibitions to political debates and community events.
For more information visit www.refugeeweek.org.uk
Email: info@refugeeweek.org.uk
(2) The event is being held at the Leeds Thomas Danby Community Sports Centre, which is situated behind the main college building on Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 3BG
