School/Directorate: Cardiff Met Sport
Key Theme: Supports the University’s Sanctuary Status
Impact and Achievements:
Cardiff Met Sport have worked in partnership with Oasis Cardiff, a refugee and asylum seeker centre in Splott, to facilitate a weekly football session at Eastern Community Campus. Oasis Cardiff were struggling to find a venue to train in; all the facilities in the local area were either too expensive, or too small. This project supported by booking 18 weeks of venue hire at Eastern Community Cardiff for football training, 2 x 90 minutes venue hire for football matches, and purchasing footballs and kit.
The session has seen 40 people take part over the course of the project from a wide range of backgrounds. Accessing a good quality football pitch has provided them an opportunity to take part in physical activity, do serious training and develop confidence to play 4 friendly games against other teams. Football has been delivered once a week, every Thursday, since the beginning of May. The footballs and kit that were purchased using the grant funding has also been used during the sessions. Eastern Community Campus was originally booked for 12 weeks, but due to the high levels of engagement and success of the project, an additional 6 weeks were booked. Met Sport worked in partnership with the Football Association of Wales, who were able to provide two places for free on a coaching qualification course.
The project has significantly improved the mental, physical and social wellbeing of those who have taken part. Oasis has now decided to form as an official football club with the FAW. Cardiff Met Sport have a longstanding relationship with Oasis and this funding has gone a long way to further strengthen this relationship.