This year, Prevent has partnered with Leicester City FC Community Trust to deliver a project that aims to build resilience to radicalisation through sport and engagement provision in St. Matthews and Highfields. A number of exciting programmes are planned, including developing community coaches and women’s only sporting activities and workshops.
In November, Prevent Coordinator Sean Arbuthnot accompanied LCFC Community Trust and over 50 young people on a workshop focusing on social harms, followed by a trip to Wembley to watch England take on the USA.
The young people came from a variety of backgrounds and included new arrivals to the UK from Syria and Iraq who embraced the matchday experience by cheering for the home team, painting their faces and taking countless selfies throughout the evening. The match ended in an entertaining 3-0 victory for England, but more importantly it was heartening to see so many enthusiastic young people feeling warmly welcomed in the UK. The experience was an excellent example of integration, acceptance and people coming together through sport.
