Football Welcomes Brings Communities Seeking Safety Together

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme is continuing to create opportunities for refugees, people seeking asylum and people seeking safety to connect, build friendships and feel part of their local community.

2026-10-23T11:00+01:00

by Admin

Published

7 Hours 5 Mins Ago

Football Welcomes Brings Communities Seeking Safety Together

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme is continuing to create opportunities for refugees, people seeking asylum and people seeking safety to connect, build friendships and feel part of their local community.

Admin

2026-10-23T11:00+01:00

Football Welcomes Brings Communities Seeking Safety Together

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme is continuing to create opportunities for refugees, people seeking asylum and people seeking safety to connect, build friendships and feel part of their local community.

Admin

2026-10-23T11:00+01:00

Football Welcomes Brings Communities Seeking Safety Together

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme is continuing to create opportunities for refugees, people seeking asylum and people seeking safety to connect, build friendships and feel part of their local community.

Admin

2026-10-23T11:00+01:00

Football Welcomes Brings Communities Seeking Safety Together

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme is continuing to create opportunities for refugees, people seeking asylum and people seeking safety to connect, build friendships and feel part of their local community.

Admin

2026-10-23T11:00+01:00

Leicester City in the Community’s Football Welcomes programme supports people seeking safety across Leicester and Leicestershire
Participants recently travelled to Northampton to take part in a special fixture against Northampton Town FC Community Trust
The programme provides a safe and welcoming environment to play football, build friendships and develop a sense of belonging
The fixture was an opportunity for people seeking safety from Leicester and Northamptonshire to connect through their shared love of football

The programme uses the power of football to provide free, weekly sessions in a safe and welcoming environment, helping participants stay active while developing positive relationships and connections.

As part of Football Welcomes, participants recently travelled to Northampton to take part in a special fixture against Northampton Town FC Community Trust.

The fixture brought together people seeking safety from Leicester and Northamptonshire, providing participants with the opportunity to represent their communities on the pitch, meet new people and enjoy the game they love.

While there was a competitive edge to the fixture, the day was about much more than the result.

Joe McSharry, Community Development Manager at Leicester City in the Community, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to our friends at Northampton Town FC Community Trust and Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC) for their welcome and hospitality to us.

Events like this have an impact that goes far beyond what happens on the pitch. From the sense of pride in wearing our club’s badge, to the opportunity to represent the city where you’ve been welcomed, it was brilliant to see the power of football in full effect for participants who have been through enormous hardship.

“The match was played in a fantastic spirit of community and friendship, and the chance to sit down together afterwards with home-cooked food from around the world was the icing on the cake. Belonging is central to our mission as a charity. We say, ‘there’s a place for everyone at Leicester City in the Community’ and today we saw why that matters and how powerful that can be.”

For many participants, Football Welcomes provides a regular opportunity to meet others, develop friendships and become more connected to their local community.

Moving to a new country and community can be a significant transition, and opportunities to build relationships and feel welcomed can play an important role in creating a sense of belonging.

Through football, participants have a shared language that can help break down barriers and bring people together, regardless of their background or where they have come from.

The programme also provides opportunities for participants to access wider support and engage with other community activities, helping them feel welcomed and valued within Leicester and Leicestershire.

The fixture with Northampton Town FC Community Trust also highlighted the importance of collaboration, with two football club charities coming together to create a positive experience for people seeking safety.

At Leicester City in the Community, we believe the power of the football club and its badge can open doors, create connections and bring people together.

Through Football Welcomes, participants have the opportunity to play, connect and build friendships in a supportive environment – helping create a stronger sense of belonging within their community.

Because football is more than a game. It is a place to belong.

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