‘Come to Keynsham, Sepp Blatter’

With the image of football in tatters after revelations of FIFA corruption, one project in Bristol is attempting to restore integrity.

Bristol Together Championships aims to bring together primary schools across Bristol for an annual football tournament to build bridges with different communities.

The project attempts to utilises football to break down barriers of geography, culture, race and faith across the city. 

There have been several successful community-based sport projects in the city such as Streetgames, Positive Futures, and Streetchance who specifically aim to foster community cohesion.

But with this project, primaries are twinned with a school from a different part of the city, and enter a joint team together. Thirty-six schools have already signed up and many of the pupils will be from different backgrounds and cultures.

Working with young people at this age is key – such early intervention work instills and broadens the horizons and experiences of young people.

Amy Kington, director of Bristol City Community Trust Foundation, explains the importance of the project, and its value. “Sport is a fantastic vehicle that crosses barriers, creates and unites communities, improves educational attainment, the economy and wins hearts and minds.”

The trust is involved in a number of social sport projects across the city and is delighted to team up to help build a more “tolerant and inclusive city”.

The project has had several training sessions across different schools, supporting young people from different areas to get to know each other, build rapport, and even work on tactics.

The project culminates in an epic grand finale at Keynsham Town’s ground on Friday July 3, where up to 180 young people from all over the city will be taking part.

Bristol consistently wins lots of awards for being the best city to live in the UK, yet there are still pockets of high deprivation where often isolated communities aren’t always fully integrated. Schemes like this are crucial to build relationships and sow the seeds of social mobility.

Civil rights campaigner Paul Stephensen backs the campaign, and said: “I believe that this initiative is just what people need. It is crucial that we build into the development of Bristol Children the opportunity to cross the barriers that have historically divided our city.”

The benefits are twofold – to the young people and the city itself. Paul explains that “by contributing to the quality of lives they lead” it impacts on the “contribution they will make to Bristol. We all share in what our children and young people are and what they will become”.

This grassroots movement is far away from FIFA headquarters in Zurich – not just geographically but ethically. Football’s world governing body preaches that the sport has the power to change lives and unite communities, so maybe a certain Mr Blatter could head to Keysnham on July 3 to remind himself of this.

For more information on Bristol Together Championship go to www.bristoltogetherchampionship.co.uk.

Sport development consultant Neil Maggs presents  Mid-week Sports Bar on BCfm and is director of Street2 Elite promoting grass roots sport.