Who We Are.
Our Story.
Football Journeys is a charity that brings young people from different communities together to share new experiences, find common ground and overcome stereotypes through the language of film and the love of football.
Since 2012 we have tackled mistrust and stereotypes by taking participants to different areas to build positive links with their peers. We’re working to break down barriers between young people based on evidence that meaningful interaction makes you more likely to view different groups positively, but also put more faith in society as a whole.
By playing football together in each other’s ‘home’ ground, and sharing our stories, new places become more accessible and shared commonalities are celebrated.
Our Vision.
A society where young people explore the world, embrace differences, and unite through understanding and collaboration.
Our Mission.
To connect and empower young people to become empathetic leaders.
Our Values.
Community
Collaboration
Diversity
Empathy
Why We Do It
We connect young people from different areas to build relationships, tackle mistrust and develop our future leaders.
Being a young person growing up in today’s society can be challenging. A barrage of negative media stereotypes, increasing inequality and almost £1bn of funding cuts to youth services since 2011, hasn’t really helped (Independent, 2021).
In December 2016, Dame Louise Casey published The Casey Review: a review into opportunity and integration which stated that, ‘where communities live separately, with fewer interactions between people from different backgrounds, mistrust, anxiety and prejudice grow’.
In a poll of 1,600 young people aged 16-25 conducted by Partnership for Young London, two thirds said they thought discrimination was common in London.
Make the wider world accessible to young people.
Many young people rarely venture out of their immediate neighbourhoods, and often have fearful or negative attitudes towards other areas. Football Journeys opens up new places for them through rewarding, interactive sessions and football exchanges with new people. By building effective communication skills and broadening personal and academic horizons, Football Journeys empowers young people to tap into their leadership potential.
Break down stereotypes.
By travelling to other areas, we help to bust myths between groups of people living in different places. By visiting different communities, young people increase their understanding of the diverse nationalities living in their locality and beyond.
Boost confidence and learning.
We work with young people to produce and direct their own short films about where they live and who they are. They learn new skills in an interactive way and gain a proud achievement. They then become Football Journeys Ambassadors, co-producing subsequent journeys and planning and delivering introductory sessions through accredited modules.
“It was scary at the beginning because I didn’t know what they were going to be like. I wasn’t really confident going to other places and meeting new people but now I’ve met these lot I’ll be okay for the next time.”
- FJ participant from Harrow
More Info?
For more detailed information about organising a Football Journey at your school please contact us at:
Email: info@footballjourneys.org
Tel: 07504 681 190