Inside the Saints Foundation's Refugee Football sessions

ON Monday, the Daily Echo were invited to attend one of the Saints Foundation's Football for Refugees sessions.

Under the scorching summer sun around 25 men from various backgrounds gathered at Hoglands Park to take part in the two-hour session.

These sessions have been running for two years. They were started in the wake of Ukranian refugees arriving in Southampton after Russia's invasion.

Dave Warnes takes the lead in coaching the sessions and has been involved with the Saints Foundation for over seven years.

"We have supported around 190 refugees since we started these sessions. Seeing how they have grown has been phenomenal.

"These sessions were needed within the city. One of the biggest achievements of the project is that we have been able to help fill that gap.

"Partnerships have been super important. We have partnered with the Clear Project and SWVG, who are refugee organisations that have supported us.

"We have been able to help our participants get a good balance with their wellbeing and their purpose. They are able to do their college work and then come to play some football.

"I went to a meeting for the Sudanese community and they spoke about how much of a relief it was that an opportunity like this is available."

At first, not many turned up to the sessions. Getting the word out was difficult, but after key figures were found, new participants started to roll in.

Word of mouth is the most popular way new participants discover these sessions. As one staff member explained, it's not uncommon for one newcomer to arrive with four or five friends.

By working alongside refugee support networks, Saints Foundation are able to channel information regarding sessions to potential participants.

"I have been in Southampton for one year and I started playing with a team in Sholing," explains Adam, 17, when asked how he got involved.

"I asked my team worker to get me involved with a football foundation and they discovered the Saints Foundation.

"I really enjoy the sessions. The coaches are doing great. They help us technically and mentally. They help us learn how to communicate in English because we are not native speakers.

"These sessions help us learn the culture in England and make friendships with people from different countries."

"People do come and go," Dave adds. "That's the way it goes when working with refugees because sometimes they stay here in Southampton, other times they get stationed somewhere else.

"What we often find is a ringleader. Once they join, you start to see more and more come through.

"Around 60 per cent of the people who have got involved have done so after hearing about our work from other people.

"We have had some people come along to a session having only arrived in the country a few days previously. That is great because we can help them develop friendships."

Promotion to the Premier League will have a positive knock-on effect on the Saints Foundation.

With the club now playing in football's most recognisable league once again, more eyes will be drawn to the foundation's work.

Being in the Premier League also provides access to more pots of money from which they can fund their various projects.