Community news
Lewes FC is proud to be taking part in Amnesty International UK’s Football Welcomes initiative this weekend to celebrate the contribution refugee players make to the beautiful game.
Backed by Premier League clubs across the country as well as the FA Women’s Super League; the English Football League; the FA Women’s National League and grassroots and non-league teams, Football Welcomes also aims to highlight the important role football clubs can play in welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum into their local communities, and in helping them to settle in to a new country and culture.
To mark the weekend, we will be inviting refugees and people seeking asylum living locally to be guests at our men’s and women’s matches over the weekend. Local volunteer group, Lewes Organisation in Support of Refugees & Asylum Seekers (LOSRAS) will also be fundraising at the match on 27th.
Club Director, John Peel said: “We are very pleased to be able to support this fantastic Amnesty International UK initiative. Football creates a sense of belonging and as a community club, we aspire wherever we can to use our status to help foster closer links within our community. Naomi Westland, Football Welcomes Manager at Amnesty International UK said: “We are delighted that Lewes FC is taking part in Football Welcomes. Football clubs are at the heart of their communities and it’s great to see teams across the UK using the international language of football to create connection, respect and friendship across cultures. With so many people across the globe forced to abandon their homes due to conflict and persecution, it’s important that football clubs use their platform to send out a clear message: refugees are welcome here.”
