Supporting displaced young people through football
An Inspiring Story of how God is at work among the people of the South East Methodist District. Sustaining Hope is a network across the district seeking to share stories, resources & good practice to support Refugees, Migrants and Displaced people.
Martin King has connections with Reigate Methodist Church. He and his wife have established a Surrey-based organisation 'PMActive', a not-for-profit organisation providing sports coaching and activities for children and young adults from disadvantaged groups, including those with special educational needs. They work closely with the 'Big Leaf Foundation', a local charity that provides a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events, aimed at combatting social isolation for displaced young people.
Together they deliver a football project for refugees in Surrey. They are currently developing activities that can be shared by these two groups of children and young people, who often experience prejudice and exclusion, and may have unidentified or undiagnosed needs, which need special support. They have ambitions to create a local football league for marginalised youngsters across Surrey.
Martin sees sport as a key way of sharing values and helping young people integrate. He speaks passionately about the positive impact of sport on physical and mental wellbeing, helping young people develop coping mechanisms to deal with the trauma they may carry. However this is not widely understood or appreciated, making it difficult to raise enough money to provide appropriate footwear for the youngsters, and to keep paying for sessions at local sports facilities. It is the impact of their work with the young people that keeps them going. Martin quotes a young member of the football group:
‘When I come to football, my mind is free. I see people like me, and we give each other hope. My coach is smiling at me, and I feel welcome. Everyone encourages each other – do your best, do your best. I remember this for the rest of life too. I will do my best.’