The Leeds United Foundation are celebrating Refugee Week throughout the next few days as they continue to work with refugees in the local community and encourage participants to embrace diversity, welcoming those from different backgrounds.

Active Through Football hosted a refugee World Cup tournament for the up-and-coming refugee week, giving refugees the opportunity to get active by playing football and having a full day of enjoyment.

Each participating team had the chance to win things such as trophies and medals for participating. Everyone also received free food and drink packages from the Leeds Refugee Forum to consume throughout the day and also a package to take away with them.

Referees, coaches, and the organisation of the World Cup was arranged by ‘Active Through Football’, alongside the Leeds United Foundation and Leeds Refugee Forum.

The Refugee World Cup Tournament took place at Trinity Academy Leeds, with a total of 18 teams from all over Leeds and Yorkshire showcasing their skills, enjoying a day of seven-a-side football!

The Foundation will deliver a number of presentations from 20-26th July which is refugee week to support understanding terminology, celebrating diversity, and cultures. The KICKS team entered a Yorkshire tournament based in Doncaster at the Eco Power Stadium. The tournament had participants who were Syrian refugees and got the chance to play football against teams such as Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Derby County and Sheffield United.

The team played in a tournament style format which was split into two groups and played two mini tournaments, where there were two trophies to win as well as prizes for determination and sportsmanship.

One of our participants, Mourtalla Diouck, won one of these prizes for his determination. The overall group also received praise from other coaches, throughout. During the event the participants met others from different KICKS sessions, before going on to win the fair play award at the Doncaster event at the end of the tournament.

For more information on the Premier League Kicks programme and the work the Foundation do with the Syrian Refugee Centre, please contact Richard.Foye@leedsunited.com.