What an amazing year was 2018! We had a wonderful summer with lovely hot weather day after day. We had so many ice lollies that the supermarkets ran out of them! We experienced England football team exceeding all expectations at the World Cup in Moscow with Sheffield’s very own heroes Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, and Kyle Walker. We want to especially thank Kyle Walker who kindly agreed to feature in FURD’s 'One All’ film project, Kyle was interviewed by Finn one of our volunteers, in which Kyle shared his experiences of living in a multi-cultural Britain. This film is due to be launched in March 2019 and will be available for loan to educational institutions .
We would like to thank the Big Lottery for supporting the Talent Match programme since 2013. It is with mixed feelings that we report the end of FURD’s Talent Match programme. Saudat and Sooj have been an integral part of the programme and as FURD Talent Match Coaches and supported many young people to realise their potential and fulfil their ambitions. We want to thank both of them for their service and want to wish Sooj the very best in the next phase of his journey as he now leaves FURD, and the Talent Match programme to pursue pastures new. FURD believes in a fair society where people can make it to their potential and be free from prejudice and disadvantage. FURD will make every effort to continue in supporting our young people through our other programmes.
Football remains central to FURD’s strategy in reaching out to the communities’. We have used power football to bring people together to tackle inactivity, combat injustice and drive positive social change. We continue to work alongside local organisations and football clubs within the grassroots and professional level. Our partnerships with the Football Association (FA), Professional Footballer’s Association (PFA), National Campaigns and the ‘Football Against Racism in Europe’ (FARE) network had a significant impact on our work at local, national and international levels.
Our good partnership with Sheffield City Council has been instrumental in managing operations of the awesome facilities at the U-Mix centre. We have now entered the final stages of our U-Mix lease negotiations with Sheffield City Council. It is anticipated that the lease will be finalised by the end of March 2019.
We want to thank our Clients, Volunteers, Partners, Funders, Service users, Football coaches and all our staff for making 2018 an year of success.
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Over the last four years FURD’s Talent Match programme recruited 253 young people of which 246 engaged on the programme.
It’s a very good program and the staff really go out of their way to help you. They will pick up the phone at any time of the day and were really good throughout my time on the program. I would highly recommend this program to anyone in a similar position to myself. Hassan (Talent Match Client )
Its been amazing to be part of young people's journey, to see them flourish in their life is satisfying. Saudat (Talent Match Coach)
Another amazing year of our women and girls’ football, our open sessions aim to provide a fun and supportive space for females of any age, ability and background to get together. We have been able to provide coaching and lots of game time as well as occasional socials, tournaments and trips to watch football matches.
"Thanks for all the training sessions and smiles you put on my face’ ‘You’re doing an amazing job". THANK YOU.
Over 50 participants in 2018 Walking football was a big hit among participants.
'I love walking football.' “It’s like a beautiful slow ballet.'
FURD, through our BBC Children in Need programme, continues to strive towards offering a 'holistic' service to young people.
The Belonging group is central to FURD's (Football Unites-Racism Divides) work with Refugees and Asylum seekers.The main objective of the program is to help Refuge and Asylum seekers in the Sheffield area to integrate into new local communities and feel a sense of belonging. We deliver two sessions per week, on Wednesdays we have men’s football sessions and women have health and well-being sessions as well as have an opportunity to play football. On Fridays we have a social club at the end of each session and there is a lunch arranged for the participants.
Over 50 members take part in our Belonging Group football session,the team has participated in two tournaments and we won two trophies. I'm very much happy to be associated with such a diverse group and its enriching. Victor-(Volunteer Belonging Group sessions)
I began teaching the dance fitness sessions earlier on this year for women's group. I mainly teach Zumba Fitness so it’s been very enjoyable for me to have a group where we cover a variety of dance exercises. Within our sessions we cover a mixture of Aerobics, Chairobics, Zumba, Bellydance and stretching. All the ladies have different abilities so I love that there’s something in the sessions to suit them all. I have developed a lovely relationship with the group and they all get along with each other too. I feel that the ladies are comfortable with me and that they are grateful for this group. So far, it’s been great teaching them! Kamara(Volunteer Belonging Group Women's sessions)