Rochdale Football Club is proud to announce that we have signed the pledge to support City of Sanctuary.
We are delighted to be the first Football Club to sign the pledge and support the campaign to welcome refugees and those seeking sanctuary.
The pledge furthers the work of the Club and Community Trust with local refugees and people seeking sanctuary, having been delivering weekly football, social, food and health sessions for the past six months.
City of Sanctuary UK coordinates, supports and grows networks of ‘welcome’ that support refugees and those seeking sanctuary. From community groups to schools and universities, local councils to libraries and theatres, they work with individuals, groups and organisations in every area and in every sector to encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.
Ryan Bradley, Community Director at Rochdale AFC Community Trust, commented: “We’re really proud to have worked alongside the Football Club to sign this pledge in unison.
“Liz, our Inclusion Coordinator, has done a fantastic job over the past six months, both delivering work with refugees on the ground, ensuring that their voices and opinions are at the heart of our work, and ensuring that our staff from delivery level through to myself and George Delves, Rochdale AFC’s Chief Operating Officer, understand the struggles that people seeking sanctuary face, and the ways in which we can support.
“By signing this pledge, we hope to showcase the Football Club and Community Trust as inclusive organisations, whom people can turn to when they need support.”
To read more about City of Sanctuary, click HERE.
Read more about Hope Football, a grassroots football team comprised of refugees from 15 different nationalities, HERE.