United by a love of football, groups help keep young people onside

Teenage boys of 10 different nationalities have come together through the universal language of football.

Some of them have experienced great traumas in their lives, fleeing dangerous situations in war-torn countries and resettling in Ipswich with no family by their side.

Others were raised in deprived areas of the town, and understand what it feels like to be a minority among those around them.

But for 90 minutes the lads were able to forget all of that and do what most teenage boys love – play football.

The match was played at the Ipswich Town training ground in Playford Road two weeks ago.

On one team were members of Young Black Males (YBM), a youth club aimed at bringing vulnerable boys from different backgrounds in Ipswich together and helping them stay out of trouble.

And on the other team were learners from the Ipswich branch of Volunteering Matters (VM), made up of unaccompanied asylum seekers and young migrants.

 

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