In the summer of 2021 Sport and Social Change Network coaches supported the delivery of an accredited youth leadership programme and cross border community tournament alongside the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and Omagh and Fermanagh Council as part of the UEFA Foundation supported Youth In Action project.

Our team supported Rio Ferdinand Foundation staff to deliver training and to engage youth groups and stakeholders from Sligo and Mayo to attend the programme as part of year round initiative to build youth leadership and tackle racism and division across the border counties of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The project brought together young people from disadvantaged communities south of the border and youth from across Omagh and Fermanagh, alongside local youth groups and representatives of both the PSNI and the Gardai to build relationships and share ideas and knowledge.

The project was attended by the first black player for Chelsea FC, Paul Canoville who worked with the young people in a series of mental health awareness and resilience workshops, and Northern Ireland international footballer Ashley Hutton who talked of her experiences as a female footballer and presented to young people at the tournament finale of the project.