The Homeless World Cup in Cardiff was a huge success but if you thought its wider impact was all over, think again. Katie Dalton explains what comes next while three Welsh players talk about taking part.
The summer of 2019 Bute Park in Cardiff was transformed into a festival of football, music and debate. The sun shone down on 500 players who were proudly representing their country on the world stage. Thousands of people cheered them on, asking for photographs and autographs throughout the week. But this was not an ordinary football tournament. The stars were people who had experienced homelessness, overcome significant challenges and shown extraordinary strength on their journeys to this competition.
The 2019 Homeless World Cup was held in Cardiff following a passionate bid led by actor and activist Michael Sheen. Organised in partnership by the Homeless World Cup Foundation and the host city, this annual tournament has been to Glasgow, Oslo and Mexico in recent years. Each nation is represented by players who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion, selected from street football networks across the world. The impact on the players is clear, increasing their sense of optimism, confidence, belonging and purpose, often resulting in people rebuilding relationships, exiting homelessness and securing employment. It breaks down barriers and provides a platform for change.
Michael was clear from the start that he wanted to create a legacy beyond the final whistle and contacted me at the end of 2018 to ask whether Cymorth could help. We were keen to play our part and saw the tournament as a huge opportunity to influence public attitudes and inspire change. In the subsequent months we spoke to 180 people with experience of homelessness about what mattered to them. We also surveyed people working in services and gathered their views on the causes and solutions to homelessness. This resulted in the Play Your Part campaign.
The importance of kindness, compassion and respect was clear from people who have experienced homelessness and this became a major theme in our campaign. We know that lots of people are sympathetic towards homelessness but are often unsure about what they can do to help. As a result, our Play Your Part campaign provided a menu of actions for a range of audiences, including members of the public, businesses, government and housing organisations. The idea was simple: together we can end homelessness, but everyone needs to play their part in creating a more compassionate society, providing opportunities for people to thrive and improving practice, policy and legislation.
The Play Your Part campaign was promoted on social media and hundreds of people made pledges at the tournament itself. Families visited our stand to talk about the issues and had really thoughtful conversations about what they could do to help. Their kindness and compassion was evident in their pledges to smile and chat to people experiencing homelessness, to buy them lunch or give what they could to help. People also made commitments to support more social housing and contact their Assembly Members and MPs about the structural issues that cause homelessness and prevent people from having a home.
These pledges were shared widely on social media and reached all corners of the world, from Germany, to the USA to South Korea! This resulted in people from a number of countries making pledges to play their part in ending homelessness in their local community. It was amazing to see the impact of our campaign across the globe.
We continued the discussion and debate in the Bevan Tent, which had sessions on homelessness, criminal justice and human trafficking, as well as comedy, poetry and podcasts! Kindness was an overarching theme and it was great to see members of the public engaging in these discussions, asking questions and hopefully leaving with more knowledge about homelessness.
Now that the Homeless World Cup is over we hope that people continue to engage with this issue and play their part in ending homelessness. Over the next year we will be working with Michael, the HWC delivery partners and other interested parties to support this activity. We want to build on the goodwill and the pledges made during the tournament and have already had very positive meetings with several organisations who are interested in conducting research, offering pro bono services, and providing opportunities for people with experience of homelessness.
In the coming months we will share how members of the public can stay connected and continue to play their part in ending homelessness through small acts of kindness and lobbying their local politicians for positive change. The tournament was an extraordinary experience for players, coaches, volunteers and the public. Let’s make sure it delivers a lasting impact on homelessness in Wales.
Katie Dalton is director of Cymorth Cymru
‘It was amazing playing for Wales’
Two women who represented Wales at the Homeless World Cup have been speaking about scoring goals for the national team – and how they hope the tournament will help people in need.
Chloe Byrne, 18, and Jade Winder, 25, helped Wales to a third place finish in the Celtic Cup – 11th overall in the tournament at Cardiff’s Bute Park.
Both women live in Yr Hafod, supported accommodation in Denbigh, which is run by Gorwel, a business unit within Grŵp Cynefin housing association.
The duo were picked to be in the eight-person squad after impressing at trials, and for Chloe and Jade, the thrill of playing in the tournament has provided wider benefits and was also an opportunity to deliver key messages about homelessness.
Chloe, who is originally from Prestatyn, said: ‘I have lived in Yr Hafod for six months. I experienced domestic abuse in the family, and when my nan died I was homeless.
‘Gorwel has been really good and provided lots of support with things such as budgeting money, cooking, improving my well-being, and training to learn new skills.
‘We would also like to thank Gemma Donnellan Thomas who works for Gorwel for travelling with us to training every week in Newport and Cardiff, as well as staying with us during the World Cup.
‘I hope the tournament has shone a positive light on homelessness and the support that is available across the country. My advice to anyone who is or about to be homeless is to get all the help you can, listen to what is being said, and don’t give up.
‘I’ve always enjoyed playing football and used to play for Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies FC in defence. It was amazing playing for Wales and the feeling when I scored goals was brilliant. I have made new friends and had new experiences such as visiting different places in the country, and it’s improved my confidence – it’s shown that if I set a goal, I can achieve it.’
Jade, who spent much of her childhood in Colwyn Heights, added:
‘I only started playing football in April, and now I’ve represented my country at the World Cup!
‘That’s all because of the staff at Yr Hafod. They encouraged me to attend the trials and I got selected. It’s another example of them supporting you beyond providing somewhere to live.
‘I still remember arriving and the friendly welcome I received. At the time I was depressed and angry and turning to drink after the death of my mum and nan in the space of two years. Gorwel has been amazing for me and others like me.
‘Off the pitch, my teammates have helped me with things like cooking: one of them taught me to make pasta, cheese and beans and it’s my favourite!
‘On the pitch, I scored a hat-trick against the Netherlands as well as goals in other games. It’s increased my confidence, improved my fitness, and I’ve made new friends.’
The 17th Homeless World Cup saw 500 players from 50 countries take part in 4-a-side matches, and, as hosts, Wales played in the opening game.
Chloe and Jade have continued their footballing journey by playing for Gorwel in games organised by Street Football Wales, the organiser of the Homeless World Cup.
Osian Elis, assistant manager at Gorwel, said:
‘The commitment shown by Chloe and Jade has been amazing. It was completely out of their comfort zone and it’s challenged them mentally and physically with the trials, followed by weekly training in Cardiff, and then the tournament itself.
‘Since the end of the World Cup, they have been making a difference in the region including being invited as guests to Hafal’s sports day at Eirias Park. They are an inspiration.’
Gorwel provides services to support individuals and families suffering domestic abuse and those at risk of losing their homes, as well as works to prevent homelessness.
‘What I will always remember most’
For 22-year-old United Welsh tenant Mujahed Aqlan the Homeless World Cup was a chance for him to once again play the game he loves in front of a big crowd.
Mujahed had to leave his home country of Yemen when he was just 18 years old as it wasn’t safe for him to live there anymore. Hoping for a better life his parents arranged for their son, who played professional football in the Middle Eastern country, to come to the UK.
‘Some people in Yemen can be crazy, they don’t care about life,’ Mujahed said, ‘it was hard to leave but I knew I couldn’t stay.”
Mujahed has been living in the UK for four years and has been granted refugee status. Currently living in Oak House in Cardiff which is a supported housing scheme run by United Welsh to help people live independently, football has always been a constant for him.
‘Football is my life. Back in Yemen, I played professionally, it’s always been something that I’ve loved ever since I was a young boy so when I was finally more settled in Cardiff, I signed up to play for as many different football teams as I could,’ Mujahed said.
It was through one of these four football team that he was spotted and asked to try out for the Wales team for the Homeless Football World Cup.
‘At first, I didn’t know what it was but when I went to the trial and they told me all about it and then said I was a revelation and that I had got a place in the team I was so, so happy.
‘It was the experience of my life, I was so happy and excited to take part. I played number 7. We did ok and it was fantastic to be playing in front of people cheering you on, it was incredible.”
Mujahed, who is still playing football for a number of teams in Cardiff as well as concentrating on his studies, said the best part of the experience was meeting so any different people and feeling part of something so big.
‘What I will always remember most is the friends I have made through playing for the Welsh team and the chance to meet people from all over the world,’ Mujahed said.
‘It was interesting to listen to everyone’s stories about how they came to be playing in the Homeless World Cup, everyone has been through something and it was good to hear what had happened to them and speak to people who understand how difficult life can be.
‘My parents were watching me over the internet from Saudi Arabia where they now live and they were so proud of me, every time the games finished, they were trying to get hold of me on the phone to say well done. It’s the best thing I have done.’
The Homeless Football World Cup took place in Cardiff from July 27 to August 3 Next year it will be staged in Tampere in Finland. For more information about the tournament please visit https://homelessworldcup.org/