#swanseacityfoundation — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Ten kids from Llanelli and Blaenymaes flew to Mexico City to represent Wales — and came fifth in the world

Ten young people from Swansea flew to Mexico City last week and came home with a fifth-place finish at the Street Child World Cup — Wales’s first ever appearance at the tournament, and one that took 18 months of fundraising by the players themselves to make happen.

The boys team was drawn entirely from Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks sessions in Llanelli and Blaenymaes — two of the programme’s community sites in south-west Wales that offer free football and personal development sessions to young people who might not otherwise have access to them.

The Street Child World Cup, organised by Street Child United, is not a conventional football tournament. It uses sport, art and advocacy to challenge the stigma faced by street-connected children and campaign for their rights — shining a spotlight on young people living in street situations and the fundamental rights they often lack. Alongside the football, participants took part in arts workshops and congress sessions focused on human rights, diversity and cultural understanding.

Wales entered two teams — the boys’ side from Swansea, and a girls’ team based in Blaenau Gwent. The boys finished fifth overall in their first appearance on the global stage.

What makes the achievement particularly striking is how the players got there. The young people selected from the Premier League Kicks sessions spent 18 months volunteering and fundraising to cover the costs of the trip themselves — a commitment that required sustained effort long before any of them set foot on a pitch in Mexico.

Thomas Williams, Head of Programmes at Swansea City AFC Foundation, said the experience had been everything the programme hoped it would be. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Street Child World Cup, offering deserving young people a once-in-a-lifetime experience to represent Wales and play football against teams from across the globe,” he said.

“Young people from our Premier League Kicks sites in Llanelli and Blaenymaes were selected and over the last 18 months have been volunteering to raise funds to cover the costs of the trip,” Williams added.

“The young people selected from our Premier League Kicks sessions demonstrated tremendous commitment throughout the journey, spending 18 months fundraising to help make the trip possible. We could not be prouder of everything they achieved both on and off the pitch.”

The Premier League Kicks programme operates across Swansea City Foundation’s community sites, offering free sessions to young people in areas where access to sport and structured activities can be limited. For many of those who took part in the Mexico trip, it will have been their first time travelling internationally.

Wales’s debut appearance at the Street Child World Cup ended with a fifth-place finish — a result that, given it was the nation’s first ever entry in the tournament, represents a remarkable start for a programme built not on elite talent but on community, commitment and opportunity.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea City Foundation news from Swansea Bay News
All our coverage of the Foundation’s community work across south-west Wales.

Premier League Kicks news from Swansea Bay News
Our coverage of the Premier League Kicks programme in Swansea and Llanelli.

Housebuilder’s charitable foundation launches new £200,000 funding programme

Persimmon say a total of £200,000 is available, with applications now open for two £50,000 donations, which will be awarded in May.

A second round of funding will open in June, with an additional two £50,000 donations awarded in September.

The latest winners in Wales were the charity arms of both Cardiff City and Swansea City football clubs.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation delivers a range of impactful initiatives that engage individuals and communities, offering opportunities to develop skills, improve well-being, and foster community cohesion.

Swansea City AFC Community Foundation runs innovative programmes that address challenges such as social isolation, health inequalities, and educational gaps, focussing on building prosperity by inspiring educational achievement and entrepreneurial spirit.

Persimmon say the aim of the programme is to give more charities and community groups the opportunity to access Foundation donations. Applications are encouraged from organisations that focus on social mobility and youth development, including learning and training.

Anthony Vigor, Chair of the Foundation, said: “This new open application programme will create new opportunities for us to support organisations that tackle inequality and aid social mobility, helping us to change more lives.”

The deadline for applications for the first round of funding is 11.59pm on Sunday, April 13th. Charities can apply via the Foundation section of the Persimmon Corporate website at persimmonhomes.com/corporate/foundation

#Charity #community #football #grantFunding #Persimmon #socialMobility #Swansea #SwanseaCityFoundation

Housebuilder’s charitable foundation launches new £200,000 funding programme

Persimmon say a total of £200,000 is available, with applications now open for two £50,000 donations, which will be awarded in May.

A second round of funding will open in June, with an additional two £50,000 donations awarded in September.

The latest winners in Wales were the charity arms of both Cardiff City and Swansea City football clubs.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation delivers a range of impactful initiatives that engage individuals and communities, offering opportunities to develop skills, improve well-being, and foster community cohesion.

Swansea City AFC Community Foundation runs innovative programmes that address challenges such as social isolation, health inequalities, and educational gaps, focussing on building prosperity by inspiring educational achievement and entrepreneurial spirit.

Persimmon say the aim of the programme is to give more charities and community groups the opportunity to access Foundation donations. Applications are encouraged from organisations that focus on social mobility and youth development, including learning and training.

Anthony Vigor, Chair of the Foundation, said: “This new open application programme will create new opportunities for us to support organisations that tackle inequality and aid social mobility, helping us to change more lives.”

The deadline for applications for the first round of funding is 11.59pm on Sunday, April 13th. Charities can apply via the Foundation section of the Persimmon Corporate website at persimmonhomes.com/corporate/foundation

#Charity #community #football #grantFunding #Persimmon #socialMobility #Swansea #SwanseaCityFoundation

Housebuilder’s charitable foundation launches new £200,000 funding programme

Persimmon say a total of £200,000 is available, with applications now open for two £50,000 donations, which will be awarded in May.

A second round of funding will open in June, with an additional two £50,000 donations awarded in September.

The latest winners in Wales were the charity arms of both Cardiff City and Swansea City football clubs.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation delivers a range of impactful initiatives that engage individuals and communities, offering opportunities to develop skills, improve well-being, and foster community cohesion.

Swansea City AFC Community Foundation runs innovative programmes that address challenges such as social isolation, health inequalities, and educational gaps, focussing on building prosperity by inspiring educational achievement and entrepreneurial spirit.

Persimmon say the aim of the programme is to give more charities and community groups the opportunity to access Foundation donations. Applications are encouraged from organisations that focus on social mobility and youth development, including learning and training.

Anthony Vigor, Chair of the Foundation, said: “This new open application programme will create new opportunities for us to support organisations that tackle inequality and aid social mobility, helping us to change more lives.”

The deadline for applications for the first round of funding is 11.59pm on Sunday, April 13th. Charities can apply via the Foundation section of the Persimmon Corporate website at persimmonhomes.com/corporate/foundation

#Charity #community #football #grantFunding #Persimmon #socialMobility #Swansea #SwanseaCityFoundation

Housebuilder’s charitable foundation launches new £200,000 funding programme

Persimmon say a total of £200,000 is available, with applications now open for two £50,000 donations, which will be awarded in May.

A second round of funding will open in June, with an additional two £50,000 donations awarded in September.

The latest winners in Wales were the charity arms of both Cardiff City and Swansea City football clubs.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation delivers a range of impactful initiatives that engage individuals and communities, offering opportunities to develop skills, improve well-being, and foster community cohesion.

Swansea City AFC Community Foundation runs innovative programmes that address challenges such as social isolation, health inequalities, and educational gaps, focussing on building prosperity by inspiring educational achievement and entrepreneurial spirit.

Persimmon say the aim of the programme is to give more charities and community groups the opportunity to access Foundation donations. Applications are encouraged from organisations that focus on social mobility and youth development, including learning and training.

Anthony Vigor, Chair of the Foundation, said: “This new open application programme will create new opportunities for us to support organisations that tackle inequality and aid social mobility, helping us to change more lives.”

The deadline for applications for the first round of funding is 11.59pm on Sunday, April 13th. Charities can apply via the Foundation section of the Persimmon Corporate website at persimmonhomes.com/corporate/foundation

#Charity #community #football #grantFunding #Persimmon #socialMobility #Swansea #SwanseaCityFoundation