Streets Revolution, the organisation which offers some of society's most vulnerable people a lifeline through football, is broadening its reach to connect with the LGBT community.
Established in 2009 as a simple weekly kickabout for homeless people in Oxford, Streets Revolution has expanded to include projects in Oxfordshire, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Organised weekly sessions provide a welcoming and inclusive environment and act as a respite from tough existences for participants who are drug users, have mental health issues, criminal records or complex needs.
Once trusting relationships are formed and participants are ready and willing, they are offered support and, where warranted, referred to partner agencies for help with issues such as housing, employment, education, drug or alcohol misuse, criminal justice and mental health.
The Community Interest Company is now diversifying in a new venture with Oxford Pride and support from Kick It Out by organising an LGBT football festival on May 29 as part of the Oxford Pride events.
"There are still many groups in society who are excluded from participating in sport. We want to help that in any way we can," Streets Revolution founder Jon Regler told ConnectSport.
"We are all about health and wellbeing and offering a support network for the most marginalised and stigmatised individuals in society.
"We are delighted to be joining forces with Oxford Pride and to have the support of Kick It Out to expand our offering to the LGBT community in Oxford. It's a natural expansion of how we operate – using local knowledge and understanding to be able to engage with people on an individual needs-led basis.
"No-one should be excluded from sport and physical activity and we want to break down barriers, give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in all areas of football and make the game more inclusive."
For more information on Streets Revolution and the LGBT football festival at Oxford Pride, email [email protected]
