THE SO14 active project is run by the Saints Foundation with the aim of improving wellbeing, health and social connectivity in the local area.
Multiple sports such as football, cricket, yoga and walking are included in sessions that take place ten times per week in a range of different locations.
Shiraz Zawahir, a Solent graduate and a winner of the Premier League’s No Room for Racism Icon Award, is one of the leading staff members of the organization.
He said: “there are some refugees that we work with, they’re really good and they might have passions of playing non-league football, and we provide a pathway for them to go into local grassroots football teams and get that experience.”
Leena Pierton is another member of staff at the project, albeit a newer addition, and she gave me a run down on how SO14 active is an asset to the community:
“It helps with the local community, not only does it help with the health and wellbeing but socially it helps have an impact on their life, and I think it’s just getting them out of the house, or if they’re lonely they get to meet new people.”
73% of the Active Through Football participants said they achieved a positive outcome from the sessions, and most said they joined because of recommendation from people they trust.
Abdi Mohammed is one of those participants that has greatly benefitted from the football sessions.
He said: “for me, it means playing football and catching up with friends, also it’s a community to be with and it’s very easy to be playing football every session with different people.”
