At the heart of the week is World Refugee Day on 20 June, an international day designated by the United Nations to honour people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence or persecution.

To mark Refugee Week this year, we hosted our annual football tournament at The Arsenal Hub. Traditionally, the event brings together participants from our long-standing partner, Freedom from Torture. This year, however, we expanded the tournament in partnership with Islington Council to welcome a wider range of community organisations working with refugees, asylum seekers and young people across the borough, creating even more opportunities for connection, inclusion and belonging through football.

Ellie Mitchell, NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Grants Lead at Islington Council, said:

 “It’s nice to do a football event as football is a universal language. You haven’t got to speak English to play football, and it makes people feel like they’re at home and gives them a real sense of belonging. It’s great to see everyone socialising and getting to know one another.

“Working with Arsenal is so powerful. Everyone is happy to be here, and so many people were looking forward to coming today to play in this tournament.”

This year’s tournament welcomed participants from a range of organisations supporting refugees, asylum seekers and young people across the borough, including Freedom from Torture, Union Chapel, Catch22, Islington Chinese Association, Street Soccer London and Islington Council.

The partnership between Arsenal in the Community and Freedom from Torture began in 2011 with English language classes and expanded the following year to include a football programme supporting adult survivors of torture. Two years, the programme was further strengthened through collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation. Today, two weekly sessions take place at The Arsenal Hub, providing participants with a safe and welcoming environment, opportunities to build social connections and a strong sense of belonging through their connection with the club.

In addition, we deliver a weekly session with Union Chapel that supports asylum seekers living in temporary accommodation locally, using football as a way to bring people together, promote wellbeing and help individuals build new support networks within the community.

Since 2023, Islington has been recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary for our work welcoming refugees, people with experience of seeking asylum and migrants.