Sporting Roots

Sporting Roots is Saracens Foundation's programme using sport and physical activity to engage members of the refugee and asylum seeker community living in hotels in the local area, helping participants adjust to their new lives, integrate into the local community and improve their physical and mental well-being. Sessions include football at StoneX Stadium, cricket with Middlesex Cricket in Finchley, dance sessions and touch rugby, alongside coffee mornings in the hotels that help build community within the resident group. The project's aims are to help participants stay active and healthy, integrate into the local community, build community within the hotels and improve self-confidence. Sporting Roots is funded by Islamic Relief UK. The project was the first in Saracens Foundation's player ambassador scheme, with Gareth Simpson and Andy Christie serving as player ambassadors for the last year, attending sessions, helping at fundraising events and raising the profile of the Foundation's refugee and asylum seeker work. Sporting Roots is run by Saracens Foundation (registered charity 1079316), based at StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon, London NW4 1RL; contact foundationinfo@saracens.net.

Refugees / migrants

Sessions are designed for refugees and asylum seekers, including people living in hotel accommodation, with coffee mornings alongside sport to support integration.

Safeguarding policy in place.

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