We all know that good physical, mental and emotional health is the foundation for a fulfilling life. Yet many people face significant barriers to achieving it. HIWCF’s Get Active, Get Involved Fund was established to help increase access to local community sports and physical activity.
One of the community groups supported through this programme is URBOND, a Portsmouth-based youth development charity that has received more than £8,000 to deliver free, accessible youth football sessions and other positive engagement activities for young people in the Portsmouth area.
The sessions quickly became a lifeline in a Milton neighbourhood where young people reported limited opportunities and rising levels of anti-social behaviour. What began as a simple football programme soon became a powerful catalyst for personal transformation – especially for one young participant we will call ‘T’.
Using sport to build trust, belonging and positive behaviour
Earlier this year, one of URBOND’s partner schools sought help after CCTV captured a group of young people engaging in anti-social behaviour in the local community. The footage showed a boy – later identified as T – approaching a family home and kicking the front door without provocation.
URBOND acted quickly to engage T through a restorative approach. With support from youth workers, he reflected on his actions and apologised to the family. For the family, this brought reassurance. For URBOND, it opened a window into something deeper.
The team sensed that T’s behaviour might be a symptom of underlying challenges, and resolved to find out more.
T began attending URBOND’s football sessions and youth club activities funded through the HIWCF grant. There, he found what he had been missing: structure, encouragement, a sense of belonging, and trusted adults who believed in him.
Through sport, T built strong bonds with coaches and youth workers. One senior staff member became a consistent mentor helping him channel his energy in healthier ways, building his confidence, and providing a stable role model at a crucial moment in his life. As trust grew, T opened up about the significant difficulties he faced.
Understanding the bigger picture
Conversations with T revealed that he and his family had experienced profound hardship since arriving in the UK. These challenges included housing instability and an eviction notice, struggles with school placement and attendance and trauma from domestic abuse and bereavement. Despite everything, T’s mother remained devoted to her children’s wellbeing. With her permission, URBOND stepped in to support the whole family providing services from 1:1 mentoring, work experience placements for T and his sibling, yoga classes for wellbeing and URBOND’s tailored parenting programme for T’s mother.
Over time, T’s transformation has been remarkable. His behaviour has improved significantly, he is thriving socially, and he is building lasting connections with peers and mentors. Most importantly, he has found stability – and hope.
T’s mother said: “URBOND has become a safe space for me and my family. A source of stability, connection, and hope for my children. The relationships we have built and the sense of belonging we have found within our community have been extremely important to our journey.”
The power of sport: a message from URBOND’s CEO
Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO reflected on just how powerful the HIWCF funded programme has been:
“Sport allows young people to express themselves in a safe environment while keeping them off the streets and away from exposure to crime. Through this project, young people have not only engaged in football – they’ve accessed mentoring, made friendships, and even undertaken work experience with our corporate partners.
Football has allowed us to create genuine pathways to better futures. We saw participation grow by over 50%, with a fantastic retention rate that showed us just how needed these sessions are. Running the programme over the summer was especially valuable, giving young people a healthy, positive focus while they were out of school.
We are incredibly grateful to HIWCF for supporting us to make this impact in our city.”
T’s story illustrates the life-changing impact of local sports initiatives, especially when they are embedded within wider support for families facing hardship. Through the Get Active, Get Involved Fund, HIWCF is helping young people like T find safer routes forward, build positive relationships, and access new opportunities.
Sport was the gateway – but belonging, trust, and community are what made the transformation possible.
Feeling inspired? Donate to Give Together, Give Local
You might also like
