The Football 4 Peace International scheme, set up in 2001, features in the ‘UK’s Best Breakthroughs’ list, part of the new ‘MadeAtUni’ campaign that celebrates the impact universities have on the wider community.
The list of 100 highlights ground-breaking projects and research which have transformed lives. Universities UK is the representative organisation for all UK universities.
Football 4 Peace attempts to build bridges across divided neighbourhoods by training coaches and promoting the values of respect, equality, trust, responsibility and inclusion. The programme has benefitted over 8,000 children in countries such as Israel, Jordan, Palestine, South Africa, South Korea and Ireland.
Gary Stidder, co-founder of the initiative with Professor John Sugden, said: “I have been really proud to have been associated with Football 4 Peace International for nearly 20 years. As an educationalist I believe that the multi-dimensional research, education and social engagement platform that utilises physical education and sport has had a major impact in areas suffering from high levels of cross-community conflict and various forms of political disorder and social disintegration.