Desperate to play football, yet so short of resources they have been taking to the pitch barefoot, members of a Bristol team whose members are all refugees or asylum seekers – are celebrating a supply of new boots thanks to a firm of local housebuilders.

When their plight was highlighted on social media, Redcliffe Homes – who are established supporters of the team’s organisers, Aid Box Community Hub – quickly stepped up to help, providing every player with a pair of new boots plus a supply of good quality second-hand spares.

Mandy Parker, Redcliffe’s sales and marketing manager, said: “I saw the appeal and immediately knew we could help.

“I had a chat with Jesse Tate who is Aid Box’s men's groups’ facilitator and a Football Association coach, and he told me how desperate some of the men and boys are to play.

“As he pointed out on Facebook, playing barefoot in the wet conditions we had over much of the summer is really not ideal and can be dangerous, but the would-be players were absolutely determined to kick that ball.

“We were able to fund the purchase of brand-new boots for every team member who needed a pair, and I also did an internal appeal to staff for any good-quality used boots they might be able to donate, which resulted in an additional five pairs of spare boots that Jesse is keeping in case of future need.”

Jesse Tate said: “We are all delighted with Redcliffe’s donation and looking forward to making the most of the winter season properly equipped.

“The football groups I run for Aid Box are an absolute lifeline for the guys: not just a friendly space where they can practice their skills and receive coaching, but most importantly somewhere they can play together and make the new social connections people need when they are stranded in a foreign country.”

Cotham-based humanitarian organisation Aid Box Community (ABC) was founded in 2015 in response to the refugee crisis, with a ‘Free Shop’ and welcome hub providing support, supplies, sanctuary and activity groups for over 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol.

The charity also runs a range of women’s and men’s activity groups, which are safe spaces where people can come to be part of their community, for a chat and a cuppa, signposting to their partner services or just to escape isolation, build friendships, and share or learn new skills.

Their activities currently include social groups, swimming, football, yoga, woodwork and cookery programmes, in addition to day trips and weekend retreats that run throughout the year. 

In June this year ABC contributed three teams to the 20 that played in the annual Bristol Refugee Festival’s “Our City Community Cup”, winning their groups with three wins and a draw - with “some great ABC goals and tough opponents” according to Jesse Tate - before being knocked out in the quarter finals.

Imogen Mcintosh, ABC’s founder, said: “The war in Ukraine has swelled the numbers of refugees in the city, which has stretched our services so any extra support is always a great help to us.

“The Bristol community has been a vital force in providing these services and empowering us, and donations like the one from Redcliffe Homes obviously make an enormous difference.”

Further details on Aid Box Community can be found here: www.aidboxcommunity.co.uk  

Charities supported by Redcliffe Homes have included Disasters Emergency Committee, Youngminds and Action For Children, The Salvation Army, Mind, local foodbanks, WWF, Barnardos and Julian House. 

Redcliffe Homes is an award-winning independent house building company which focuses on creating desirable homes in the most sought-after locations throughout the South West. More details at www.redcliffehomes.co.uk