Photo opportunity:
What: 5-a-side football competition
Where: Power League, Trentham Lakes, Stoke-on-Trent.
When: 3pm, Thursday, 23 June.
Why?: Special event to mark Refugee Week 2011.
Staff from the Staffordshire Housing Group will take on teams made up of refugees living in Stoke-on-Trent on the five-a-side football pitch.
The event at Power League, Trentham Lakes is designed to foster links between housing association staff and refugees living in the area.
The Staffordshire Housing Group includes the Blue Mountain Housing Association which provides homes and advice to refugees.
Diane Lea, Chief Executive, of Staffordshire Housing Group, said: “Football is a universal language and is an ideal way of breaking down boundaries between different communities.
“North Staffordshire has a long history of welcoming refugees and providing a safe place to stay. The Staffordshire Housing Group helps by offering a specialist service through the Blue Mountain Housing Association which works with refugee communities to help people get access to health care, work opportunities, education and training along with homes in which to live.”
Events are being held across the UK to recognise Refugee Week 2011. The events will mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Refugee Convention
ENDS
For further information contact Sandra Barber on 01782 744533.
Notes to Editors:
Who are refugees?
A refugee is someone who the Government agree can’t return home because they are at risk of being seriously mistreated in their own country. This could be because of their race, religion, nationality or because of their political views.
They are granted refugee status which means that they are allowed to stay in this country and work. This status lasts for five years and then they have to reapply.
About Staffordshire Housing Group
Staffordshire Housing Group is a housing association committed to building a better future for local communities. Established in 1984, SHA provide a huge range of tenant services including maintenance, tenancy support, estate management and gardening, as well as essential guidance on income management, money advice and benefits assessments. They are committed to improving live in Staffordshire through regeneration, supported housing, older people’s villages, key worker homes and a rolling programme of home improvements. Their subsidiary company, Blue Mountain Housing Association, also work closely with refugee and local BME communities to provide essential support with healthcare, education, training and employment as well as access to quality housing.