More than 150 young people from 14 football clubs from greater Belfast came together recently for a five-day summer sports camp supported by Clanmil Housing and five other housing associations.  

Clanmil, along with Apex, Ark, Choice, Radius, and Woven supported the Play and Unite camp which took place on the grounds of Woodvale Football Club in north Belfast.  

The camp was designed to encourage positive community relations among young people aged 8 to 10 years old, and was delivered by the Sport Changes Life Foundation. 

Participating clubs included Celtic Boys, Knockbreda, Albert Foundry, St Malachys, Doyle, Bloomfield, Albion Star, Carryduff Colts, Woodvale, Ridgeway Rovers, Kelvin Youth, Linfield, Willowbank and Berlin Swifts. 

The camp offered a valuable opportunity for young footballers to come together and make friends on and off the pitch. The programme included games, coaching sessions, and interactive workshops focused on personal development, building positive relationships, and mental health awareness, delivered in partnership with local charity Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues (TAMHI). 

Each activity was carefully designed to improve football ability while also equipping participants with essential life skills. Participants took part in a ‘mini world cup’ celebration event to mark the end of the camp at Clarendon playing fields in Belfast on Friday 8 August. 

The Play & Unite project is supported by the Department for Communities and the Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.  The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. A potential £48m will be invested in the seven shared housing developments and associated five-year Good Relations Plans supporting this project. Funding was provided to support good relations at shared housing developments managed by the six housing associations as follows: Loftlines, Belfast (Clanmil Housing); Ballynafoy, Ravenhill Road, Belfast, (Apex Housing); Malone Mews, Belfast (Ark Housing), Gasworks, Belfast; (Radius Housing); Ballynahinch Road, Carryduff and Cedarhurst Road, Belfast (both Choice Housing); and Lorne Street, Belfast (Woven Housing).  

Each of the shared housing developments supporting this project work in partnership with local Advisory Group stakeholders, and with residents, to develop Good Relations Plans for the area. These Good Relations plans include projects and events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of Good Relations outcomes.

Fionn Reilly, aged nine, was one of those who took part. He said: "It was really fun from the start. The best bit for me was that there was loads of football, and I liked making new friends" 

 Speaking on behalf of all the housing associations, Ashleigh Shaw, Community Investment Officer at Clanmil, said: 

“Our goal is to create homes where people can live well, and that includes encouraging those living in and near our shared neighbourhoods to take part in inclusive, community-building projects like this one. This initiative brought together young people from different backgrounds, including those from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic communities, to promote respect, teamwork, and understanding. It played an important role in challenging division and fostering a more connected, welcoming and united society. The impact on the young people involved, and their families, has been overwhelmingly positive. We were also honoured to have special guests from Irish League clubs join us at various stages throughout the week, offering inspiration and encouragement to everyone involved.” 

Alan Teggart from the Sport Changes Life Foundation added:  

“Sport Changes Life is incredibly proud to again help facilitate the Play & Unite Football Camp, now in its fourth year. This project has grown into a powerful example of how sport can build connections, break down barriers, and promote positive wellbeing. Through our facilitating partners, in TAMHI, the founding clubs of Celtic Boys and Knockbreda FC, and the support of the Shared Housing Programme and the six housing associations, we’re creating a safe space where young people can learn, grow, play and unite around the sport they love.”