The National Championship Cup football tournament for care leavers took place at Molineux Stadium this summer, bringing together over 200 young individuals aged 16 to 24 from across England. Back on a sunny June day, the six-a-side tournament was buzzing with all kinds of activity. It sought to promote connection and empowerment among young care leavers, who experience unique adversities while transitioning out of care.
Mr Neath planned the event in partnership with Reach Leaving Care Team and the Wolves Foundation. It was a huge victory for all those who worked on it. It wasn’t until one conversation with a young person that sparked the initial idea for the tournament to take place. This young person who had just given up on the game because they didn’t feel supported. This understanding stoked his passion. He was always looking for ways to provide care leavers with the chance to participate in sports and develop friendships.
Temporary Councillor Jacqui Coogan said that the tournament was “the most amazing experience” for participating students. She emphasized the importance of fostering “a sense of community and belonging, which can often be lost for some when leaving care.”
The Reach Leaving Care Team has gained national attention over their community-based work with the Wolves Foundation and Little Earth. Their joint mission is to help all young people who’ve had care, including those in Wolverhampton. This year’s tournament has grown to double the size of the first tournament created and played in 2022. It wonderfully highlights the increasing interest and demand for such initiatives from care leavers which is so encouraging.
Molineux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, played host as the primary venue for this year’s tournament. It provided a colorful canvas for the creativity and talent of young people to shine. For the kids, it created these kind of safe spaces where they could just build with each other. The Reach Leaving Care Team coordinated three retreats to support young people as they made their transitions. Taken together, these events laid the ground for a collaborative, supportive space for all participants.
The National Championship Cup garnered high praise from the House of Commons. It acknowledged how transformational the tournament had been for young care leavers and the whole community. This recognition further emphasizes the responsibility to meet the needs of care leavers and create opportunities for them to reach their full potential.
