Tournament tackles homeless stigma (From The Oxford Times)

Tournament tackles homeless stigma

6:10pm Wednesday 12th October 2011 in News

Homeless people and those with mental health issues donned their football boots at Oxford’s Social Inclusion Cup.

The tournament at the Warneford Hospital in Headington attracted 28 teams from across the region.

It aimed to celebrate World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day, promoting awareness of both issues.

Organiser of Monday’s event Jon Regler said: “It was an amazing day, we had lots of teams and the football was great.

“Part of the purpose was obviously to change the perceptions of these people. And from the messages I’ve had, that really worked.”

He added: “One guy said he had come along expecting to meet homeless people and people with mental health problems.

“But instead he met Aaron, Ryan, and others like that. He knows their names, he knows who they are and so the barriers are broken down.”

Teams taking part included the Oxford Coasters, Streets Revolution homeless club and a team from Thames Valley Police.

The cup was won by the Union Street football team, based at the Half Moon pub in St Clements.