Last weekend, Brentford FC and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust hosted the Refugees Welcome Hounslow’s Christmas gathering for local refugees.

Held at the Trust’s Community Stadium Hub, participants from countries in the Middle East and Africa including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan came together to celebrate the festive period ahead, sharing food from different cultures.

Younger participants took part in football skills sessions provided by the Trust and those who attended were also given a tour of the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Refugees Welcome Hounslow is a group run by volunteers supporting refugees in the London Borough of Hounslow. The event was attended by 55 members of the community.

Commenting on the day, participant Rasha Shammam from Syria said: “I have been involved with Refugees Welcome Hounslow for about three-and-half years. It’s really important to get together because we get to meet our family from Syria, and we meet people from different countries. It makes our community important for me and my children and allows us to see people’s different traditions.” 

Supporting local refugees is one of several causes Brentford is committed to. The club and the Trust look forward to working with organisations such as the Refugees Welcome Hounslow, to amplify the important work they do for the community. 

Rachel Tanner, a committee member of Refugees Welcome Hounslow said: “It’s fantastic to have this facility to bring everyone here. To be in such a lovely building is a treat for us. We’ve been meeting for about four years and some people have arrived more recently. This is a fantastic opportunity to get everyone together.”

Find out more about support for refugee families or contact [email protected] to get involved with Refugees Welcome Hounslow.