Last Sunday, Renaissance FC played a friendly against Care4Calais at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. The result was 6-1 and some of the Renaissance players, pictured above, are going to trial with our Men’s Development Team.
Renaissance FC was formed when a group of refugees, who had previously lived together in refugee camps across France, arrived in Britain only to find integrating into local communities extremely difficult. In response, Renaissance FC was created to support social integration and foster connection through football. The aim from the start has been simple: to use football as a tool to reduce isolation and create a safe space for refugees and asylum seekers to connect with others and begin rebuilding their lives.
The UK men’s team continues to thrive, playing regular football matches against other local community teams. These fixtures are designed to foster connection and support integration into wider society. A number of players have even gone on to join Clapton Community Football Club, a powerful pathway into the wider football community.
Renaissance FC also has a community initiative based in Beirut, Lebanon that offers free football sessions for female migrants primarily from Madagascar, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone, who are trapped in the exploitative kafala system. Each session is grounded in principles of trauma-informed care, offering not just physical activity, but also emotional relief, and community. Their goal is to create a space where healing begins through movement and connection.
Renaissance FC now need your help. Everything they offer is completely free; from transport and pitch hire to equipment and refreshments. Your donation helps them cover these costs and expand their impact.