Aiman first visited the Trust’s Community Hub in Harrow Weald, Cedars Youth and Community Centre, back in February 2018 after the Trust set up a Premier League Kicks session in partnership with Paiwand Afghan Association. The weekly sessions provided refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants with more access to play football within their new community.
Aiman, along with his brother, were regular attendees on Saturday afternoons as well as at the bi-annual Social Integration Tournaments with organisations such as Young Roots and Barnet Refugee Service.
Staff members at the Centre were immediately impressed by a young man they described as having a ‘friendly personality and respectful manner.’ This alongside his offer to help translate instructions, rules, and upcoming events for other players ensured Aiman built positive relationships with the staff and peers alike. His translations and impressive attitude were particularly helpful at tournaments where young people from different backgrounds would come together for small-sided matches and food. Away from tournament day, it also aided the integration of new participants into the weekly sessions – putting new members’ minds at ease when the thought of going to a new venue for the very first time, with little to no English vocabulary, could have been very daunting.
The goal of targeted sessions, such as the aforementioned group, should also be about integration into the wider community though, so Trust members of staff were delighted to see so many of the attendees have the confidence to attend the mainstream Premier League Kicks sessions alongside many other young people in the local area. Not just engaging in the sessions but actively building further positive friendships and representing the Trust at numerous competitions and events.
Aiman continued his progression by enrolling in the Trust’s football and education scheme, in partnership with Westfield Academy – Westfield Football Academy. This would then give Aiman a chance to continue with the game that he loved and turn it into a meaningful career as he combined academic studies with competitive football. When asked about his involvement in this latest venture with the Trust, Aiman said:
“Playing for Westfield helped me build my physical fitness since I believe I wasn’t fit enough to play at that impressive level, it improved my coordination and developed teamwork and leadership skills. Playing football also provided me with a sense of belonging and accomplishment, boosted my confidence, and reduced stress, especially with the schoolwork I had to do. Additionally, being a part of this team created lasting friendships and memories that I will never forget. I wished I could do this course for many years because I never thought it was going to be like this and I never imagined the school would be so supportive. I believed that football was just a game and always played it for fun, but it was more than that, and luckily I realised that it was about the team and not about myself.”