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STREET FOOTBALL WALES: Making a Difference
When we started our ethical wash and lifestyle brand we wanted to help improve the lives of people and animals, one wash at a time. Over the past six months through your support and Good wash purchases, one of the local charities we have been able to support is ‘Street Football Wales’ who help tackle social isolation through football.
Street Football teams are made up of players who face social exclusion through homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health or cultural issues. Players may have been long term unemployed or involved in the criminal justice system but are all facing daily barriers to be part of society and the communities in which they live.
Street Football Wales aims to contribute to ending homelessness and poverty by facilitating the integration of socially excluded people back into their community. They do this by supporting their clients to be healthier, more physically active and mentally well members of society.
Street Football Wales also organise the Welsh Homeless International Teams ‘The Welsh Dragons (male) & the Welsh Warriors (female)’. These teams annually compete on a global stage in the ‘Homeless World Cup’, and players are not just selected with a view to winning. Players are only selected if they meet the eligibility criteria and display good attitude, attendance, commitment, benefit to life, effort and the ability to be a team player. Tolerance of others and progress of personal development both on and off the pitch – score as highly as football ability.
The ultimate aim of SFW attendance at a world cup or football event is to create a spark that will inspire an individual to move on in life and change their situation. A recent example which is covered by ITV Wales shares Dee’s story of being an ex-addict, losing her children, then her house then after finding Street Football Wales and attending the Oslo World Cup changed her life and found a new way of living. Read Dee’s story here  http://bit.ly/2tx5c3Q
By having a ‘Goodwash’ you have enabled us to support Street Football Wales in the following ways;
Deliver a BTEC Level 2 Award qualification to twelve squad members. For many of the individuals this was the first recognisable qualification they had been awarded, and allowed them to begin exploring opportunities to enter further learning or employment. Also, with the ongoing support of street football staff their learning has since helped them set up football competitions and enterprises locally; and
Supply the whole squad and SFW volunteers with wash bags and wash products for participation in the ‘Homeless World Cup’ in Oslo. Great results we have achieved with the Ladies team winning the visa port bowl and the mens team taking 3rd place. For more details visit: streetfootballwales.com.
Our most recent activity involved making twenty-two post ‘World Cup Squad Training’ vegetarian chilli meals, with the support of local restaurant ‘The Sausage Revolution’. Our team went along to a training session during National Vegetarian Week in May and shared the benefits of an #estherapproved lifestyle. The delicious home made ‘meat free’ chilli was followed by some artisan vegan chocolates – kindly donated by local chocolatier @cocoatherapy.
Both Goodwash Co Founders are ex Welsh International athletes from towns in Wales that are classified as areas of high deprivation (Port Talbot and Rhyl). Mandy commented: ‘We fully understand the importance of using sport as vehicle to change lives. As an ex International athlete and previous Physical Education teacher in a Neath Valley School I have seen first hand how sport can make a tangible difference, especially on the field of play when all things are equal. I am really proud of what we are achieving with Goodwash and the support we are receiving from our customers to provide opportunities through others and enable change like this to happen.’
Street Football Wales are off to Austria next week for a street football festival in Graz, so please join us in wishing them all the very best!
Goodwash is more than just a wash product it is a lifestyle brand with a humble social conscience.
We enable consumers to make a difference and improve lives without having to compromise on quality. Click on the link www.goodwash.co.uk and choose a cruelty free, luxurious product with a social purpose, delivered straight to your home or office.
Help us change the world #onewashatime.