Footballers Compete For Community Cup  

There was excitement and heartache at Derby’s Multi-Faith Centre this weekend as footballers did battle for the annual Community Cup. Fourteen teams from across Derby took part in the event, including students, community groups and police officers.

The six-a-side tournament was organised by the Multi-Faith Centre and the University of Derby’s Islamic Society, and was supported by Derbyshire Constabulary. It took place on the University’s top class all-weather sports pitches, at Kedleston Road, on Saturday 7 May.

Despite miserable weather, the competition was a great success, with teams from many of Derby’s communities coming together to have fun and compete.

Director of the Multi-Faith Centre, Dr Phil Henry, said: “This year’s Community Cup drew teams from Derby city and surrounding areas, and proved once again that community sport is fundamental to breaking down barriers and promoting greater connections.

“I’d like to thank everybody who took part in the event and the University’s Islamic Society and Derbyshire Constabulary for all of their hard work.

“Congratulations must go to the winning team, Easy FC, who edged a brilliant, close-run final to win this year’s tournament”.      

Easy FC, from Alvaston, took on Normanton team Hammari in the final, and clinched the fixture by one goal to nil.

Mitchell Shaw, of Easy FC, was also named Man of the Tournament.

Community Support Officer PC Stephen Gregory and Kamran Chaudry, President of the University of Derby’s Islamic Society, presented the winners with prizes.

Kamran said: “I thought the tournament went really well. We wanted to organise it as an event that would bring people together, and I think we were successful in this. Well done to all the teams that took part, although our team should have won!

“I’d like to thank the Multi-Faith Centre and the police for helping to make the tournament such a success. It was a brilliant day of community football”.

Raising Awareness of Global Poverty  

Two Derby Inter-faith Youth Forum members who ran a global poverty awareness project say they are delighted with its success.

Yessenia (Jess) Aguilera and Michelle Wood, who are both students at the University of Derby, ran a programme of events at the Multi-Faith Centre to broaden public understanding of poverty in Asia, South America and Africa.

The three events, which featured guest speakers and interactive workshops, were extremely well attended by University staff, students and members of the public.

Jess, who is an International Relations & Development student at the University, said: “We were really shocked by the turnout to the events.

“I think it’s great that so many people came to find out more about global poverty, the problems we face and how we can tackle them.

“A lot of people don’t have a voice, and it is through events like these that their problems and needs can be heard”.

The idea for the project grew out of another initiative which Jess and Michelle participated in as members of the youth forum.

They were involved in a project facilitated by Global Education Derby (GED) and the Multi-Faith Centre, which aimed to energise young people to make a change in their lives to help tackle global problems.

Michelle, who is currently studying Criminology and Sociology, said: “It was the project with GED that made me want to go out and do something myself, and this seemed a great way to make a difference.

“We’ve used the skills we’ve learned through the youth forum in this project too, which have been invaluable.

“I’m delighted that we managed to hold three very different and interesting events that engaged all sorts of people, including the student body and wider community”.

Both Jess and Michelle carried out the work as part of the University’s ‘Derby Award’ scheme, which tasks students with managing their own project.

Debbie Thornton, of the University’s Careers Centre, who helps run the Derby Award programme, said: “I’m really impressed with Michelle and Jess.

“To take on three separate events, and to manage all aspects of them, is a massive undertaking for full-time students.

“I personally found the events very interesting and learned a lot! It was great to see the students take the lead and deliver such a superb project.

“The Multi-Faith Centre was also a perfect venue, lending itself as it does to a project of this nature which incorporated themes and cultures from all over the world”.

There are now plans for new projects in the future. Jess added: “We’re currently looking for funding opportunities to carry on this work and to continue raising awareness about global issues”.