Football clubs unite in response to the refugee crisis
Friday, 11 September 2015
Premier League football clubs will add their weight to the unprecedented public response to the refugee crisis this Saturday. Hoardings at six games will promote Save the Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal, while £1 from each ticket to Arsenal’s home clash with Stoke is being donated to the appeal.
All of the Premier League’s seven Saturday fixtures will be used to promote Save the Children’s appeal, launched in response to the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. The League’s ‘Get On with the Game’ flag will be replaced with a Save the Children banner promoting the appeal, while big screens at each stadium will encourage fans to donate to Save the Children.
Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive of Save the Children, said:
“Football has an incredible ability to bring people together. In the face of the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War it’s nothing short of amazing to see fans and clubs coming together to stand in solidarity with people, many of them children, desperately fleeing horror in warzones like Syria.
I’m proud that Arsenal is leading the way in showing that Britain cares. The children escaping across the Mediterranean could be our own. They share the hopes and dreams that many of the young people standing at the Emirates have. We need to do whatever it takes to fight for their potential and make sure their lives are as valued as the sons and daughters braving the stands and cheering on their team on TV here in the UK do.”
Premier League Director of Communications, Dan Johnson, said:
“Save the Children is an internationally respected charity which has an excellent track record of supporting young people affected by crises and disasters.
“They contacted us earlier this week to ask for Premier League support and, having discussed it with clubs yesterday, they were all happy to back this campaign.”
So far in 2015 more than 380,000 desperate people made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea – tragically 2,850 people have died. In Italy alone, 7,600 children have arrived alone this year, without any parents or families at all. Save the Children works in countries on the routes faced by fleeing refugees like Turkey, Egypt and Italy – ensuring children are protected wherever possible.
Since being launched last week, Save the Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal has already raised nearly £1.9million which will enable the charity to provide expert child protection support to children en-route and support children still in countries like Syria.
Save the Children is doing whatever it takes to provide essential support to the thousands of children in need but we desperately need your support to respond to this crisis. We’ve launched an emergency appeal to expand our work around the world – you can find out more at www.Savethechildren.org.uk or you can donate now - online by debit or credit card or by telephone calling 0800 8148 148.
ENDS
Contact: Ian Preston, 0203 763 1031 / i.preston@savethechildren.org.uk
About Save the Children:
Save the Children works in more than 120 countries. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. www.savethechildren.org.uk