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Community Foundation North East awarded £7,500 to Welcome To Badminton through the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund, helping refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Newcastle build confidence, improve wellbeing and feel part of their local community.
The funding has enabled Welcome To Badminton to deliver two weekly sports sessions, one at Northumbria Sports Central, offering volleyball, table tennis and badminton and another in partnership with West End Refugee Service at Tyneside Badminton Centre, focusing on badminton and table tennis. All sessions are free, with costs for court hire, equipment and travel covered to ensure accessibility.
Participants not only benefit from regular physical activity but also gain valuable volunteering experience. WTB supports individuals to take on responsibilities such as managing registration, keeping records, attending meetings and translating for others. The organisation also offers the opportunity to complete Level One Badminton coaching qualifications, helping participants build skills for the future.
Ged Robinson, Grants Programme Advisor at the Community Foundation North East, said:
“Welcome To Badminton is a brilliant example of how sport can be used to foster inclusion, opportunity and community cohesion, and the funded work was a great fit with the priorities of the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund”
Ruth Ashford, Operations Lead at Welcome to Badminton, noted:
“The funding from the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund supported Welcome to Badminton to bring together people from all over the world to enjoy weekly sports sessions together. Many friendships were made and the project offered participants time away from worries and stress, while also giving opportunities to learn new skills and improve physical and mental health.”
The impact of the sessions has been clear. All participants reported increased confidence and 90% said their English language skills had improved since joining. One participant reflected:
“When I joined this badminton club, I discovered it was about much more than just playing a sport — it became a bridge into the community.”
Through targeted funding and strategic partnerships, the Community Foundation North East is enabling grassroots organisations like Welcome To Badminton to deliver inclusive, community-led initiatives that support long-term change across the region.