The kick-off meeting of the project Integration through Sport and Inclusion for Refugees in Europe (INSPIRE) was held on 31 January, in London, bringing together all three partner organisations to adjust procedures of the preparation stage.

The 12-month project is funded by European Commission and aims to identify refugees’ needs for and barriers to participation in local sport activities, support the provision of sporting activities and provide opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers at grassroots sport level. It will generate a transferable methodology based on findings that will help increase the potential of host communities to successfully engage and integrate refugees through sport.

At the meeting, led by Fare, partners discussed preparation stage steps, such as the creation of the questionnaires for refugees and sporting clubs and the set up of an advisory board, the content of the toolkit, training for the organisations, dissemination strategy and the final conference.

Particular attention will be paid to gender balance due to the low levels of participation of female refugees. A minimum of 50% of the beneficiaries will be female.

Project partners include the Fare members Les Dégommeuses and Fundacja dla Wolności, from France and Poland respectively, who have comprehensive expertise in working with refugees and implementing football projects for refugees.