Football group tackles inequality and isolation

Grounds to Unite sells drinks at football matches, with proceeds going towards youth football and mental health initiatives

A new group is working to tackle inequality in youth football as well as rural isolation.

Grounds to Unite, a Community Interest Company (CIC), was set up by Liza Cadge, based at Mulbarton Wanderers & Belles Football Club near Norwich.

It provides hot drink stalls at football clubs, with the funds raised being reinvested into youth football clubs while also funding initiatives to tackle loneliness in men across rural Norfolk.

Ms Cadge set up the CIC after she said she had noticed a funding gap in helping less fortunate children into the sport.

Liza Cadge set up the CIC after conversations around the football pitch during her son's games

During her son's own football games, Ms Cadge began chatting with other parents about increased costs families faced, as well as how some fathers were facing isolation.

"We got chatting about how can people afford [football]," she explained.

"Everything else is increasing as well as sports clubs and things like that, and then we were speaking to some of the dads around the football pitch who were saying they struggle with isolation in rural Norfolk.

"We thought, here is a brilliant idea, let's serve teas, hot chocolates, coffees to warm everybody up and raise money to put back in the community."

Ms Cadge encouraged people to help volunteer on the stalls at football games

The initiative kicked off at the start of September and Ms Cadge reached out to 109 clubs across the county of which she said many were "keen" to get involved.

She said it had been "going really well" and they had more clubs approaching them too.

"It's a simple cup of coffee and a chat that can open up conversations about people that are not OK and that they are struggling," she continued.

"We've reached out to a lot of Norfolk charities to work together with.

"Kids, they get so much gain from playing sports and being part of a team; it combats there general physical health, their mental wellbeing, teaches them resilience, it's just so beneficial."