A FOOTBALL tournament which aimed to break down the barriers between the police, council, and drug rehabilitation service users has been hailed a great success.

Active Lancashire's Challenge Through Sport Initiative (CSI) held their first ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ Tournament in Blackburn's Witton Park last week.

CSI Support Mentor and organiser of the event, David Bayliff, said that the goal was to “build some relationships, smash some stigma and remove some barriers."

The initial idea was to have a football match with members from the council and police playing against individuals on their recovery journey.

However, Mr Bayliff said interest from other organisations snowballed leading to the formation of six teams with players from the police, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Public Health, DIVERT, United Together, Thomas Project, Islington House, Salvation Army, Canterbury House and Howarth House, with the groups who were originally supposed to play against each other ending up on the same team.

Lisa Brown from Islington House, who provide sheltered accommodation for the homeless and vulnerable, said the residents are “on a joint team with the local town police officers and PCSOs just trying to break down those views of ‘us and them’ and try to help them rehabilitate.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The Divert teamThe Divert team

PCSO, Sam Cheyte, said: “It’s nice to see them outside of a work setting when normally you’re speaking to them and dealing with stuff that isn’t fun.

"Hopefully if we have to deal with them again in the future we can say ‘oh I played footy with you last week’ and it breaks down that barrier.”

Public Health Development Manager, Colin Hughes said: “I don’t think you can measure the impact something like this has.

“We’ve got people who work in a professional capacity, we have people who are accessing the services. It’s about inclusion, it’s about breaking down barriers, it’s fantastic.”

Luke, a resident at Islington House said “It gives us something to do, takes us off the street from commiting crime and from doing silly things that we shouldn’t be doing.

"It benefits us all that way”.

When asked how it was to be on the same team as the police Luke said: “They’re lovely people. I’ve been running with them instead of away from them.”

Wayne Beck, from Creative Football who brought volunteers to facilitate the tournament, gave a closing speech before awarding the winning team.

He said: “The power of football is underrated. We’re bringing people together; no matter what background, where we’re from, whatever you’ve got - you come on the football pitch, you pass the ball and you’re somebody’s mate instantly.”

Active Lancashire connect with like-minded organisations to help bring about active lifestyles. They believe that sport and physical activity have the power to influence behaviours and develop skills which can have a broader, positive impact on people’s lives.

The event was hailed a huge success, with great feedback received, and plans are in the pipeline to make the tournament a quarterly thing.