SIMMPLY UNITED

Sports for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Simmply United uses sport, football and community activities to support refugees and asylum seekers, providing welcoming spaces where people can stay active, build relationships and connect with their local community.

Refugees and people seeking asylum may experience displacement, loss, isolation and uncertainty while adjusting to life in a new country. Through team sports, fitness activities and workshops, Simmply United provides positive opportunities to support mental wellbeing, confidence and social connection.

Our work has developed through projects including the RAF Wethersfield Programme, Refugee Football League, Changing Lives FC and Fair Shot.

Get Involved
Two men stand on a soccer field, smiling and holding a purple soccer jersey. In the background, a team of soccer players is practicing.
A soccer team posing on a field in front of a goal, with some players kneeling in the front row and others standing behind them. All team members are wearing soccer uniforms, with the ones in purple jerseys kneeling and those in white shirts standing
A male coach or trainer standing on a soccer field surrounded by athletes in white jerseys during daytime.
Group of five soccer players in red and yellow jerseys standing on a soccer field at night, smiling with arms around each other, with soccer balls on the ground near their feet.
Group of 14 young men on a volleyball court, posing for a photo. The sky is partly cloudy, and there is a volleyball net behind them. Some are standing, and some are kneeling in front.
Group of young people in a gymnasium celebrating after playing soccer, some with arms raised, sitting and standing around a soccer ball.
Group of people celebrating on an indoor sports court, some holding badminton rackets, with a basketball hoop visible in the background.
A group of young men playing indoor basketball in a gymnasium. They are wearing colorful sports jerseys and are posing for a team photo.
Two young men standing on a soccer field at night, wearing matching red jerseys, posing for a photo with a soccer ball at their feet. In the background, other players are practicing near a goalpost.
A group of young men and women in colorful soccer uniforms on a field at night, posing for a team photo, with some kneeling and others standing, and a man on the right holding a soccer ball above his head.
Two young men playing soccer at night on a green field, one in a purple and blue shirt and the other in a multicolored shirt, both running after the ball.
Group of five male soccer players standing on a soccer field at night, wearing red team jerseys, with two soccer balls on the ground in front of them, posing for a photo.
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More Than Sport

For someone adjusting to life in a new country, having somewhere to go, something to be part of and people to connect with can make a meaningful difference.

Through sport, fitness and workshops, participants can:

  • Stay physically active

  • Build friendships and social connections

  • Develop confidence and routine

  • Support their mental wellbeing

  • Access further opportunities and support

Football plays a particularly important role in our work because it provides a shared activity that can bring people together across different languages, cultures and backgrounds.

Our Refugee Football Journey

Football has been at the heart of our work with refugees and asylum seekers for several years.

Our Refugee Football League provided a dedicated league for refugees and asylum seekers in Colchester and surrounding areas. Regular matches and training created opportunities to play football, socialise and build community connections.

Before Simmply United, Changing Lives FC brought refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from different backgrounds together through competitive football. Although the team no longer operates, the project helped shape the work we continue today.

Read the Changing Lives FC Story

Our work has also included Fair Shot, a football movement promoting fairness and compassion for refugees and people seeking asylum. Fair Shot FC brings together players from countries around the world, demonstrating football's ability to connect people across different backgrounds.

Discover Fair Shot

RAF Wethersfield

Simmply Active has worked with people seeking asylum at RAF Wethersfield, providing sport and positive activities alongside opportunities to connect with wider support.

This work forms an important part of Simmply United and our commitment to making physical activity accessible to refugee and asylum-seeking communities.

Discover Our RAF Wethersfield Programme

Support Beyond Sport

Participants can also access support through Simmply Digital, our digital inclusion and employability programme for refugees and asylum seekers.

Support includes digital skills, CV writing, job applications, interview preparation and building confidence using technology for everyday life and employment.

Discover Simmply Digital

2/3

of refugees experience anxiety or depression

1/6

has a physical health problem severe enough to affect their life

50%

of refugees face physical health issues that remain untreated

40%

of refugees report barriers to engaging in physical activities

Make an impact today

Support our mission by contributing a donation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Changing Lives FC was an earlier football project bringing refugees, asylum seekers and migrants together through competitive football. Its legacy now forms part of the wider Simmply United story.

  • Yes. Simmply Digital provides digital skills and employability support for refugees and asylum seekers, including CVs, job applications, interview preparation and digital confidence.

  • Contact Simmply Active to ask about current Simmply United sessions, referrals, volunteering or partnership opportunities.

  • Simmply United supports refugees and asylum seekers through football, sport and community activities.

  • Our refugee-focused activities support refugees and people seeking asylum. Eligibility and availability can vary between individual programmes, so contact our team for current opportunities.

  • The Refugee Football League provided dedicated football opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in Colchester and surrounding areas, with regular matches and training.