The Bristol Together Championships (BTC) is an exciting new project, working alongside the Bristol City Community Trust and supported by the Bristol Sport Foundation; Bristol City Council; Quartet Foundation; and Avon and Somerset Police.
The tournament pulls together primary schools from across the city and surrounding areas to play in an annual football competition. Each school twins with another to form a joint team, mixing children from very different backgrounds.
The championships will see 150 children from 30 different schools taking to the field, with the first round games running from 10am-12.30pm.
The knockout games will kick-off from around 1.30pm and the final is pencilled in for 3pm.
Amy Kington, director of the Bristol City Community Trust, said: “Sport is a fantastic vehicle that crosses barriers, creates and unites communities, improves educational attainment, the economy and wins hearts and minds.
“The Bristol Together Championships focuses on building a tolerant and inclusive city and we’re delighted to place Bristol City Community Trust and Football Club at the heart of it.”
Local civil rights campaigner, Paul Stephenson said: “It is a great honour to be able to lend my support to the Bristol Together Championships.
“It is crucial that we give young people the opportunity to cross the barriers that have historically divided our city.
“This is important for the children and young people themselves, contributing to the quality of the lives they will lead and the contribution they will make to the city.
“The success of this kind of initiative is important for all of us, because we share in what our children and young people are and what they will become.”
During the run up to the tournament, the schools have had four joint training sessions. See www.facebook.com/BrsTogetherChamps and https://youtu.be/UdmQFRWonbI for more.
For more information go to: www.bristoltogetherchampionships.co.uk
If you or your organisation would like to attend the tournament, would like more information or would like to support the programme, please contact the event organiser, Holly Maurice on 07813 828 988 or holly@bristoltogetherchampionships.co.uk
