Goals: To challenge racism and improve young people's communication and teamwork skills
Funding: Receives money from Sport England, Camden Youth Council, Fitness First, Puma and various other sponsors
When Nasim Ali came up with the idea of the Camden United Project, he never dreamed that one of the young people he coached would go on to play football for England at youth level. But this is what happened to Leon Fisher, who was signed by Division One team Watford at the age of 14 and has gone on to become an under-17 football international.
The project was set up in 1995 by a group of youth workers led by Ali, now mayor of Camden, to diffuse growing racial tension and gang conflict in the borough. Regular training sessions were set up along with monthly workshops dealing with issues such as racism, citizenship, drugs, youth crime, health and relationships.
The project is split into junior teams for nine- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 15-year-olds, and a senior team for 16- to 24-year-olds.
When the sessions were more established, project managers raised funds to participate in an international football tournament in Denmark. Ash Rahman, project manager, says: "Most of the young people had never been out of their area, let alone the country."
John Muneghina, 17, made friends with one Asian and one White boy who joined different gangs. "They got on well in the team and I thought this was really good cos it would prevent them from fighting," he said. "It made me realise how good a thing Camden United is."
As well as Fisher, many of the other young people have been signed up by professional clubs. The project has also won awards, including commendation by the Commission for Racial Equality and a British Urban Regeneration Association award.
