Project Notes: Camden United Project

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.