The World's First Bala Pro Fairtrade Football Tournament.

 

Engage Communities, with Port Vale FC, Princes Charities and Staffordshire Police recently kicked of the World's First Bala Pro Fairtrade football match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aiming to help engage and encourage young people in Staffordshire communities, organisers are also keen to support Fairtrade Stitching communites by using Fairtrade footballs:

 

"It is a privilege to use the Bala Pro Fairtrade footballs in our 5-a-side football tournament.  It was the first time the Bala Pro ball was used in a tournament in the WORLD!" say Engage Communities.

 

Here's what the official Port Vale Website Says:

 

"Port Vale’s charity arm, Vale Park Community Initiative, has obtained funding from the Crime Commissioner to run two football tournaments and one cricket tournament on Friday evenings before the home matches v Walsall, Notts County and Chesterfield.

The football club has joined up with partners: Staffordshire Police, The Princes Charities and Potteries based Engage Communities to run these tournaments which have 2 age groups. We are looking for teams in the north of the city in the age groups ‘under 14’ and ‘15-18’ to enter the tournament. You can enter your team on the evening of the tournament between 5.00-6.00pm at Dimensions where it will take place.

Matches will be played between 6.00-9.00pm hosted by Engage Communities. With the long holiday upon us, this is an excellent opportunity to relieve any boredom by taking part in a worthwhile leisure activity.

The Prince’s Charities have negotiated the purchase of fair trade footballs, which support skilled workers in developing countries and these will be used during the tournaments.

Trophies will be supplied by the VPCI and Port Vale Chairman, Norman Smurthwaite, has kindly supplied tickets for the Saturday games for the winners of all tournaments."
Read more at http://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/article/20140805-vale-park-community-initiative-1805767.aspx#TxRvXKYufpMbeiiF.99

 

"The pro ball is hand-stitched in Sialkot, Pakistan and carefully made to the same specs as FIFA inspected balls. The really good thing is though that when workers are paid to make a Fairtrade Bala ball they receive a higher rate, fair working conditions and benefit from the extra 10% Fairtrade Premium. They decide democratically on what social development schemes to spend it on - so it's win-win for everyone!" Engage Communities

 Fair Trade in Football Campaign Founder Sharron Hardwick attended the first Fairtrade Football tournament, and was invited to share a little about Fairtrade and the difference it makes to the Sialkot football stitchers, before the tournament kicked off.

 

"I would like to thank Port Vale and Engage Communities  for the excelent tournaments. I'd especially like to thank Alan Christian from the The Prince's Charities for negotiating the purchase of the Fairtade balls. This outstanding support is making a real difference to people's lives in Sialkot!"said Fair Trade in Football Campaign Founder Sharron Hardwick

 

The tournaments are FREE to enter for young people in the area.  For information and to take part see Engage Communities latest updates on facebook by clicking HERE