Globally our communities are changing yet face many similar challenges. Youthful and mobile populations have a greater awareness of international events. Virtual new communities are being created across geographic borders which provide opportunities for broadening cultural awareness and understanding.

People want to make their neighbourhoods better and safer places to live and are adjusting to these challenges. Individuals, community and civil society groups, local authorities and businesses are coming together to find solutions through new dialogues and trying to eliminate the inequalities which still exist. Constructive frameworks and discourses are being established and people are learning to respect each other and their different cultures.

The conference provided a unique opportunity for practitioners to come together to share learning and identify good practice. There were opportunities to consider some of the underlying issues that create tensions between local communities, and to look at practical and creative ways to resolve these.

The event provided a showcase for the sharing of good practice from around the world and forums for lively, open and constructive sharing of learning. In workshops and panel discussions we looked at how these experiences can be translated into policy recommendations.

Topics included:
Young people – citizenship, employment and engagement
Civil society and how they work in communities
The role of education, culture and media in promoting community cohesion
How businesses contribute to the well-being of communities

Featuring internationally renowned speakers, the conference also brought practitioners together from around the world to:
Establish new international networks around the community cohesion agenda and support long-term learning in these areas
Explore some of the issues that communities are facing globally and begin a dialogue on how these issues can be addressed.
Share experiences, strengthen understanding and build good practice internationally in community relations and cohesion

Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images, and Home Tuition Scotland for educational direction.

Students and staff from the University took part in educational and practical football workshops on a variety of topics including community cohesion and alcohol and drug awareness.



Coaching with a Conscience co-ordinator Gerry Britton has been joined at the workshops by former Rangers star Derek Ferguson and current professionals from Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton and Ayr United FC.



"The workshops have been enthusiastically received by the participants and thoroughly enjoyed by the players who have taken part", stated Gerry. "The students have appeared very receptive to the messages being sent in the workshops and have displayed no little ability during the coaching sessions, at what is an excellent venue at Garscube".

The workshops have been delivered as part of a pilot project engineered by Football for All with the Equality Forward initiative.



Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.

The scheme uses portable four-a-side pitches which are dropped off in 'hot-spot' areas where anti-social behaviour is a particular problem. Games are organised along 'fair play' rules, providing a well-structured environment for young people to socialise and engage in meaningful team sports.

Utilising local partnerships,"Street football" has been successfully rolled-out around the country:

Aberdeen
In the last year almost 2,000 young people aged 5-18 have participated in 12 different locations around Aberdeen.

The scheme is reported to have cut complaints of anti-social behaviour in parts of Aberdeen by up to 66%.

Glasgow
A scheme supported by Rangers Community Football and Strathclyde Police aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour and loosening the grip of gangs on local youngsters.


Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.

The Homeless World Cup exists to be a catalyst for lasting change through the development of street soccer worldwide in a way that that creates a maximum social impact for the players involved - socially excluded, homeless people and people living in poverty.

This is accomplished firstly by creating a top quality, well-recognised annual Homeless World Cup flagship event and secondly, by a continuous Homeless World Cup grass roots development programmes around the world to ensure that many more people benefit.

And it works. 77% of players involved significantly change their lives forever.

The 5th Homeless World Cup - Copenhagen 2007
Denmark won the bid to host the 2007 Homeless World Cup, the annual street soccer tournament uniting teams of homeless people from around the globe to kick out poverty. This world-class sporting event took place in Copenhagen from 29 July to 4 August 2007.

Sport promoting social inclusion is becoming a big issue in Denmark and Eva Kjer Hansen, Ministry of Social Affairs, looking forward to the event in Copenhagen said:

“I am convinced that sports can improve the self-esteem and life quality of homeless and other socially marginalised people. Sport is an efficient way of creating and developing social communities. This is why sport must be accessible to all. The Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen will demonstrate to the world that socially marginalised groups are able and wants to take their responsibility for lives and do something themselves. This is why I am looking forward to welcoming the players to Denmark in 2007.”

SCOTLAND VICTORIOUS AT THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP!
Scotland has won the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, the international football tournament changing lives.

Scotland beat Poland in the finals by 9 goals to 3 in front of packed crowds and HRH Crown Prince of Denmark, today in the City Hall Square. The match was refereed by international referee Kim Milton Nielsen who is infamous for the sending off of David Beckham in the FIFA World Cup against Argentina.


Scotland’s Captain, Paul Smith, who also won best male player of the tournament, said: “This has been better than I could ever have imagined. The level of skill and quality of football has been exceptional. We have really enjoyed the Danish fans that have also supported us here in Copenhagen.”

Poland’s Captain, Rafal Rozonski, said, “One of my strongest dreams has been realized: to represent my country and participate in a World Cup Final. We are good fighters. It can be very hard to be homeless but playing soccer makes you forget about that. You can be free.”

Mel Young, President and Co-founder Homeless World Cup, said: “It has been a tournament of many great goals, fabulous skill and fair play. Congratulations to Scotland and to the Coach for taking the team to victory.”


David Duke, the Coach of Scotland was a player in the Gothenburg 2004 Homeless World Cup and now has led his team to victory in the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup. “After changing my own life through football and the Homeless World Cup it is just great that I can help others do the same. To take Scotland to victory is just superb.”

Melbourne 2008
The 2008 Homeless World Cup is set to take place in Melbourne in December 2008.

For more information see Homeless World Cup website

Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.

Alex Rae (Sunderland, Wolves, Rangers, Dundee)
"I had a great career but if I could do it all again I wouldn't live the life I did. Without a doubt, my drinking stopped me achieving what I could have.

"There were instances that definitely hampered my career, there's no doubt in my mind. I've spoken to chairmen at big clubs in England who were going to put a bid in for me but it didn't happen because of my lifestyle. But there's no point looking back with regrets.

"The last seven or eight years of my career were beyond belief. I won the first division with Sunderland, promotion with Wolves and the league and cup with Rangers. I've been quite fortunate in terms of finances as I managed to catch the Sky boom and benefit from some of that television money. It wasn't fantastic money but it was enough to keep me going."

The Second Chance Project
Rae the player and the manager are well-established figures but his work with the Second Chance clinic in Whiteinch, a charity he established during his time with Rangers, remains less publicised. It is the body of work that gives him most satisfaction but, paradoxically, is an area he feels he must eventually shed from his life if he is to make the most of his managerial career.

The tone of his voice lowers and the jocular grin disappears as he discusses the charity's work. "We help people who have alcohol and drug addictions in Glasgow," Rae reveals. "We detox them and put them on a 90-day programme.

"We're changing people's lives, people who wouldn't otherwise get another chance. On a shoestring budget and with no state funding, we've probably got more people clean and sober in Glasgow than anyone else.

"There is nothing like this in Glasgow. We encourage total abstinence. We don't have anyone on the project who is using any substance at all. It's really worthwhile to see people getting another chance at life; people back in employment, or getting their houses back and off the streets.

"It is so rewarding to see that. But, ultimately, I want to concentrate my efforts on football. My goal is to get funding for it then walk away and let them continue."

(Source: Sunday Herald 2008)


Andy McLaren (Dundee Utd, Reading, Kilmarnock, Morton and Scotland)
While playing for Reading in 2000, Andy McLaren failed a random drugs test and was immediately banned from football. He was forced to admit to being an alcoholic and cocaine abuser, and checked in to the Priory Clinic in Glasgow. After working hard to overcome his addictions, he resurrected his career with Kilmarnock later the same year and gained his first national cap when Scotland played Poland in 2001.

Here he speaks frankly to BBC Radio.

What sent you to the drink and drugs in the first place? Is it because they were readily available?
"Probably at the start.

"I had stuff from my childhood that had tormented me for a load of years, and the drink and the drugs was a symptom of that. I used them because I didn't feel very good about Andy McLaren.

"I used them as a mechanism to blot out these kind of feelings."

And how bad did it get?
"Pretty bad, at certain parts of my life I contemplated taking my own life because of the pain and I didn't like the person I became with the drink and the drugs, or the way I was treating my family."

Was there any one thing that caused you to stop and seek help?
"Well failing a drug test at Reading was a major turning point in my life. The stuff I was doing didn't sit right with me, I wanted to stop but I didn't know how to stop.

"I could stop drink for maybe a week or two but I couldn't stay stopped.

"The Priory introduced me to Alcoholics Anonymous and to helping myself. You've got to want to stop.

"Alcoholism had just taken over, it was the most important thing in my life. I've not had a drink for seven years now.

"I'm still with Claire (his partner) and my two boys, she's been my rock, I honestly think that if it wasn't for her that I wouldn't be here now, I would have maybe committed suicide."

What advice would you give to younger players?
"I'd make them aware of the pitfalls, that's something I'd really like to go and do is speak to the youngsters at clubs and warn them of the dangers.

"I'm not saying for a minute that there's a problem with drugs in football but there is a drug problem in society so I think it's naive to think that people aren't getting offered them in football."

There's so much money in football, do you think clubs do enough to protect the younger players?
"I think there's a lot more now then what there used to be. It's become silly the money in football. And young football players have lots of money and lots of time on their hands, which isn't a very good cocktail."

"There was a lot of times when I was drinking and taking drugs that football became a job to me and I forgot the fact that football was my first love."

'Tormented'
In his recently published memoir, Tormented, McLaren reveals how he discovered through psychoanalysis that he had been a victim of abuse in childhood, and how this had led him down the path of alcohol and drug abuse.

He documents his difficult journey to sobriety, during which he contemplated suicide, and explains how he coped with the shocking revelations from his past.

Tormented is a powerful, honest tale of a man whose career never hit the heights that his talents merited. It is the most revealing book written by any footballer, and his remarkable life story, laced with hope and humour, will be an inspiration to men and women in every walk of life.


Alcoholic Abuse Abuse
Although Rae and McLaren overcame their problems off the pitch, they still had to face a barrage of abuse from supporters and opposing players.

(From BBC Sport 2006)
Dundee's Alex Rae is being verbally abused by opposition players over his previous drug and alcohol problems, according to his chief executive.

And Dave Mackinnon said: "From the first minute, he's generally targeted.

"Someone has a go at him, has a dig at him and then there's a tirade of verbal abuse, alcoholic b......, drug addict etc, etc."

Mackinnon called on referees to protect Rae, who took charge of the Scottish First Division club in the summer.

"If it was racist abuse he was getting, referees would be stepping in, but it seems to be acceptable and an ugly part that's crept in to the game of looking at people's past and making something of it," Mackinnon told BBC Sport.

"Having watched it, it's venomous. This is venom, sheer venom and I think it's orchestrated."



(From The Daily Record 2005)
Andy has enough demons to fight without having to face sickening taunts every week says [his then boss at Morton] Jim McInally.

McInally is urging Scottish football to support Andy McLaren with the one fight in his life he's struggling to win.

The Morton striker hurled a volley of abuse at Ayr United fans at the weekend when he finally snapped after weeks of being subjected to taunts from every corner of the terraces.

McLaren is winning his battle with alcohol and drug addiction but he's considering walking away from football after losing the fight for a little civility from rival supporters.

His manager reckons the time for putting an arm around his player is over and now he's demanding action against the unacceptable trend of personal victimisation.

McInally said: "The abuse he has taken is way beyond what is acceptable at football grounds and Morton as a club are determined to take a stand against it.

"I was amazed recently at a game where fans were applauding a Give Racism the Red Card campaign one minute, then shouting "junkie' at Andy the next."

"He's as low as I've ever seen him and is even contemplating quitting football as he feels the fans are driving himaway"The boy is a recovering alcoholic and has enough demons to fight without having to tolerate a mindless minority who are targeting him every week.

"His problems were very public and he had to face them in full view of the fans and the media and now he's having to tolerate this, so where does it all end?

"We will stand by him, back him to the hilt and do our best to help him deal with the abuse."

McInally is astonished a blind eye is turned to this form of prejudice at a time when wiping out racial intolerance is placed top of football's anti-social agenda.

"Every week we have morons chanting alky this or junkie that and it's a personal attack on someone who has more than paid his dues. He's out most nights counselling people and he visits schools in the area to talk to them about his illness and the pitfalls.

"He should be applauded for his achievement of being clean for over six years instead of having to deal with this kind of stuff.

"We are asking for an official review of what is acceptable conduct among supporters and would urge the police to intervene, not just for Andy but for every player in the same boat.

"This needs to be stamped out. Football should have a zero tolerance on this issue."


Richie Hart (Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
A Scottish Premier League player has been convicted of having cocaine at a music festival in the Highlands.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle player Richie Hart, 29, has also been suspended from playing or training by his club until further notice.

Police officers thought Hart was acting suspiciously in his BMW car and found cocaine placed on a CD at the Rock Ness Festival in June.

He admitted a charge of possessing cocaine and was fined £300.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard the midfielder had bought two half-grams of the drug for £80 and was in the process of using one of the wraps when caught.

Police found the other wrap of the drug after a search of his car.

In a statement, the SPL club said: "When the matter was originally brought to our attention, the club interviewed the player and given his responses agreed to leave the matter until the allegations were addressed in court.

"The club would like to reassure the club's commercial partners, supporters and the public that the club adopts a very firm stance in relation to the use and/or possession of drugs."

Hart joined Caley Thistle in 2002 from Highland League team Brora Rangers, having previously played for Ross County.

(Source: BBC Sport 2007)


Richie Isn't Black Sheep Of Family
Ian Black welcomed shamed Richie Hart back to Inverness with open arms - because he insists a team that sticks together wins together.

Midfielder Hart's future in the Highlands hung by a thread after six years at the club when he was convicted for cocaine possession.

But after suspending him Caley Thistle boss Craig Brewster threw Hart a lifeline by handing him his first jersey in five months in midweek.

Now engine room partner Black reckons the 29-year-old has paid his dues and worked hard enough for the slate to be wiped clean.

As they geared up for a run at the Scottish Cup against Hibs on Saturday, Black said: "You have to be behind your boys.

"You can't let things upset the dressing-room because it carries on to the park.

"And our displays recently show what we're all about. "Richie's attitude has been brilliant. He always knew it would be hard to get back into the first team but he has worked hard and he deserves it.

"No-one made him feel unwelcome - we've got a great bunch of guys and nothing breaks the spirit that's there.

"You have to appreciate people go up and down in their careers, he had a bad spell which was unfortunate but Richie's a bright guy who has determination."

(Source: Sunday Mail Jan 2008)


Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.