The beginning of the 2015/16 football season saw the emergence of 'refugees welcome' campaigns by football fans in response to the refugee crisis. But asylum seekers and refugees need more than welcome banners.

Asylum seekers and refugees tend to lack friendships and support networks in their host cities. This can make everyday life lonely and hard.

The aim of this crowdfunding project is to integrate refugees and asylum seekers into the AFC Liverpool fan community by providing match tickets and travel cards. The funding is important because:

* AFC Liverpool seeks to "contribute to social inclusion, and reinforce collective identities, improve self-esteem and inspire. AFC Liverpool takes its community role seriously and has a track record of working with community organisations using football as a conduit to reach as many people as possible, especially minorities, excluded and under-
represented groups".

* It will enable AFC Liverpool facilitate social interaction and relationship building between its fans and refugees and asylum seekers through the development of a ticket and befriending scheme in which fans travel and watch the match together

* It will enable AFC Liverpool to hold pre and post-match events in the clubhouse. These events would use the common language of football to generate greater understanding and raise awareness of issues relating to forced migration among football fans.

The activities above would offer an opportunity for football fans to engage with refugees and asylum seekers in a way that is not currently happening. The ultimate objective is to fully integrate refugees and asylum seekers into the life of the club and its close knit community where they will find friendship, support and a sense of true belonging. This will enable AFC fans to give practical support to people that are undergoing the extreme stress of processing by the asylum system as well as struggling with everyday life.