Play is a Lifeline: Bringing Hope to Ukraine’s Children

Play is not a privilege, it’s a right, even in war. 

At Football for Humanity, we mobilise the power of football to support children and young people affected by conflict, disaster, or displacement. But we cannot do this alone. By partnering with No Duff UK CIC and Open Ukraine, with support from St Helens Council, we have designed a cross-sector, collaborative approach combining expertise from sport, humanitarian aid, and psychosocial support, further strengthening our sport-for-development framework.

Grounded in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, our approach uses football as a bridge to psychosocial recovery, strengthening community and emotional safety while helping to restore a sense of normality and, above all, hope.

Wherever children are in crisis, we go to meet them, ensuring they can reclaim a sense of safety and purpose. Through football and purposeful play, we provide opportunities for learning, and connection, helping children process trauma, rebuild confidence, and experience moments of joy even in the toughest circumstances.

St Helens Council with No Duff CIC, Open Ukraine, Football for Humanity, and Town in the Town CIC

This collaboration is forged from lived experience, not good intentions alone. We don’t just work with professional excellence to help children recover from hardship, having lived through adversity ourselves, we understand the fear and loss children face, and we use that experience to guide every aspect of our work. Stan from Open Ukraine, who has seen the impact of war first-hand said: “We’re proud to be part of this partnership. It’s about building real bridges between Ukrainian and British communities under the 100-Year Partnership Agreement, and bringing organisations together to help children and families heal, rebuild, and move forward.”

Dean (CEO of No Duff UK) and Chris (Founder of Football for Humanity) humbly shared, “We are just a couple of lads from St Helens who want to bring joy to children caught up in war.” What they describe as ‘just lads from St Helens’ represents something far greater: a commitment to serving humanity that transcends borders. This partnership is not about charity, it is about dignity, solidarity, and protecting the future of all children. In the darkest moments, these acts of unity give children and families hope and a reason to believe in life beyond conflict.

Remember, children are children. No child should ever face war or violence, whether in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world. When a movement starts, we don’t just talk—we act, ensuring children in these circumstances can reclaim their childhood and see life beyond conflict. Our next step is to go directly to meet children where they are in crisis...

Football for Humanity is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, helping children in the world’s toughest environments reclaim their childhood.