3/1 To Win
Lizzie Hunt stars for England at the Homeless World Cup.
A Derby woman has just completed the journey of a lifetime to Santiago, Chile as part of the Homeless FA’s England squad. Lizzie Hunt, 25, who had never kicked a ball before March this year, has returned from the Homeless World Cup in South America having captained the women’s England team to the quarter finals, their highest ever finish in the competition.
The Homeless FA tackles the negative stigma around people who experience homelessness, with the promotion of positive self-perception of their players integral to the success of their work. They have worked closely with the Manchester United Foundation to create an inspiring ‘Believe FC’ programme of personal development for all Team England players.
Lizzie discovered her love of football through Derby City Council and Derby County Football Club’s Active Choices programme, which has gained national recognition for improving the number of people staying substance free. The project, which links into the Council’s Livewell healthy lifestyle service, supported Lizzie to transform her life, get fitter and gain important life and coaching skills.
Lizzie said: “A year ago I wasn’t a nice person to be around but Active Choices has opened so many doors and now I’m a different person. Not only have I pushed myself to be healthy, I’ve met so many new people and I’m now volunteering and helping others. Today I’m everything that I fantasised about being back then. How I wanted to be and portrayed myself to be. It’s hard to pinpoint what it’s been like, but football wise it’s been incredible. Beating Wales in our first match was incredible, a phenomenal feeling.
“We were the first women’s England team to make it into the Quarter Final. No other women’s England team has done that before. And the way we’ve all bonded and trained together; our games have come on more and more.”
Derby County’s President & Chief Executive Sam Rush said: “Lizzie has put 100 per cent into every opportunity we’ve given her and is a fantastic inspiration. Active Choices has helped lots of people in Derby to not just overcome drug and alcohol addiction but to improve their life skills, get into training, find employment and raise their self-esteem.”
Gareth Parker, head of the Homeless FA, said: “We never thought we’d get as far as we did in the Homeless World Cup, but to be honest that doesn’t really matter, as winning or losing football matches is not how we measure the success of our trip to Chile.
“So far, over two thirds of the men and women that have completed the Homeless FA Team England programme go on to achieve more qualifications, well over half of our players improve their housing situation, and a third find a full-time job. Perhaps most importantly, every single one says that they feel more confident. So we know what we're doing works. It works because we inspire and empower them to make a positive change in their lives, whilst giving them the confidence and tools to do so.”
